tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148745282024-03-19T06:18:40.201-02:30The Other Side of EightyRandom thoughts from an older perspective, writing, politics, spirituality, climate change, movies, knitting, writing, reading, acting, activism focussing on aging.
I MUST STAY DRUNK ON WRITING SO REALITY DOES NOT DESTROY ME.Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.comBlogger2225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-39888419579688060812024-02-24T14:11:00.002-03:302024-02-24T15:18:21.828-03:30Sunday Selections<p style="text-align: left;"> <span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;">Long ago, Kim of Frog ponds Rock, (who no longer blogs), dreamed up a meme called Sunday Selections. </span></p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 9px;">A place where those who were willing could put up photos they wanted to share, new, old, good, bad or indifferent, any photos you please. </p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 9px;">Nothing rude or vulgar though.</p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 9px;">And we don't mind at all if other bloggers care to join us.</p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 9px;">The meme is now continued by Elephant's Child and I join in when I can, as do a few others. <a href="https://river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/">River</a> is one, <a href="https://fromthehighrise.blogspot.com.au/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; text-decoration-line: none;">Andrew</a> is one. <a href="https://messymimismeanderings.blogspot.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; text-decoration-line: none;">Messymimi</a> is another. Drop in to their blogs and have a look.</p><p style="background-color: #f7f7f7; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 9px;">Elephant's Child is taking a break this month.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u>Snow and ice and storms out in the Wild Atlantic.</u></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those in warmer climes, I present to you our Winters on The Rock.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We get a lot of snow. And it's quite hard to capture the "lot". For one, we have all varieties of snow removers, the ones that look like war machines all the way down in size to the personal snow blowers, and of course shovels.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTIIFCbwAi6-0iAwxoHbdX8tZdd7zJupSXzZSqZ9vIv8isKKH_zrbgYwoC7RaIvbU_eVhfoF5tuzIHpxi0G5zxVg2Woh1UalV6Ihuu1e4syRU2H4wWFBZ7zJenv1pNHTqMh4XfD5RMaCxjRJ_6n-nb4sOzXlxTGsjydlHctXd-pM6tYfg97W7/s246/snow%20plow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTIIFCbwAi6-0iAwxoHbdX8tZdd7zJupSXzZSqZ9vIv8isKKH_zrbgYwoC7RaIvbU_eVhfoF5tuzIHpxi0G5zxVg2Woh1UalV6Ihuu1e4syRU2H4wWFBZ7zJenv1pNHTqMh4XfD5RMaCxjRJ_6n-nb4sOzXlxTGsjydlHctXd-pM6tYfg97W7/s1600/snow%20plow.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRh2XGxJxqHC9BkE6a0wykuFdFKJE9SG0NCQolf7uVJRNO3AD_zIbyB-gL09meqUpeKkbhZzorXFvFYwYi5PGJIeI0hUiUEHzpJ9zaDW9jjsnOWEu7fXw59ocFgBaCQzw8putdUrJv3itCgbnCFreAy-iXlbcDCaAh4WyADi5jOjxlu4IIy7c/s2500/snowblower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="2499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRh2XGxJxqHC9BkE6a0wykuFdFKJE9SG0NCQolf7uVJRNO3AD_zIbyB-gL09meqUpeKkbhZzorXFvFYwYi5PGJIeI0hUiUEHzpJ9zaDW9jjsnOWEu7fXw59ocFgBaCQzw8putdUrJv3itCgbnCFreAy-iXlbcDCaAh4WyADi5jOjxlu4IIy7c/s320/snowblower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTO52Hh9YOBuIQqO5hRuCFQ1XdfEpKyXmuhpFJ_tJ6A9rp1Rv7LJtPOC5_iWgibXS5kYoXyYa30h1MMAHZ_-qEYw6YOtrzbexe7yQGmB1_9_mJtfm_k03CXh6SEBpcf3xx-fvU1xYjf59UUi0PCPrfVA0-frZingD6iVk4XRrfEZKFR2Oly59/s275/shovel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTO52Hh9YOBuIQqO5hRuCFQ1XdfEpKyXmuhpFJ_tJ6A9rp1Rv7LJtPOC5_iWgibXS5kYoXyYa30h1MMAHZ_-qEYw6YOtrzbexe7yQGmB1_9_mJtfm_k03CXh6SEBpcf3xx-fvU1xYjf59UUi0PCPrfVA0-frZingD6iVk4XRrfEZKFR2Oly59/s1600/shovel.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The white stuff is cleared up rapidly with all these gadgets, salt and sand are thrown at the ice and we are all on our way. On a drive back to my place I snapped a few shots in an attempt to show where all the snow is thrown. It forms mountainous walls around buildings and at the sides of roads.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t5B4VSBMrpnJu9bwgmxiOXUm5mBM-OTkg_LocLlFjYDq-y494Xx-OCIJGfvnsEQHcz8UdHxu6VaHnJuKrpr5pNoEUyx1ilkjlrexx9joKGVT7YvGQCfjL923jDSzklrqHap5X8DlQIEFnSi-qwb9ZHbRQ6CtEcuIfr45dse_u4fe1O0eImUf/s3386/20240222_153441~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3386" data-original-width="2982" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_t5B4VSBMrpnJu9bwgmxiOXUm5mBM-OTkg_LocLlFjYDq-y494Xx-OCIJGfvnsEQHcz8UdHxu6VaHnJuKrpr5pNoEUyx1ilkjlrexx9joKGVT7YvGQCfjL923jDSzklrqHap5X8DlQIEFnSi-qwb9ZHbRQ6CtEcuIfr45dse_u4fe1O0eImUf/s320/20240222_153441~2.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parking lot of my building</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZltX0YjdtyyC9kw7hC2p86y5PbOUKf6Zaw_Blgia56x4aLSOpLmXT92_fIhgmMWN0U6x32gIrERpn-M4i1UVjHa5YaF-JvWYs0SPsWa89QSBZnupalUXFQLnJp1WDO51OipaPIjfaM_SKpcJjLhIgaJpJHaqsdp3jhkFyywhThMtbpZCBuvri/s3489/20240222_153223~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3489" data-original-width="3365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZltX0YjdtyyC9kw7hC2p86y5PbOUKf6Zaw_Blgia56x4aLSOpLmXT92_fIhgmMWN0U6x32gIrERpn-M4i1UVjHa5YaF-JvWYs0SPsWa89QSBZnupalUXFQLnJp1WDO51OipaPIjfaM_SKpcJjLhIgaJpJHaqsdp3jhkFyywhThMtbpZCBuvri/s320/20240222_153223~2.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>If you peer closely, you'll see the ocean top left, and the lake above the trees. I left my car in the shot for scale.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6xDhs0yidCDICPru_MyXKYPDyyRi8Ozh34w_3nGJ9NwJo4twlTzGSSs6XthC5uVs_Fj-GMhnW8pUmQBZaoj0ObL-JeCXzCB3zqLbGmh2pLi1WrII1W1KNSAd8tydmQyIsLLAd4HyhyphenhyphenTnKIRXiesurRZfxhtJuww5La67QURQsmD4UHuaSTW4/s4624/20240222_153205~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6xDhs0yidCDICPru_MyXKYPDyyRi8Ozh34w_3nGJ9NwJo4twlTzGSSs6XthC5uVs_Fj-GMhnW8pUmQBZaoj0ObL-JeCXzCB3zqLbGmh2pLi1WrII1W1KNSAd8tydmQyIsLLAd4HyhyphenhyphenTnKIRXiesurRZfxhtJuww5La67QURQsmD4UHuaSTW4/s320/20240222_153205~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Roadsides around hydrants are cleared.</i></div></i><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now I bring you a wonderful peculiarity of Newfoundland. When there's a storm forecast, shelves in grocery stores are literally stacked to the ceilings with these huge bags of potato chips (known as crisps elsewhere.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDWqRTf71ieWlhF83b3JltBuWdQtJ5aMrwBTr0ORo9IG6f2cVSV1fzExcksvPQYOWazfqvL9uttvzFew16OPnItUzdmSqujSzwjr89Tk0KhZLs8UjnjHr_ZaBy5gFnd2neL-0gjAIgd3aRnFjRzpcZRFbuHY9n4hrYJcEsdNjA37oLNEJ2v95/s4624/20240222_151117~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDWqRTf71ieWlhF83b3JltBuWdQtJ5aMrwBTr0ORo9IG6f2cVSV1fzExcksvPQYOWazfqvL9uttvzFew16OPnItUzdmSqujSzwjr89Tk0KhZLs8UjnjHr_ZaBy5gFnd2neL-0gjAIgd3aRnFjRzpcZRFbuHY9n4hrYJcEsdNjA37oLNEJ2v95/s320/20240222_151117~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are known as, wait for it, Storm Chips. You should see the lineups. I've seen carts FULL of these monster bags. Survival mode. Batten down the hatches.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of my favourite songs involving snow. Written by Gordon Lightfoot. Sung by Sarah McLachlan.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fgtQUWkkr2I" width="320" youtube-src-id="fgtQUWkkr2I"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-24363094690273565372024-02-18T11:06:00.001-03:302024-02-18T11:06:24.160-03:30Friendships<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW-apzYAdJJPYTOzFsXCJKlqkQkFMCYfAolBIta7-afqYHD9tO58UsyzI4hqX3MKZSX39yILc5QyxmrZ10kC7O-ql27t1NfuVMkX8n7eOkGAh9DmcsmJbMgVqVSE_RUGyrDfe6BfhM8D-fXpW02ojOsBPa2iwMVcMszXSjEIB2S1f-Y8LWyR0/s318/friendship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW-apzYAdJJPYTOzFsXCJKlqkQkFMCYfAolBIta7-afqYHD9tO58UsyzI4hqX3MKZSX39yILc5QyxmrZ10kC7O-ql27t1NfuVMkX8n7eOkGAh9DmcsmJbMgVqVSE_RUGyrDfe6BfhM8D-fXpW02ojOsBPa2iwMVcMszXSjEIB2S1f-Y8LWyR0/s1600/friendship.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />T<span style="font-family: verdana;">hey become more precious as we age, we lose some and we gain some if we are fortunate. I still grieve the many I have lost to death, a couple to dementia, another long time one through intolerable disrespect and passive aggression.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can hit breaking points in friendships. For me they have been rare and I'm grateful for that. One broke many years ago when she became angry at me for an offhand remark and she exploded at me in a café in front of others. She didn't speak to me for many years and then at a funeral of a mutual friend she came running into my arms and wept like a baby and kept apologizing for her over- reaction to my comment in the café. It healed the friendship and she said my remark had reflected her own truth about the situation but she wasn't ready to face it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In another friendship I bore hostility until there was a breaking point. I was always making excuses for a particular friend. "She's having a rough time, I understand she's taking it out on me." "She's fierce odd, I know." But after many years of that, there was a breaking point, a wakeup call that I no longer felt good around her. In fact, the justifications and excuses were becoming hard work and happening more and more. Chronic lateness for meetups, rudeness to other friends, snide criticisms "you're wearing <i>that</i>?" and on and on until something snapped inside me and I realized this long term friendship was serving neither of us well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The long term friendships in my life I cherish and I realize the common element is kindness. We are kind to each other. Tolerant. Helpful. There are no hidden agendas. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also discovered in old age asking for help can initiate new friendships. I've always been reluctant to ask for help. But recently I mentioned I don't drive at night anymore and the offers of driving me astonished me. This has ignited a</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> few acquaintances into becoming a little more. One is off to Bali for a few months (I know, I'm jealous too) but she told her house sitter, a mutual acquaintance, that I might need rides at night now and again and bingo I'm enjoying this connection now. People love to help. I always love to help. And did a lot of it when younger and older people wanted rides or company. It must be karma.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blog friends are also wonderful. Sharing our journeys with each other. Writing and tracking each other's lives, our talents and foibles, our struggles and victories.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I truly believe friendships are sustaining us as we age, the daily check-ins, the emails, the WhatsApps, the Facebooks exchanges, the texts, the phone-calls. And yes, postcards, cards, letters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">After all, we are simply walking each other home.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9GUyppGlLY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q9GUyppGlLY"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Music and Friends: This is played at the end of gatherings here where everyone gets in a circle and holds hands. I always get emotional. And I do hope you readers outside Canada can see it. It is very, very Newfoundland.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-1263885051202743142024-02-15T14:16:00.003-03:302024-02-15T14:20:03.250-03:30Small Stuff<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'd like to post more here but a dearth of any kind of originality discourages me. I struggle with the acceptance of aging and not being able to do all the things I did. Spontaneity is missing. I have to weigh my energy carefully and limit myself to what my energy allows me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fitbit update: I find tracking my sleep is helpful as I am then prepared for what I can do in a day and not beat myself up because EVERYTHING. Everything doesn't happen anymore. Iffy health plays a part in this too and I try and focus on gratitude for all I can do, not what I can't. Most of the elder blogs I followed are now RIP. I looked down the list the other day and was shocked at how all those dear ones have now returned to stardust. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A friend in my building dropped off these roses the other day and they made my day.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15F2ZdutkXusi9GyTokYmXSPhoCONrG43GuWpy5irrOA6kE_7EBUPpFCvrRJt2hxCjRdnuBl2GgrOHBxePeIoFJHFF7T4TDW6TeakO3aMRaEKsPRlSHrHM5bk3K4h0rx6PwhwbbudJhY9F-w8qCg9hWzdYXdSXXwBBBbMv1ysg8Se-jSNlCb/s4624/20240212_191844~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15F2ZdutkXusi9GyTokYmXSPhoCONrG43GuWpy5irrOA6kE_7EBUPpFCvrRJt2hxCjRdnuBl2GgrOHBxePeIoFJHFF7T4TDW6TeakO3aMRaEKsPRlSHrHM5bk3K4h0rx6PwhwbbudJhY9F-w8qCg9hWzdYXdSXXwBBBbMv1ysg8Se-jSNlCb/s320/20240212_191844~2.jpg" width="216" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not into knitting big projects at the moment so contented myself with knitting a little pile of these dish/face cloths which I give away individually as gifts in a little gauze bag with a small soap and a magnet. Let me know if any of you out there would like one.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW7Wki7Rz6FNXggWrEeLWNn-h24KGLnDQa_oR6mcnAJgnhj4_SVJ4_jmFWXs8OjCqG-Q1aWD4GMuoG1ZAd3o0rdXZRfj0oo_VxS8nK6B2V-SR2ER2YjKUXCcP2zC_be49xyOS8DwLYHpkG1jaWc6KnP4ndl9fGsqSB0IS0YVpRf1shqsFvNXp/s4624/20240215_135704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW7Wki7Rz6FNXggWrEeLWNn-h24KGLnDQa_oR6mcnAJgnhj4_SVJ4_jmFWXs8OjCqG-Q1aWD4GMuoG1ZAd3o0rdXZRfj0oo_VxS8nK6B2V-SR2ER2YjKUXCcP2zC_be49xyOS8DwLYHpkG1jaWc6KnP4ndl9fGsqSB0IS0YVpRf1shqsFvNXp/s320/20240215_135704.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've had an ongoing blizzard here and I took this photo from my living room window at midnight last night after the snow plow had been. I love the effects of the lights.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4ufd19KMmkOhLFl-UhUueU_1GmKTRz9Ml6aCE5BSR1MFDxrfMmeZEye54UOjjw99S-Fqu2AfZDAWf2onflhSVFSqJnuCxQpq5fkiIhEJcElsMy8r2IryUYAUPq_02kljjxF7RdKRECGn0tCtyDd3Ct4GUaHSFKhiIuT0W_olA0hGuqUPv1Vr/s2877/20240215_001620~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2877" data-original-width="2860" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4ufd19KMmkOhLFl-UhUueU_1GmKTRz9Ml6aCE5BSR1MFDxrfMmeZEye54UOjjw99S-Fqu2AfZDAWf2onflhSVFSqJnuCxQpq5fkiIhEJcElsMy8r2IryUYAUPq_02kljjxF7RdKRECGn0tCtyDd3Ct4GUaHSFKhiIuT0W_olA0hGuqUPv1Vr/s320/20240215_001620~2.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my more active days I took a series of photos and named them #40shadesofblue and this one popped up in my memories today from five years ago. I love this shot.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RaDKBSosR8KD1foDx6zcU-OsuQymdwU26X77sK3tH9E_FR81OgBKu92Ulcmgov3a_f5lIOo8vtkiBFmdX4d2fZrzgXv47F735VfP7AoKzk50rcfFKWauyUHl4H7wNrkTaLbvfjbaS7GjXGEIWFv_9WPnBh01_gWTZC7pwAMfs5gg2ktO9ArW/s1440/signal%20hill%20snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1440" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RaDKBSosR8KD1foDx6zcU-OsuQymdwU26X77sK3tH9E_FR81OgBKu92Ulcmgov3a_f5lIOo8vtkiBFmdX4d2fZrzgXv47F735VfP7AoKzk50rcfFKWauyUHl4H7wNrkTaLbvfjbaS7GjXGEIWFv_9WPnBh01_gWTZC7pwAMfs5gg2ktO9ArW/s320/signal%20hill%20snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">And finally a picture of something that is affecting us all, especially those of us on a fixed income.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscXczhRBOm2nsO7UdMML0VjCVFdflSgGtwHbFOs-ado369w2rat3j4szTnRYzNuOoWyqjoZZuRXuSYe7luVnsSmiOUVRhlhNrqQzTaBbdIEw2fc5HsJ_QL_phJIk1sZPibJAxu751Sr9QQU3jYx7KlJqkbQvFL9UeVuG2DBVZR-iqnfoC6I8D/s1175/cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscXczhRBOm2nsO7UdMML0VjCVFdflSgGtwHbFOs-ado369w2rat3j4szTnRYzNuOoWyqjoZZuRXuSYe7luVnsSmiOUVRhlhNrqQzTaBbdIEw2fc5HsJ_QL_phJIk1sZPibJAxu751Sr9QQU3jYx7KlJqkbQvFL9UeVuG2DBVZR-iqnfoC6I8D/s320/cart.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-65936554583188624062024-02-04T23:32:00.006-03:302024-02-04T23:32:53.235-03:30Sporadia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwcl1B7nveX_3GUA2hWueEIU9njQJHz-PsAuXVXdqg7jRHgVfIURhFQrySxW-W06CZthdeD_rmoFfiUFRTIK4u_w3vE8VJXDBN-hfBQTDxp1oYjN-rYwdV67JN5DM4OpTVAes2bcBoWvY-qo4u_x_MnCxq9_0KpJV1zNvseRGYEt7ZyoSbYCy/s720/401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwcl1B7nveX_3GUA2hWueEIU9njQJHz-PsAuXVXdqg7jRHgVfIURhFQrySxW-W06CZthdeD_rmoFfiUFRTIK4u_w3vE8VJXDBN-hfBQTDxp1oYjN-rYwdV67JN5DM4OpTVAes2bcBoWvY-qo4u_x_MnCxq9_0KpJV1zNvseRGYEt7ZyoSbYCy/s320/401.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I look upon this photo with horror. It popped up in one of my feeds the other day. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I drove this sucker every single day for more years than I can count, finally saving enough money to buy a house (on the subway) in the city itself. A friend in LA in the U.S. commented, surely it can't be busier than ours? Googled it and came back at me saying dear gawd Canada wins! Nothing to be proud of, I said. I don't believe I could drive it now having lived on The Edge so long with our always moving four laner.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG5yGk_rwLUzdimjP0K45YW2d8fnlfPysBYZ3JhT0lEgIBhf1jEuIRV0rzUaACsvBJNJ96KFiPgqjAuuD5efR3_LQegxd_5xfQgVy7UAnPfd7iwE0WQbGJ_FjoxHNfGUoEfqEVunFtfW4l5wBmBqJ7C_mFqFW6mlDKIjkDa2rozTT2ioWvTt4/s3468/20240131_131840~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="3468" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG5yGk_rwLUzdimjP0K45YW2d8fnlfPysBYZ3JhT0lEgIBhf1jEuIRV0rzUaACsvBJNJ96KFiPgqjAuuD5efR3_LQegxd_5xfQgVy7UAnPfd7iwE0WQbGJ_FjoxHNfGUoEfqEVunFtfW4l5wBmBqJ7C_mFqFW6mlDKIjkDa2rozTT2ioWvTt4/s320/20240131_131840~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was so thrilled to see my birthday (August) gift baby bloom again so soon, such joy and now there are more buds opening up.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4laKyJeb83FjgIffMdpa2-KNiaPF7iGCABxAuuGALxIZaLQopOnYw3NoEH07d3jPJXrM8C4B5zxTVH4o62PHYOpgIw8Hx8cjt8noGvbGGfEKcvM9B_4GJQjXFrkwZ_UdjY9W1pZ52lqierjejHJ1P8WlI7sP9v6oqND6pmHkhN9gtpd5eBoC4/s4429/20240131_170705~3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4429" data-original-width="3322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4laKyJeb83FjgIffMdpa2-KNiaPF7iGCABxAuuGALxIZaLQopOnYw3NoEH07d3jPJXrM8C4B5zxTVH4o62PHYOpgIw8Hx8cjt8noGvbGGfEKcvM9B_4GJQjXFrkwZ_UdjY9W1pZ52lqierjejHJ1P8WlI7sP9v6oqND6pmHkhN9gtpd5eBoC4/s320/20240131_170705~3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I caught this photo out my living room window recently in 'the gloaming" which is a word I never hear any more.</span><p></p><div class="row entry-header" style="--bs-gutter-x: 1.5rem; --bs-gutter-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*-.5); margin-right: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*-.5); margin-top: 5px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col-12" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 0 0 auto; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: var(--bs-gutter-y); max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*.5); padding-right: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*.5); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 815.672px;"><div class="entry-header-content d-flex flex-wrap align-items-baseline flex-row mb-0" style="align-items: baseline !important; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex !important; flex-flow: wrap !important; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="hword" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; flex: initial; font-family: "Playfair Display", serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 49px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 65px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; order: 0; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gloaming</h1><h2 class="parts-of-speech" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a7d95; font-family: "Playfair Display", serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 31px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 43px; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="important-blue-link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4a7d95; display: inline; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 43px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">noun</a></h2></div><div class="row entry-attr mb-3 mt-2" style="--bs-gutter-x: 1.5rem; --bs-gutter-y: 0; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #225f73; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 8px !important; margin-left: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*-.5); margin-right: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*-.5); margin-top: 4px !important; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="col word-syllables-prons-header-content flex-wrap" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #757575; flex-wrap: wrap !important; flex: 1 0 0%; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; gap: 3px; line-height: 25px !important; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: var(--bs-gutter-y); max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*.5); padding-right: calc(var(--bs-gutter-x)*.5); padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 805.672px;"><span class="word-syllables-entry" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block !important; font: inherit; margin: 5px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gloam·ing</span> <span class="prons-entries-list-inline mb-1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 2px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="play-pron-v2 text-decoration-none prons-entry-list-item d-inline badge mw-badge-gray-300 converted" data-dir="g" data-file="gloami01" data-lang="en_us" data-url="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gloaming?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=g&file=gloami01" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gloaming?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=g&file=gloami01" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 100px; border: 1px solid rgb(151, 190, 206); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0074cc; display: inline; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 1px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How to pronounce gloaming (audio)">ˈglō-miŋ <svg class="svg replaced-svg" data-inject-url="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-02-01--19-02-54-0oohlg/images/svg/audio-pron-redesign.svg" fill="none" height="13" viewbox="0 0 15 13" width="15" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M13.513 6.34363C13.513 4.21463 12.623 2.33405 10.7864 0.687267L11.4026 0C13.406 1.79629 14.436 3.91633 14.436 6.34363C14.436 8.77387 13.3787 10.9297 11.3318 12.7981L10.7095 12.1163C12.6005 10.3902 13.513 8.4697 13.513 6.34363ZM10.8305 6.33811C10.8305 5.19038 10.2301 3.91597 8.89573 2.50719L9.5659 1.87241C10.9804 3.36579 11.7536 4.85692 11.7536 6.33811C11.7536 8.50095 10.6077 9.83479 9.56034 10.9028L8.90129 10.2565C9.91606 9.22174 10.8305 8.11681 10.8305 6.33811ZM0 8.6107V4.0387H3.23077L6.46154 1.75408V10.959L3.11169 8.6107H0Z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#4A7D95"></path></svg></a></span></div></div></div></div><div class="ul-must-login-def" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="save-word-login-html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><div class="ref-interlink" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 17px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gloaming" id="ref-interlink" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0074cc; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Synonyms of <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gloaming</em><svg class="svg replaced-svg" data-inject-url="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dist-cross-dungarees/2024-02-01--19-02-54-0oohlg/images/arrows/interlink-right.svg" fill="none" height="17" style="margin-bottom: 3px;" viewbox="0 0 16 17" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g clip-path="url(#clip0_6053_226921)"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12.3322 9.0046L7.23852 14.1055C6.94198 14.384 6.48843 14.384 6.20933 14.1055C5.93022 13.8269 5.93022 13.3569 6.20933 13.0783L10.7971 8.49973L6.20933 3.92111C5.93022 3.62515 5.93022 3.17252 6.20933 2.89397C6.48843 2.61542 6.94198 2.61542 7.23852 2.89397L12.3322 7.97745C12.6113 8.27341 12.6113 8.72605 12.3322 9.0046Z" fill-rule="evenodd" fill="#0074CC"></path></g><defs><clippath id="clip0_6053_226921"><rect fill="white" height="11.6293" transform="translate(6 2.68506)" width="6.5415"></rect></clippath></defs></svg></a></div><div class="vg" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="vg-sseq-entry-item " style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sb no-sn ms-lg-4 ms-3 w-100" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 781.672px;"><div class="sb-0 sb-entry" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense no-subnum" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="sense-content w-100" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 781.672px;"><span class="dt " style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="dtText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="mw_t_bc" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: bolder; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">: </span><a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twilight" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0074cc; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="text-uppercase" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TWILIGHT</span></a>, <a class="mw_t_sx" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0074cc; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="text-uppercase" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DUSK</span></a></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>I<span style="font-family: verdana;">t was used a lot where I grew up and it happened AFTER twilight. So a different time of day. Dusk would be the synonym alright.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-90980668722246417222024-01-27T17:00:00.003-03:302024-01-27T17:06:35.999-03:30Saturday Musings<blockquote><p></p></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am pieces of all the places I have been and the people I have loved</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight and the smell of coffee. </span></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: right;"><i>Brooke Hampton </i></p><p style="text-align: right;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chalk outside Trump Tower yesterday</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1IGMKGdoAnuXu3_LPcWogyTF5x35OKAiVxxeafpq1QlB255mn8EepfDqJvtu9f_IzWKtb9sCP5w8Q6ug4euZayD8anbGCHHaGltg75HAHnQQzEQaNpyVUAitgpnHrhPaK8KBhLVYB4D2HownzEcJY5CSkjEgho2mq4qc8RqmSQI1Vb21wjA2/s315/chalk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="236" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1IGMKGdoAnuXu3_LPcWogyTF5x35OKAiVxxeafpq1QlB255mn8EepfDqJvtu9f_IzWKtb9sCP5w8Q6ug4euZayD8anbGCHHaGltg75HAHnQQzEQaNpyVUAitgpnHrhPaK8KBhLVYB4D2HownzEcJY5CSkjEgho2mq4qc8RqmSQI1Vb21wjA2/s1600/chalk.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will his cult pay it off for him?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Facing up to the reality of old age is difficult. I had wrestled for several days on knitting socks, something which has always been easy for me. One of my eyes is nearly blind so perspective is off. Socks are knitted on narrow gauge needles with tiny stitches. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I struggled until a few hours ago and finally thought, why am I wasting my time on this, when do I think it will work and that magically my sight will be restored to 20/20 in both eyes? Work on the knitting I CAN do! I'm a hard case alright. Why on earth do we all behave as if we have 200 years to live in perfect health with all youthful abilities intact?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was on Irish Radio today and it brought a flood of memories of my mother (who died so young) and this was one of her favourite songs of all time. She had a beautiful voice.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LsvuiRGmSlo" width="320" youtube-src-id="LsvuiRGmSlo"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-50358564397564276782024-01-20T13:06:00.005-03:302024-01-20T14:30:27.419-03:30The List<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRdYa-5r0M-hwlLZorFoRkEoefVA4yen0QqOoI8LxRw75aqWDvC0yZK4gCvyfFMhmVkPMBWnC5iWmfkpX2sprWUafUtAbzwjxF03HZ4xJTHRa_s6_L-ONDyVqtA_t404yJUoLsdL4731YvSE4rCROkiB2jl27uym_2KgdpB72yiOMfLmFGoTW/s225/graveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRdYa-5r0M-hwlLZorFoRkEoefVA4yen0QqOoI8LxRw75aqWDvC0yZK4gCvyfFMhmVkPMBWnC5iWmfkpX2sprWUafUtAbzwjxF03HZ4xJTHRa_s6_L-ONDyVqtA_t404yJUoLsdL4731YvSE4rCROkiB2jl27uym_2KgdpB72yiOMfLmFGoTW/s1600/graveyard.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In chatting with a friend the other day she brought up a familiar topic amongst us oldies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Death and the ongoing loneliness as we age when those we loved (not family or relations) have tossed off this mortal coil. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She said she had made a list of all those she had been close to since she was a child who had died, good friends and lovers amongst them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started on my own list and was astonished when it reached nearly 50. All departed from this planet, the youngest being 5 or 6 when I was in school and she died of meningitis.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One old lover caught my attention, the last I heard from him was 5 or 6 years ago on an email which I didn't respond to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I deep-googled him and found he had died last September -"from a long illness."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had written about him a while ago <a href="https://wisewebwoman.blogspot.com/2015/12/old-lovers.html">here</a> and in the post had linked to a six-part story about the relationship which I was going to publish in a short story collection but opted not to for fear of hurting him for even though I had changed the names he would recognize himself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fact is often stranger than fiction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am wondering what other deep dives on my list might reveal in my old blog posts.</span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-52581385713463013242024-01-14T12:11:00.002-03:302024-01-14T17:07:55.078-03:30A Bit of an Oul Rant here<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What's happening in that big wild country to the south of us here in Canada?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can't avoid the US news here as we are forever linked via trade and economies, etc. Wags have compared The US and Canada relationship as the elephant and the mouse in bed together and if the elephant rolls over.......</span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;">2023</b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> - a partial summary of barbaric events.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">I won't even speak of the criminal running for office with the support of his party. If he's elected president it will be a final full stop on their downward slide into autocracy and fascism.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Termination of Roe v Wade. Women's reproductive rights go the way of The Handmaid's Tale.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A 12 year old 7th grader <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/14/mississippi-abortion-ban-girl-raped-gives-birth">forced to give birth in Mississippi</a>. A child-victim of rape. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/greg-abbott-shooting-migrants-headache-of-potential-murder-charges">The governor of Texas</a> telling the world he would shoot emigrants and the only thing stopping him is Biden would charge him with murder.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_in_2023">Mass shootings </a>in the gun slinging USA 2023 and school shootings increased.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;">Ignoring the ongoing slaughter and genocide (and potential extermination) of Palestinian civilians - women, children and babies amongst them. The US has used its </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5f6368; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">veto power at least 34 times</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"> to block UN Security Council resolutions that were critical of Israel. ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/UN.<a href="The US has used its veto power at least 34 times to block UN Security Council resolutions that were critical of Israel. ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS/UN."> Link</a></span></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gun violence by country 2021. Note 2023 for the US is much worse.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTKCWpcPQJpIu9IqNCb2YKTG0q1skRLsFEU4oQ7ndU8tHe_L4i7MuuKO2830Q-iE2Io6BaPuckpQkPEEpQ9AS_oKmb73Kc7M6df4_54UM_BEJxwjeHf2vyBAQf-eFV2OPZDuQKfDzferKiZBANYAH0GTOkOv9hvOgn-NLwblTyhyphenhyphenY2XYv3f8L/s1200/Binder1-page-003.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTKCWpcPQJpIu9IqNCb2YKTG0q1skRLsFEU4oQ7ndU8tHe_L4i7MuuKO2830Q-iE2Io6BaPuckpQkPEEpQ9AS_oKmb73Kc7M6df4_54UM_BEJxwjeHf2vyBAQf-eFV2OPZDuQKfDzferKiZBANYAH0GTOkOv9hvOgn-NLwblTyhyphenhyphenY2XYv3f8L/s320/Binder1-page-003.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">It might surprise readers to know that the land mass of Canada is greater than the US</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeKythanKZjbWP5uoSyrtwN4_2VkQ7-pndzHW4AK007FYwHZRPM1-3_J45UK075-wkFJoKJXQY2M6XKU-443ppI8ueQ6lqA2zIa_32z-EJC7_Z6avRkN4aq_Oph1I0Yk_-jivGZH0HhZZrBIPRyfpYoWUgOEPqd1vIXvCWwW74MDZkNHf-6ZM/s1039/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLeKythanKZjbWP5uoSyrtwN4_2VkQ7-pndzHW4AK007FYwHZRPM1-3_J45UK075-wkFJoKJXQY2M6XKU-443ppI8ueQ6lqA2zIa_32z-EJC7_Z6avRkN4aq_Oph1I0Yk_-jivGZH0HhZZrBIPRyfpYoWUgOEPqd1vIXvCWwW74MDZkNHf-6ZM/s320/map.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">/Rant</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-474272990048197012024-01-11T13:32:00.001-03:302024-01-11T13:32:47.638-03:30Sporadia<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">In the mail:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An annual magazine, published for well over a hundred years sent by my sister every year from my home city of Cork. 150 pages of Cork past and present and cherished by every Corkonian.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF96WcH30sg_C7CVtpoAHsz208xwLIizqfCF4idJ8HXrthtR7qsrxgQfZhs-sF1JGx4b7EREUrcrNOFhwNEwexqekqefe_v61XGGtzXzbJUkqssSWFBYV4DqVbEmBoEgjBkITQUIxSTk3VCx0nppVwTjd0U2l6D0Hp6wdgGo9R0F4O0jUZuvqZ/s4264/20240111_130232~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4264" data-original-width="3382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF96WcH30sg_C7CVtpoAHsz208xwLIizqfCF4idJ8HXrthtR7qsrxgQfZhs-sF1JGx4b7EREUrcrNOFhwNEwexqekqefe_v61XGGtzXzbJUkqssSWFBYV4DqVbEmBoEgjBkITQUIxSTk3VCx0nppVwTjd0U2l6D0Hp6wdgGo9R0F4O0jUZuvqZ/s320/20240111_130232~2.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An Irish calendar from my now oldest friend still alive (70 years of unbroken friendship), also sent every year, and hung from my kitchen wall.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaya5CqdK9Fv43RlWlwqO-3_mj7JrND93At4SelT6YtkM2OwFiW2g8nV7QFg6VocNo5sevz0XaTBin1BXSEQNr1WJm5A0wskb1jq_3koouKGrnsoV4KpOPrPMCGRlFdjGaZzO4IaKpee8q2aeqOUh5JkCJRJKhjMJ4if4-aoK6CWDNkSF9CIJT/s4594/20240111_130307~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4594" data-original-width="2041" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaya5CqdK9Fv43RlWlwqO-3_mj7JrND93At4SelT6YtkM2OwFiW2g8nV7QFg6VocNo5sevz0XaTBin1BXSEQNr1WJm5A0wskb1jq_3koouKGrnsoV4KpOPrPMCGRlFdjGaZzO4IaKpee8q2aeqOUh5JkCJRJKhjMJ4if4-aoK6CWDNkSF9CIJT/s320/20240111_130307~2.jpg" width="142" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My hallway of postcards, many now sent by Grandgirl who lives in Paris but treks around Europe most weekends and never fails to buy a postcard everywhere, including art galleries and museums and exquisite old churches.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ7Wb-iGuEL1SSUzFSvjJS2Fd5YqWAn-46O92_sHMpJ0VEiTVNm8vwh8sp3ZTtYQyRCFRIdOneuAAuZxUpQaeNs1OntWfDff_JYbMxCwq7xDevDnNwvhIXlZG1QCVIfCV2ni2gjKi7-zMOMrPFfEH5cdaKG8SjB0yZ7UVoZsM1HlbDNPz8Aq7/s4624/20240111_130350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ7Wb-iGuEL1SSUzFSvjJS2Fd5YqWAn-46O92_sHMpJ0VEiTVNm8vwh8sp3ZTtYQyRCFRIdOneuAAuZxUpQaeNs1OntWfDff_JYbMxCwq7xDevDnNwvhIXlZG1QCVIfCV2ni2gjKi7-zMOMrPFfEH5cdaKG8SjB0yZ7UVoZsM1HlbDNPz8Aq7/s320/20240111_130350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was reading up on sleep requirements for eighty year-olds. I am nearly always shy on sleep and feel the lack of it in listlessness, lack of energy and a need for an inordinate amount of waking up time to feel human. I am way under what's needed, sometimes I only get 4 hours. I was astonished to read I need about 10 hours a day as body is deteriorating and lack of sleep can contribute to "inagility of the brain," a frightening thought.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grandgirl gifted me a Fitbit when she was here and I am now honouring (or trying to) the sleep I should be getting even if it means crashing on the bed at odd times. The Fitbit is clocking everything, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps, exercise, hydration. An enchanting new toy, offering daily detailed reports and quite unobtrusive on the wrist. It even notifies me of texts and emails.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrBI2f34N6KIelBSgUbId5PTI8e8qJXkGao2FiG67wHT28ToNfoqw_2NRPRToX89BRhFbNX0gTo41vKRMd8U8MGvbRTTH6lXO3gRbsQ3K8jq4_fcM87jSud1fimDj5xSWfNQKQGfGWqnZ_W8WdPdJtXSEO1iJ4PqZOhjyh6_jdtl1APjoxDIf/s500/fitbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrBI2f34N6KIelBSgUbId5PTI8e8qJXkGao2FiG67wHT28ToNfoqw_2NRPRToX89BRhFbNX0gTo41vKRMd8U8MGvbRTTH6lXO3gRbsQ3K8jq4_fcM87jSud1fimDj5xSWfNQKQGfGWqnZ_W8WdPdJtXSEO1iJ4PqZOhjyh6_jdtl1APjoxDIf/s320/fitbit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">What a time to be alive!</span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-13938782917918988472024-01-05T10:55:00.004-03:302024-01-05T10:55:41.651-03:30Silent White<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTd-LWJSkULNuHpbPIVGxesHuVFSho9mLlY14knk6H5xevmm8FaaXA37DvY6jBf2ZA9jQFUnkzhMLc9voFYpX1wKk-tvATjX-VuCwUWHAWlZfR1xQBHcIJeSHkvHNJDYXMpHdx_oC9fHIG9ZqotIa2lTOuii_reXd1DJPF5K7ZNv2pqc3O1JQ/s4624/20240105_074904~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTd-LWJSkULNuHpbPIVGxesHuVFSho9mLlY14knk6H5xevmm8FaaXA37DvY6jBf2ZA9jQFUnkzhMLc9voFYpX1wKk-tvATjX-VuCwUWHAWlZfR1xQBHcIJeSHkvHNJDYXMpHdx_oC9fHIG9ZqotIa2lTOuii_reXd1DJPF5K7ZNv2pqc3O1JQ/s320/20240105_074904~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From my bedroom window this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It descends gently at first. A teaser you might call, not threatening at all. But we check the forecasts and know the onslaught is coming soon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cancellations pour in, schools, businesses, my helper. No one wants to get caught in the blizzard. Our first winter storm.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some wag on Facebook said we should close the entire island for the three months of January through March.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My suggestion would be to dig out an underground city. Or at least a smaller version of the hefty one in Toronto. Where there was still a teeming life - noon time bands, many restaurants, retail, medical even a grocery outlet. I could leave my home in the snow in my business suit, no coat or mitts or scarf, warm in my car, and park underground from where I worked. The vast underground life of the city of Toronto. A huge sprawl. Unaffected by weather of any kind. Subway and railway station accessible without going outdoors.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPw0kYCt0WQCnD-bLHzD5IGJi0kgVBivdqlv3k7mGH-V-DCDei9LT8XY6hKnWHiArDgAPTJsqeZoU8gMraJ5I1sY8oTpWkxkkVwxAX3JlZyJ7kSszeLsaJudAkBqtLtd0mg1E68jUC44Jbedfjn4utYgfh-e0Mm2lz5BIcsKu02iSasyp9HOU/s564/toronot%20PATH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPw0kYCt0WQCnD-bLHzD5IGJi0kgVBivdqlv3k7mGH-V-DCDei9LT8XY6hKnWHiArDgAPTJsqeZoU8gMraJ5I1sY8oTpWkxkkVwxAX3JlZyJ7kSszeLsaJudAkBqtLtd0mg1E68jUC44Jbedfjn4utYgfh-e0Mm2lz5BIcsKu02iSasyp9HOU/s320/toronot%20PATH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Toronto underground PATH map.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I groceried myself yesterday so I'm prepared. I am also well booked. And kitted with knitting and a queue of streaming at my disposal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this new year I am playing my music every day. A mix of songs I would sing in the old folky theatre days, classical. What have you. Today it is Albinoni which lifts the heavy grey sky into summery blue. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A lovely handmade bag with an inner bag and zippered pockets arrived from Daughter's school friend in Ottawa. I am thrilled beyond measure by her kindness. It will be perfect for my sock projects.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-rmtR-a4Tno0IvbPmzvmChBOowu-rLuvSomk5AoIH3ihOran0ceuJTfX0GrYXs6n9iE-hVahaXCv89SeU8kr1LM3I-6sao6VWaibjOy7o4SaB0Cag8O42dS_TPQFUWEuJQh5CCCAoQWBezd08L6ktC3dvKLjJtpo6LK3al-zRngBX4JufckT/s4161/20240105_104253~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4161" data-original-width="3322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-rmtR-a4Tno0IvbPmzvmChBOowu-rLuvSomk5AoIH3ihOran0ceuJTfX0GrYXs6n9iE-hVahaXCv89SeU8kr1LM3I-6sao6VWaibjOy7o4SaB0Cag8O42dS_TPQFUWEuJQh5CCCAoQWBezd08L6ktC3dvKLjJtpo6LK3al-zRngBX4JufckT/s320/20240105_104253~2.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was intrigued that my phone camera shows the Albinoni album I am playing. A trick I probably couldn't possibly engineer myself. I love accidental discoveries. I feel digitally thrilled as a brother gave me this incredible Bluetooth</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> speaker that enhances the sound on my phone to concert levels.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-45171030915336949212024-01-01T15:56:00.001-03:302024-01-01T15:56:40.850-03:30My Best Books of 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zM0bqtydlWyMMYVN65QZx9C8pC36XieOQsJVpzARUsImx0uWgwUClubMvW-U6KqpeTvRb4zUtx220A9neSiBoZzrtTyW1blsaj2eyavf14BNiDaESaf1sbYV0KP45XZzF9_crWzmYymLFqKM1ngEl56nrLhyS4jD2k9mS3zpIUhe2LoRvwUH/s3767/20240101_154201~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="3767" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zM0bqtydlWyMMYVN65QZx9C8pC36XieOQsJVpzARUsImx0uWgwUClubMvW-U6KqpeTvRb4zUtx220A9neSiBoZzrtTyW1blsaj2eyavf14BNiDaESaf1sbYV0KP45XZzF9_crWzmYymLFqKM1ngEl56nrLhyS4jD2k9mS3zpIUhe2LoRvwUH/s320/20240101_154201~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> The delightful and as yet unread pile from our annual <a href="https://adventures.is/blog/iceland-christmas-eve-tradition/#:~:text=Jolabokaflod%2C%20translating%20to%20%22Christmas%20Book,joy%20of%20reading%20them%20together.">Jolabokaflod</a> of 2023</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I can hardly wait to dig my eyes into these.</span></i></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm only listing the best of my ratings (5/5)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many I tossed- life is short, no more time for uninteresting (to me) reading. My list is not in any particular order.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many were enjoyable (4/5 or 3/5) but not listed. Reading is one of my greatest pleasures.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Colours and Years - Margit Kaffka</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garman</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Smith to America - Imani Parry</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">A Girl's Story - Annie Ernaux</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Diamond Eye - Kate Quinn</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happening - Annie Ernaux</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ask Again Yes - Mary Beth Keane</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Damon Copperhead - Barbara Kingsolver</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Latecomer - Jean Hanff Karelitz</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fayne - Anne Marie MacDonald</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tom Lake - Ann Patchett</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strange Sally Diamond - Liz Nugent</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Old God's time - Sebastian Barry</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Librarianist - Patrick De Witt</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Echo Chamber - John Boyne</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Playing Nice - J.P. Delaney</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Burst - Mary Otis</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks to all of you blogmates for your recommendations also.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>AND in 2024</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Happy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlKnVeZzOpz_syreqr6hOkobT0acGMUXljWbU7DosOZcmFRqL-m6GihKeZeQ1pymkGqDF2rmHpMGXox5fdJxsFOV9cfkeR5wxvP2Ut37YzBqZJoKmVmD8YNk2Rm2YoclY9nXXrUe41V00R5jXNaVCQEfbb0NpDaASl5Y6bp5TlF1AgYL-pW0/s269/new%20vooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="269" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dlKnVeZzOpz_syreqr6hOkobT0acGMUXljWbU7DosOZcmFRqL-m6GihKeZeQ1pymkGqDF2rmHpMGXox5fdJxsFOV9cfkeR5wxvP2Ut37YzBqZJoKmVmD8YNk2Rm2YoclY9nXXrUe41V00R5jXNaVCQEfbb0NpDaASl5Y6bp5TlF1AgYL-pW0/s1600/new%20vooks.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-33121349992233352772023-12-24T15:46:00.000-03:302023-12-24T15:46:01.535-03:30Christmas Eve<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCGnDAnJwa-agugJaviuc39IiHUoAOTOgPuvexWIFgJ_cEgmFr5qYxb02IHgc2QqeypMaXcRCVj9mRhgvsZ3uDqyw4opExnlVGQgf5ZZlnWswXZB44xuisWZ7mJfo0ZXs0HO0X6luNYH6bN5wpv9SDogj-0bGFJNz35wpQTTbs5H8LIhl7SxJ/s1080/FB_IMG_1703437134036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1080" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCGnDAnJwa-agugJaviuc39IiHUoAOTOgPuvexWIFgJ_cEgmFr5qYxb02IHgc2QqeypMaXcRCVj9mRhgvsZ3uDqyw4opExnlVGQgf5ZZlnWswXZB44xuisWZ7mJfo0ZXs0HO0X6luNYH6bN5wpv9SDogj-0bGFJNz35wpQTTbs5H8LIhl7SxJ/s320/FB_IMG_1703437134036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am mindful of those who stand apart from all the celebratory jollies. I know far too many who have lost beloveds this past year or have other struggles and I know how it feels having gone through a few sad Christmases myself.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A mixed bag here as the silly season gets under way. I hear from many scattered friends and acquaintances at this time. Jacquie Lawson cards. poems from fellow tenants in my building slipped under my door, long emails from those abroad, cards, a book from my sister which has a particular resonance, a knock on the door from a friend bearing a large bag of assorted gifts which will await an opening on Christmas Day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I get far more out of giving gifts than receiving them. I was lucky in that a friend, a very talented artist, did some delightful oil paintings this past year and I believe in supporting the arts and then endowing members of my family with her talent. I forgot to take pics before I wrapped them but hope to do so once they open them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My seasonal section in my home, which are normally my knitting shelves:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARQscKjPq7sjLotd2iMzN7sDI_-2_riJVLrtnUp_sVi4M-ZIyniabIRHxk4amFI-1fK04SwVvd_kqHUh68pvnrbuNQt90y4n5_37I36k87M6_fnQDZXSMwoqUAEuyh6pTo7WaMwqRYLy7v4hFOXdeuNmu_hXORDs3ApDZl1vNMxa_Ft5YAcG2/s3395/20231221_144915~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3395" data-original-width="3259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARQscKjPq7sjLotd2iMzN7sDI_-2_riJVLrtnUp_sVi4M-ZIyniabIRHxk4amFI-1fK04SwVvd_kqHUh68pvnrbuNQt90y4n5_37I36k87M6_fnQDZXSMwoqUAEuyh6pTo7WaMwqRYLy7v4hFOXdeuNmu_hXORDs3ApDZl1vNMxa_Ft5YAcG2/s320/20231221_144915~2.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><p>I<span style="font-family: verdana;">t might all look very sloppy to you but I always buy a large selection of tea towels before Christmas and wrap gifts in them. Cuts back on waste and who can't use a luscious new tea towel? We mainly exchange books as we are all mad readers. We celebrate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Christmas_book_flood">Jokabokaflod</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You may wonder what this item below is. I can assure you it's made all the difference to my life.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BVQR9i6UdxnFtPgQClGIfsqNvLFszB4HTV_Qo_7gbYqcKHVSBEt5c5LvkTDS-oAnyMIdLv3N78Rg57CiXzqUs9c7jOQqgU062uceaiCv3fU87jiS66jTshjGn9z-JHpEoXR8IlvUX-8SLagShiv7AitJ5Ke4ia3vzvdt_wvwiLYik4CI2zQB/s4315/20231224_152035~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4315" data-original-width="2143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BVQR9i6UdxnFtPgQClGIfsqNvLFszB4HTV_Qo_7gbYqcKHVSBEt5c5LvkTDS-oAnyMIdLv3N78Rg57CiXzqUs9c7jOQqgU062uceaiCv3fU87jiS66jTshjGn9z-JHpEoXR8IlvUX-8SLagShiv7AitJ5Ke4ia3vzvdt_wvwiLYik4CI2zQB/s320/20231224_152035~2.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's a set of (USB rechargeable) lights that I wear around my neck when in poorly lit places so I can either knit or read. Recently I was waiting in the gym area beside the laundry room which has lighting in all the wrong places and I was able to sit and knit to my heart's content. I am so in love with this incredible invention I bought 3 more for relatives and a friend. 3 lighting intensities too. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I worked on this with the benefit of this lighting, I have one now complete and started another. Next I'll be knitting socks while waiting for the machines.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1Ntm492myU2CPTaVcfNfOfcACB237kF2hA6hZc-k0pmAR8N7QAwgb12CHGhB7gYl3uJcqXo1zBzTrZ2gi03oA1sehaupSWsUHT9ZFPdtcGHw1Squ7373t5NNUGXP6PKYRrkvCXw_ryp_cQ4NnQ_YT36_gSAzkmIdOGgGFGmfB4BfxT6pHHpK/s4230/20231216_162814~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4230" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1Ntm492myU2CPTaVcfNfOfcACB237kF2hA6hZc-k0pmAR8N7QAwgb12CHGhB7gYl3uJcqXo1zBzTrZ2gi03oA1sehaupSWsUHT9ZFPdtcGHw1Squ7373t5NNUGXP6PKYRrkvCXw_ryp_cQ4NnQ_YT36_gSAzkmIdOGgGFGmfB4BfxT6pHHpK/s320/20231216_162814~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Small wee joys. Who can beat them?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And with that, I wish you all small wee joys. The big ones are elusive. Collect the small ones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-75838729465108157242023-12-16T14:47:00.007-03:302023-12-16T14:56:46.730-03:30'Tis the Season<p>I<span style="font-family: verdana;"> don't, anymore, rally myself around the season. We do celebrate Solstice though. My pagan ancestors live on in my bones and I find their worship of visible objects much more logical to my analytical brain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But this year I hauled out some small bits and pieces and am readying myself to make more of a go of it. You wouldn't believe the lashings of decorations in my building. The word excess doesn't do it justice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">With that in mind I bought some flowers and took the time to arrange them in my mother's old jug, I say old, the thing must be well over a 100 years old, formed on this earth out of clay and bone-ash or whatever went into jugs back then. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo6yp7-aKSccz3_UE_ixXVnh7blJKunQzAbbGBOO5oMmlzLU1UIRG52SUj3vRkXGMetF3LlmlZfG8IpE3hZHouaPbNwzAaILMh5l7Odzkmp41G70098eQjMpio7ry7LAa2RGjkdJGC9AoRaHw7r-8IxLWA8dHssw_rZm4xJEoFM2d3xGayw5x/s3620/20231215_182554~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3620" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo6yp7-aKSccz3_UE_ixXVnh7blJKunQzAbbGBOO5oMmlzLU1UIRG52SUj3vRkXGMetF3LlmlZfG8IpE3hZHouaPbNwzAaILMh5l7Odzkmp41G70098eQjMpio7ry7LAa2RGjkdJGC9AoRaHw7r-8IxLWA8dHssw_rZm4xJEoFM2d3xGayw5x/s320/20231215_182554~2.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not stopping with this huge effort (I was in a lot of pain as I lurched around) I spied these chrysanthemums and grabbed them. Why not? I sez to myself.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Gtx3iXqmVpgpsCOU18EriJ2zOL717G_OBOY1nrUClUbRGmjhp0OjinwrZZRxD9GYAHNOYfMkuP5Lh2hnHAighYyEE7v5dqDWZI-hSomu9XSb58xw-mFFO2vR_kQcX8UMxNGItuMQlVvFj86o0jFDyVr1T9NZVtCpiom7Snc_dxSVx5TC1bm/s3814/20231216_143049~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="3452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2Gtx3iXqmVpgpsCOU18EriJ2zOL717G_OBOY1nrUClUbRGmjhp0OjinwrZZRxD9GYAHNOYfMkuP5Lh2hnHAighYyEE7v5dqDWZI-hSomu9XSb58xw-mFFO2vR_kQcX8UMxNGItuMQlVvFj86o0jFDyVr1T9NZVtCpiom7Snc_dxSVx5TC1bm/s320/20231216_143049~2.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And my Christmas cactus decided to show her multiple faces recently:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef33nrKUTwUyQWj-b0v-y_ZlUfQYdIOmxAisJMso2S27Y8mrLkfeJw7htmYkelmhrc9SkuUQqKiONDPESSdU37Itt3Kir9ngkvMh0PQa3bZviTIjhuOo7iVHsDjNWUi48l3rtuEp0fUsdhpT7jZG3yy8hFUv7wNBMkMVw5kqDBo7cWzBT5Fyj/s3928/20231216_143001~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3928" data-original-width="3202" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef33nrKUTwUyQWj-b0v-y_ZlUfQYdIOmxAisJMso2S27Y8mrLkfeJw7htmYkelmhrc9SkuUQqKiONDPESSdU37Itt3Kir9ngkvMh0PQa3bZviTIjhuOo7iVHsDjNWUi48l3rtuEp0fUsdhpT7jZG3yy8hFUv7wNBMkMVw5kqDBo7cWzBT5Fyj/s320/20231216_143001~2.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought I would reinstate my Women's Christmas this year on January 7th. A long standing tradition in my home county of Cork, Ireland, which Covid and other health issues has prevented me from hosting. You can read all about it in this previous <a href="https://wisewebwoman.blogspot.com/2021/01/nollaig-na-mban-womens-christmas.html">post from 2021</a> I am amazed at how many times that post has encircled the globe and has instigated the tradition as far away as Australia and New York and even Paris.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once my little itty bitty corner of seasonal decor is completed I will post a few pics.</span></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-27466784191029385442023-12-11T15:27:00.001-03:302023-12-11T15:27:23.571-03:30A Difficult Woman<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl989JpBIEIX-CV_txNAduKUyYaHfvbxkSxY1ewF27Vybyh81vN4Y30Dj1LrlrbwUyJPonyfFZDtEjIw6q2E0R1ZTWSF-JWnJKv4qM3mEiAaNP2JN_ijdAtWQ93LFqsIDYDWDbSUY7w2wKCwdC_FlT_gUv-pjtT4sTbhp9RiHzX1ac6XZSTcQ/s301/difficult%20woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl989JpBIEIX-CV_txNAduKUyYaHfvbxkSxY1ewF27Vybyh81vN4Y30Dj1LrlrbwUyJPonyfFZDtEjIw6q2E0R1ZTWSF-JWnJKv4qM3mEiAaNP2JN_ijdAtWQ93LFqsIDYDWDbSUY7w2wKCwdC_FlT_gUv-pjtT4sTbhp9RiHzX1ac6XZSTcQ/s1600/difficult%20woman.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had this dream last night. My dreams are always fulsome, in glorious or inglorious technicolor, sometimes musical, other times with old ghosts of beings beloved and lost to the finale that comes to us all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last night I was being threatened with death by Putin. Yes. And Zelensky tried to save me and he asked me clearly, in his accented English, "if I can't save you, what can I put on your tombstone?" And without thinking, I answered, "A difficult woman."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And this gave me reams of thoughts when I woke up, obviously narrowly escaping the death Putin had wished on me.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgcUi9vvFOYe3dClGi0FW3Sh1wLi84P1PkUPbO35_s-okw3k2R4Q2351pPXpB6VNMyRJZrRPhBOYyxZUZxNm4LV0g9RpbGbDg7Mcy7Niy5zcV1ZUTqGuQn7sF-papbzUYs9TFLi1jdgWYOpT-yOmzkk482q6YqRqsg07WAAwAkE2Zmg51opj6/s310/difficult%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgcUi9vvFOYe3dClGi0FW3Sh1wLi84P1PkUPbO35_s-okw3k2R4Q2351pPXpB6VNMyRJZrRPhBOYyxZUZxNm4LV0g9RpbGbDg7Mcy7Niy5zcV1ZUTqGuQn7sF-papbzUYs9TFLi1jdgWYOpT-yOmzkk482q6YqRqsg07WAAwAkE2Zmg51opj6/s1600/difficult%202.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have I been a difficult woman?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Being raised in a challenging religious misogynistic cult in Ireland in the forties and fifties was the foundation for obedient and fearful compliance with the restrictive rules for women, their dress, their behaviours their virginity, their limited futures. But most of all their second class standing within the patriarchy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A life of don'ts. I could list them but you get the picture.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I questioned all the tenets held dear by those around me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I then broke all the rules. I joined the Irish communist party. I went on the stage. I played folk songs in pubs. I dated many, many men and would not commit. I learned five languages (unheard of for a girl) and took advanced mathematics in a school that encouraged women's intelligence and critical thinking. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I rebelled. Both in tiny ways and in large ways. To the point of <a href="https://wisewebwoman.blogspot.com/2023/07/exile.html">exile, which I have written about. </a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And exile was the greatest gift I gave myself. For I was finally free of the restraints of an Ireland steeped in women hatred, rigidly following the dicta of the Great Roman Misogynist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took "male" type positions, controlling and managing corporations, fighting for my rights, my salary, my position in board rooms.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBuBVU1afjR-rPZx1RDWuWXkJJINz-OVtPIbz1Bt2ckmJSoLl3G0PZWKRAeRBDl4jtdgC4rrl0oqdExqJYDh1buUhCRCBn_m1CjfmEdLBb9PRvo-c8lNRKmS7ZX1vL4YOCUOKQdBAA_EY6XuaKUiEUlc1kjFH3xeUxUX_PWQU45BikLhsetfv/s306/difficult%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="306" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBuBVU1afjR-rPZx1RDWuWXkJJINz-OVtPIbz1Bt2ckmJSoLl3G0PZWKRAeRBDl4jtdgC4rrl0oqdExqJYDh1buUhCRCBn_m1CjfmEdLBb9PRvo-c8lNRKmS7ZX1vL4YOCUOKQdBAA_EY6XuaKUiEUlc1kjFH3xeUxUX_PWQU45BikLhsetfv/s1600/difficult%203.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I attribute much of this chutzpah to my mother and my maternal grandmother, who rebelled in many tiny ways against the narrow confines of their unappreciated and dismissed enslaved-labour-intensive lives.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thus I rebelled in major ways.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I am ever, and always, a radical feminist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Women still have a long, long way to go. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The USA still hasn't ratified the Equal Rights Amendment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Handmaid's Tale is becoming all too real everywhere in right wing ideology.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Etc.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I fight for the rights of impoverished elder women now. You'll hear me blasting away on the radio and TV. I make those pols squirm in their Bentleys.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm a Difficult Woman.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I'm out and I'm proud.</span></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-42816675281176303272023-12-02T13:28:00.001-03:302023-12-02T13:28:20.215-03:30Rebirth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsNy3cTI6O1pYFonKw3seTxbQVOdeDo8mAxoMnLs_7tJhD_TArayy9BR5am8Nf-DwAoJljj9skygRH7kbhohqJQhaY2l43uVSJjfSw9C4CgZBl5_nz0wGpX5q-MnoHFz1D19kUqtqwQ3-0WUBxbe22eRU3r0MiGfBcSnOBB_wuJs9O_wXh8vt/s843/JB%20Fri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsNy3cTI6O1pYFonKw3seTxbQVOdeDo8mAxoMnLs_7tJhD_TArayy9BR5am8Nf-DwAoJljj9skygRH7kbhohqJQhaY2l43uVSJjfSw9C4CgZBl5_nz0wGpX5q-MnoHFz1D19kUqtqwQ3-0WUBxbe22eRU3r0MiGfBcSnOBB_wuJs9O_wXh8vt/s320/JB%20Fri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />A<span style="font-family: verdana;"> friend texted me a couple of days ago and said there was a duo we had previously enjoyed playing at a local coffee house that Friday night and we should go.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's been four years since we did this. Four years of isolation - more difficult and challenging for elderly seniors than you young 'uns would believe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you're running out of life-time, each day is precious but losing around 1,500 days of "normal" seems like a punishment, a theft, never to be refunded.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The gig was incredible, they played Everly Brothers, Elton John, John Prine, etc. in perfect harmony, and my friend and I chatted. She mentioned (she is 78) two of her only remaining friends are now down for the count, one with dementia, the other had tumbled down the stairs of a cruise ship and broken her previously broken hip and was completely immobilized and comatose in bed and had her daughter text my friend and tell her she had lost the will to live and not to visit as she wouldn't see her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The duo sat down to chat with us on breaks and I mentioned I had done some folk singing in my time and they invited me on stage to perform a number but I declined as my singing voice got lost a few years back when I had a bad infection. But it was darling of them to invite me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't begin to express how absolutely thrilled we both were to be out like real humans in a real coffee house with real live music.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grateful tears. Though I have to admit I am paying for it today with pain. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But hell, it was truly worth it.</span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-3404894627466719362023-11-30T11:04:00.002-03:302023-11-30T11:04:33.696-03:30Sporadia<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Winter has arrived here on the Edge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I just took this photo of outside with most of the street snow gone (plows are quick on the job here, as is the super of the building with his mini snowplow and shovels and brooms)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RyhFT-SFJSrwGJdsM1lQPyMEPxCgCsbQ-EteOxql0Zm6j1DWY5MRNqVrE5TxdCddWZN3ejZc2Inxb4J0aMn1fcm3SRVjO_W1fDXxWYGUUfHGQg1Pp1Tl1EIXJp2OiKkqNUhq14AVO__3D_XVKo5lkkG5kbrb6DYcgGH6EV9ngXoyZGJQBV4k/s4624/20231130_104110~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RyhFT-SFJSrwGJdsM1lQPyMEPxCgCsbQ-EteOxql0Zm6j1DWY5MRNqVrE5TxdCddWZN3ejZc2Inxb4J0aMn1fcm3SRVjO_W1fDXxWYGUUfHGQg1Pp1Tl1EIXJp2OiKkqNUhq14AVO__3D_XVKo5lkkG5kbrb6DYcgGH6EV9ngXoyZGJQBV4k/s320/20231130_104110~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I<span style="font-family: verdana;">n honour of winter, last night I fetched down my mother's old recipe for steak and kidney pie and made two. I was drooling. I only make them once or twice a year as they're a bit picky and energy consuming to put together. Bonus: being low in iron, I get a bit of a boost from such ingestion.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XFS8bIL4GFZ-z9ZYtiynXPlZZTWwPnHBrNnm6TpjguR017w-hv5HHC1o4Qr3wppSIjqMmcmPrVpWt1M70e7ERtiCZb-bZasDNN4pLoVrAhZ8OsQgFOsMgpYcDTc3wNjSsUnEftshHZkT0qhewln2B6EVXqqvmK4IoxShSNeY42DZhW9UEsVL/s4624/20231129_171212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XFS8bIL4GFZ-z9ZYtiynXPlZZTWwPnHBrNnm6TpjguR017w-hv5HHC1o4Qr3wppSIjqMmcmPrVpWt1M70e7ERtiCZb-bZasDNN4pLoVrAhZ8OsQgFOsMgpYcDTc3wNjSsUnEftshHZkT0qhewln2B6EVXqqvmK4IoxShSNeY42DZhW9UEsVL/s320/20231129_171212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/henry-kissinger-war-criminal-dead-1234804748/">This evil man is dead</a>, I won't even put his name or picture here. Millions and millions of deaths on his hands. If there is a hell, I hope he fries forever in agony. Nobel Peace Prize, my arse. How corrupt our world is in honouring such a monster.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">An art piece brought back from Ireland by my daughter for me. It shows the famous "milk bottle" beacon which dominated my summers in the West Cork island where we spent years and years. I love it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L6JTC_mLT96XWEC2f8MrcWiWljVsPjkec64cjVKdubuepGLmwRHxwwZoIDCk4gFZ5ModeyeBiLWEwZxPbOdbz3CJ2s7T7Q5xcYCwhKPrBNvJJZ7__EobVYelgRWdLFU4jD4i2ti7h4QgdVKjDzdYFV7918oArMpZCxxSdu5DPooAIpdpb1HC/s4624/20231111_132835~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4L6JTC_mLT96XWEC2f8MrcWiWljVsPjkec64cjVKdubuepGLmwRHxwwZoIDCk4gFZ5ModeyeBiLWEwZxPbOdbz3CJ2s7T7Q5xcYCwhKPrBNvJJZ7__EobVYelgRWdLFU4jD4i2ti7h4QgdVKjDzdYFV7918oArMpZCxxSdu5DPooAIpdpb1HC/s320/20231111_132835~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">And this is an actual photo of the "milk bottle".</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOYwKexNRpTJqElDa4ePEds1_fXgVqMfQhGDyLdIlNNI8iR14jpojEdbyCokAmBZExH9D9WBHujIQHSwWU1gv-1ciujhAKTQi9fiLmcLyMj6fBRstenTZNQ5psK8JugwMuN-T-TGi0BF0E_gMZlGEG8tScGUm3grdft3KUzLgU2rN8XZD2YRe/s275/mik%20bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOYwKexNRpTJqElDa4ePEds1_fXgVqMfQhGDyLdIlNNI8iR14jpojEdbyCokAmBZExH9D9WBHujIQHSwWU1gv-1ciujhAKTQi9fiLmcLyMj6fBRstenTZNQ5psK8JugwMuN-T-TGi0BF0E_gMZlGEG8tScGUm3grdft3KUzLgU2rN8XZD2YRe/s1600/mik%20bottle.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-72619391037565304852023-11-27T12:08:00.000-03:302023-11-27T12:08:11.274-03:30Pandemics<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31wlPqSZCzXbq6mG9EAL-QbEoxODsC4KRm3tQ1-BasYEEiTmVghrnBxMLnZLI4OmYKLOmcYXtZeROiZCzhOPTUBbVH3HIvfisdF5nztUbQ22FFbvBe7IXam3FoRNAnznYy8GE9Ln-Wo5Rk-9fi5sAG8Eu4ieTuZGZPXuWpJWd3cOBCRXStMrV/s274/pandemic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31wlPqSZCzXbq6mG9EAL-QbEoxODsC4KRm3tQ1-BasYEEiTmVghrnBxMLnZLI4OmYKLOmcYXtZeROiZCzhOPTUBbVH3HIvfisdF5nztUbQ22FFbvBe7IXam3FoRNAnznYy8GE9Ln-Wo5Rk-9fi5sAG8Eu4ieTuZGZPXuWpJWd3cOBCRXStMrV/s1600/pandemic.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was riveted by this recent article in The Tyee. You can read the complete article <a href="https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/11/24/Chilling-Laws-Pandemics/">here</a>. The major points of the effects of pandemics:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(1) Immutable Forces of History</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(2) Pandemics Thrive on Upheaval</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(3) Pandemics are Social Accelerators</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(4) Pandemics Reflect the Civilization in Which they Flourish</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(5) Pandemics Erode Trust</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(6) </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pandemics Always Discriminate</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(7) Pandemics Spawn Irrational Social Movements</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(8) Pandemics Possess Long Tails</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(9) Pandemics are Biological Icebergs</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(10) Pandemics don't End with a Political Command or vaccine</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Excerpt:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; font-family: "Tiempos Text", georgia, serif, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"></p><blockquote><p style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; font-family: "Tiempos Text", georgia, serif, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"The technosphere represents a quasi-autonomous metabolizing system composed of concrete, plastic and steel infrastructure. It runs on fossil fuels, and its ever-growing complexity now requires artificial intelligence. Unlike the biosphere which generates no waste, the technosphere gobbles energy, water and resources only to spew out continuous streams of poisonous waste such as carbon dioxide, mine tailings and plastic garbage. The technosphere’s human-created components now <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-3010-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background: 0px 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: rgb(136, 136, 136) rgb(136, 136, 136) black; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: -2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">weigh more</a> than all living creatures on Earth.</p><p style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; font-family: "Tiempos Text", georgia, serif, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Pandemics, which can play the role of constraining rapidly growing populations of any kind, act as a sort of biological blowback to this relentless conquest.</p><p style="background-color: white; border-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); box-sizing: border-box; color: #393939; font-family: "Tiempos Text", georgia, serif, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Moreover, they are not random. They remain critical barometers of our social and economic fragilities. They accompany ages of discord like crows and coyotes on a rotting elk carcass. Disorder and violence follow in their wake. They accelerate every bad trend in society, whether it be political disintegration, inequality or the rapid advance of dangerous technologies such as AI. And they unleash dangerous social movements."</p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The whole article is well worth the read. The multiple upheavals on our planet right now are merely a symptom of massive and dangerous underlying symptoms which we ignore at our peril.</span></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-46437762057516618282023-11-04T12:07:00.000-02:302023-11-04T12:07:22.690-02:30Sporadia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCkCwD8qTeB3SmRvEofTodlxFRNIVbymvTsSsKsgFEe_2e2-NnpnHStAsGfLEE6EOGHvvUtd-aRxNG7WFmtuelwBWZHZTW0frj_4MyMA82ja21Wr_WAu_oclbTb_fTWJ7naxe2Nx2BGR4Dnmub-qUh3hyphenhyphenGul_njM16PUCGkAM4Aobs50rBqfg/s301/medappt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCkCwD8qTeB3SmRvEofTodlxFRNIVbymvTsSsKsgFEe_2e2-NnpnHStAsGfLEE6EOGHvvUtd-aRxNG7WFmtuelwBWZHZTW0frj_4MyMA82ja21Wr_WAu_oclbTb_fTWJ7naxe2Nx2BGR4Dnmub-qUh3hyphenhyphenGul_njM16PUCGkAM4Aobs50rBqfg/s1600/medappt.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">No worries on the title. I just invented this word to cover sporadic posts, blurts, exclamations. I think it neat. You may not. But whatever, as the young 'uns have it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've had far too many medical appointments in the past ten days, sucking the bejaybus out of me. Old age, seriously, is a full time job. Procedures, tests, evaluations, medications adjustments, frequent labwork, one on ones with members of my team, recording all my readings daily, exhaustion recovery and on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">More than ever I appreciate escaping into books and knitting which don't take much energy. I find my writing has slipped by the wayside and that niggles away at me. I celebrate a good night's sleep as an enormous achievement and a day which doesn't need the boost of a pain pill deserving of an Oscar.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I mete out my weeks like a miser hoarding his slivers of gold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next week I have the time for a hair appointment. I view it as a luxury now where before I would view it as an unwelcome intrusion into my busy week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I read about trimming down even further and viewed my kitchen drawers with a discerning eye of merciless evaluation. I cling to stuff like they are mementoes of good times. So I daringly tossed out all the old dishrags and tea towels and hand made pot holders. I have far, far too many of everything. All hidden, grant you, but I know they are there lurking in the cupboards and drawers. Next will be the shame drawer and shelves, you know, the big ones, holding all those plastic containers for leftovers and freezables and give aways. And the twos (or threes) of everything from tongs to serving spoons to spatulas. Mindless collections. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3m4Pos0I0YqGPv-XE6hkaUH0Pi1J6ipsndyKgsf4RYX1WWnNQbqCfYu1dhspmJf4jjwo4ZDvKeIIYNGnaXsoX14Pufk_mZHs-mtKNjvmp_LQSPM5-mcmxiKM37FQGKY-V68XKI385jhebhWSHs8hX-E-Bj_vV89bgi7aIbFXs14lXHtxYQ2W/s248/cont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="203" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3m4Pos0I0YqGPv-XE6hkaUH0Pi1J6ipsndyKgsf4RYX1WWnNQbqCfYu1dhspmJf4jjwo4ZDvKeIIYNGnaXsoX14Pufk_mZHs-mtKNjvmp_LQSPM5-mcmxiKM37FQGKY-V68XKI385jhebhWSHs8hX-E-Bj_vV89bgi7aIbFXs14lXHtxYQ2W/s1600/cont.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Between the shredding and the tossing my leftover - ha - life is full. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've even recently arranged for the disposal of myself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My dad had a very tidy ending. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I desire the same.</span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-19355191522836578172023-10-22T10:44:00.003-02:302023-10-22T10:44:53.081-02:30Sunday Selections 3<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not much to produce here this week. It has been a wet, windy one apart from today where I had planned to go out but my body went on strike, particularly one leg which woke me up at 6 and now it's 10.30 and I'm so short on sleep this could be a deranged post. Push on if you dare.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I found enormous comfort in this needlepoint image this week. It really speaks to me for the soothing effect of knitting.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVw2OixEK84V0qgDWMPrCLxTFzZhHzhyphenhyphen_9B4ZjwgU0YXyAAA2XE7t75Spdj4xR5bYOfD_TogBAE-Bl0E9qzdnTsVMVRmquXKGfrJxZxKmNvGIMQY-DKtwUYAHxYMp0JphxQw3m7iOs2HkEFF6ckjZEgMvaDvLPdGVxbZG3ce6pvx55CiLqBAq/s960/FB_IMG_1697401313365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="646" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoVw2OixEK84V0qgDWMPrCLxTFzZhHzhyphenhyphen_9B4ZjwgU0YXyAAA2XE7t75Spdj4xR5bYOfD_TogBAE-Bl0E9qzdnTsVMVRmquXKGfrJxZxKmNvGIMQY-DKtwUYAHxYMp0JphxQw3m7iOs2HkEFF6ckjZEgMvaDvLPdGVxbZG3ce6pvx55CiLqBAq/s320/FB_IMG_1697401313365.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is what our universal health care looks like.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauqSnZEIz95LPGpUlN0_fCSxBB5cwLbbegt4GdfJiQvYPGW94KDG4TmBsMbs0QsAVu3P8xM3jkuQ0uqoHE3vECHrty3CatQZxWQVUc3dMcLk3mENUJRNAiCAVmCZutt9KR2oDlUfVt3PNPgMjlsj_kWgL4kBrEt2LcsCM7l6Kl2px_RLvDmNI/s4624/20231022_102729~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauqSnZEIz95LPGpUlN0_fCSxBB5cwLbbegt4GdfJiQvYPGW94KDG4TmBsMbs0QsAVu3P8xM3jkuQ0uqoHE3vECHrty3CatQZxWQVUc3dMcLk3mENUJRNAiCAVmCZutt9KR2oDlUfVt3PNPgMjlsj_kWgL4kBrEt2LcsCM7l6Kl2px_RLvDmNI/s320/20231022_102729~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I use these to sketch out knitting patterns</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsus1hUzOOE75W-99AbyiPPuAxWwxv0CfH4lv4_BfJoidbsrRNGJ8K9gDuZKUaZ7YQZf9hIN69KJSbmGxWxbOZwgvXTilvAD4fHEN5NmpfpAswx2M9KLXjDE22yfgHO2HZSmwJuRP5m3-SajIl7vVFtb7Dm9l4WzQw1HHyboq7vrNJUBABzMMH/s3366/20231022_102908~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3366" data-original-width="1426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsus1hUzOOE75W-99AbyiPPuAxWwxv0CfH4lv4_BfJoidbsrRNGJ8K9gDuZKUaZ7YQZf9hIN69KJSbmGxWxbOZwgvXTilvAD4fHEN5NmpfpAswx2M9KLXjDE22yfgHO2HZSmwJuRP5m3-SajIl7vVFtb7Dm9l4WzQw1HHyboq7vrNJUBABzMMH/s320/20231022_102908~2.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Postcards received from my beloveds during the past week (we all love postcards!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYDxZE9oYHHLdR6FwAHoykwK-gA86-kayzGcaeXBv670R8jJRhN46hklu9W9V0wRJFSQOpb7lU_L513PQcJuKpIyXa8LMe1moE2Fgkp5zP4RNwMK85Bj_MQpFrHuWjIMQ8F0qbC8ueR7wM1yQIBeCYph5hCofuWODZDWAh8_aOtGXqeVBQy1R/s4624/20231019_163134~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYDxZE9oYHHLdR6FwAHoykwK-gA86-kayzGcaeXBv670R8jJRhN46hklu9W9V0wRJFSQOpb7lU_L513PQcJuKpIyXa8LMe1moE2Fgkp5zP4RNwMK85Bj_MQpFrHuWjIMQ8F0qbC8ueR7wM1yQIBeCYph5hCofuWODZDWAh8_aOtGXqeVBQy1R/s320/20231019_163134~2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And some animal stuff to make you smile/laugh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OZLaO8vAqxW88yrhCSWn8BRjDDdRDKxJM0ndzfN7armU6UysRraJ0nHc3NaSkN7IVmQqks5w5VvpILwr52qlmffkBtiV0B3XY7UgiqaDxVUvbRNrmwiskE5KUJFkSXqqrpv8aYJ2Mo-IfyE0K1bpzcUXSC4UvcMF89V4INrHnwwf9DI_aZJ8/s960/FB_IMG_1697717506811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="960" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OZLaO8vAqxW88yrhCSWn8BRjDDdRDKxJM0ndzfN7armU6UysRraJ0nHc3NaSkN7IVmQqks5w5VvpILwr52qlmffkBtiV0B3XY7UgiqaDxVUvbRNrmwiskE5KUJFkSXqqrpv8aYJ2Mo-IfyE0K1bpzcUXSC4UvcMF89V4INrHnwwf9DI_aZJ8/s320/FB_IMG_1697717506811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3RC847k2OwiFtFe9WKO9PPbjjQMsG8Hyn7s0UInpsAU4gfdRB4iD_S_HBBuS6nwakXgEUIELwm56Styw6aBMvEHk3mUBAsszg-FG6JRmOWkQpGoTOWOvRFPbjFlr-KPy8Zw0SOb7ErsOkW4plcD5Opc3JwexlgBZl15BHXpy7jJXf4Jzv-cw/s960/FB_IMG_1697592882666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="960" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3RC847k2OwiFtFe9WKO9PPbjjQMsG8Hyn7s0UInpsAU4gfdRB4iD_S_HBBuS6nwakXgEUIELwm56Styw6aBMvEHk3mUBAsszg-FG6JRmOWkQpGoTOWOvRFPbjFlr-KPy8Zw0SOb7ErsOkW4plcD5Opc3JwexlgBZl15BHXpy7jJXf4Jzv-cw/s320/FB_IMG_1697592882666.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-79043747907737465122023-10-15T11:17:00.001-02:302023-10-15T11:35:48.782-02:30Sunday Selections<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;">I'm joining with </span><a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/" style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Elephant's Child</a><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;">, </span><a href="http://river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/" style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">River</a><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;"> and others for Sunday Selections.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Spaces</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;">I took shots of the places around me - inside.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe1AgnqWoYxFpADVfrVtLRSVVWkkHfLFv23LVUw0hlASbQfxeMfx5Blo_x3Dt9KurE_nWNe38ksdmh2GsFXZ8LJ2xpqzLYbA4qtsKuOpIVAKyLa1ITEbZB02O02OY_Bd5IStZJtbiy9j91mSTOyXL9BZVMQSmYBLjni_LVuAZ3kSI7PKJV62V/s4538/20231014_115337~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3085" data-original-width="4538" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe1AgnqWoYxFpADVfrVtLRSVVWkkHfLFv23LVUw0hlASbQfxeMfx5Blo_x3Dt9KurE_nWNe38ksdmh2GsFXZ8LJ2xpqzLYbA4qtsKuOpIVAKyLa1ITEbZB02O02OY_Bd5IStZJtbiy9j91mSTOyXL9BZVMQSmYBLjni_LVuAZ3kSI7PKJV62V/s320/20231014_115337~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;">Upper community area which overlooks the lower community area.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjpY-Y_E0ztdb5d9TRpbLe62fnuLwBBnTGehr7xBHd__lbAOtKznkVM3RCK1wCJlVFd5sgIMY5c_O6Ckp52PqjL3DeB87h-EuXLimaS67TQ1_IYSIbE2xIlqp5YiRR9vJ4ISC9r7dI0uX180ufageoQNUtiRVkMevrWKkkgdCdr-XDqPypGWo/s4624/20231014_115326~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjpY-Y_E0ztdb5d9TRpbLe62fnuLwBBnTGehr7xBHd__lbAOtKznkVM3RCK1wCJlVFd5sgIMY5c_O6Ckp52PqjL3DeB87h-EuXLimaS67TQ1_IYSIbE2xIlqp5YiRR9vJ4ISC9r7dI0uX180ufageoQNUtiRVkMevrWKkkgdCdr-XDqPypGWo/s320/20231014_115326~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;">Lower community area which is quite massive, our resident pianist is practising.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;">There are libraries in both community rooms.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqzecmxiusXdhb1hvBIup8eyt-brp39TmO4pEJXiucP8khUO8Ncwu52fBtRjE0BCxp86Gj_h7iBFXc48qGKpTZT-PHuRVY43tBvItksR-ZvpC_camsehZTDEghH2b-hAu8BK5roDV0pvot8_MH1UDk9UfaSbw9oNx-D0vOiLiGlAVRLw7eDiW/s3219/20231014_164949~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3219" data-original-width="2117" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqzecmxiusXdhb1hvBIup8eyt-brp39TmO4pEJXiucP8khUO8Ncwu52fBtRjE0BCxp86Gj_h7iBFXc48qGKpTZT-PHuRVY43tBvItksR-ZvpC_camsehZTDEghH2b-hAu8BK5roDV0pvot8_MH1UDk9UfaSbw9oNx-D0vOiLiGlAVRLw7eDiW/s320/20231014_164949~2.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;">A "burning bush" bright and smiling in the fog outside the community rooms. It's autumn here in Newfoundland.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZTzUKJ9xL5Po0qPVba8y4D-rNQ1QQozM4OmwUJ-n1uklXmR4AxCIJaLV2NJf3uXcCvfeXLsZ_n7mJ_Dim_kFCOmLa9qprk423bvezUeZGliX6DqYaU3fulUEqPO3r93RDeEuqTmwEocMZOLDbmTDrJIGqHrY7mgSkOhH7KBVbyt7CQ0bvl4B/s4447/20231007_235033~3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4447" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZTzUKJ9xL5Po0qPVba8y4D-rNQ1QQozM4OmwUJ-n1uklXmR4AxCIJaLV2NJf3uXcCvfeXLsZ_n7mJ_Dim_kFCOmLa9qprk423bvezUeZGliX6DqYaU3fulUEqPO3r93RDeEuqTmwEocMZOLDbmTDrJIGqHrY7mgSkOhH7KBVbyt7CQ0bvl4B/s320/20231007_235033~3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My living room. Note windows have no drapes as nothing overlooks me, just the sea and the lake and Signal Hill in the distance.<br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQWsS4egR_-Xtb9vItIN6PAHo80ojBtMkVf5SpFmp4KiwkROAOV4M9tuS5S9jSZ6EoXAlDmBgBF14qkn4DmFfa4X5hna9nuUKjI5cJN8gZFO7ZccDthUgbz3FC4dL6ankurwsbAVdCXJW-cp5YSvvjkR-7_YSOHLBeol5d7L73FImgEQeGCRY/s960/quidi%20vidi%20ray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQWsS4egR_-Xtb9vItIN6PAHo80ojBtMkVf5SpFmp4KiwkROAOV4M9tuS5S9jSZ6EoXAlDmBgBF14qkn4DmFfa4X5hna9nuUKjI5cJN8gZFO7ZccDthUgbz3FC4dL6ankurwsbAVdCXJW-cp5YSvvjkR-7_YSOHLBeol5d7L73FImgEQeGCRY/s320/quidi%20vidi%20ray.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana;"><i>Photo by Ray Mackey</i></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">Outside from where I live overlooking the "village within the city" of Quidi Vidi. Can't tell you how beautiful it is, particularly in the autumn.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWf7DUGxkEC2YDKyy4WGdHb-O2UPuFyBKPDvxAfd5AVmKSGM3vxV0ARAvPi2QDTMMXTKNvrxSyNr7Hj4j1J3UsTJunRcr7hSye_StN7nIx8VGwj3fAaMhzxB8EBPM-CZuBxvo8ejfrA0PbdvKvCjYYE12xS30yi2caYI3SeJjTkaSSU9Tht7B/s4624/20231009_150540~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWf7DUGxkEC2YDKyy4WGdHb-O2UPuFyBKPDvxAfd5AVmKSGM3vxV0ARAvPi2QDTMMXTKNvrxSyNr7Hj4j1J3UsTJunRcr7hSye_StN7nIx8VGwj3fAaMhzxB8EBPM-CZuBxvo8ejfrA0PbdvKvCjYYE12xS30yi2caYI3SeJjTkaSSU9Tht7B/s320/20231009_150540~2.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7;">I am shredding stuff like a mad thing. But I found this note to myself made a long time ago and I must start this practise again. My energy is really low in the past week or so, but there are such moments and I forget them in the fog of poor mes.</span></span><p></p></div>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-75084374393130394082023-10-08T00:15:00.002-02:302023-10-08T00:57:19.597-02:30Saturday/Sunday Selections.<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;">I'm joining with </span><a href="https://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/" style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Elephant's Child</a><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;">, </span><a href="http://river-driftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/" style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); box-sizing: border-box; color: #26687f; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">River</a><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-size: 13px;"> and others for Sunday Selections even though it's only /Saturday (early) here but yay, Australian time!</span></span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">No theme just eclectic.</span></p><p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;">My blackboard in my office/bedroom, I usually put one word on there to keep me going for the week. As an elder I believe it is important not to go all geezerish and start off any sentence with "in my time" or "let me tell you that wasn't"...choose topic. So forward march.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xU2SkuQgTLFWRh6jMNvamWbPxSw9-SJeMP4Gq4LdRxQmMrJLYoU9EuVGuOEltaPMy1IPd9re9nd9gGrpp2bGcuUOkcmLt6x390YmyqLRl9JjYbpxgk32NxmekMuBKkGTDe3pZJBn7uiKhwFLJV8TYOCC4QzFFzvVpAHy6lCsirZtysaQysUE/s2902/20231007_234801~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2902" data-original-width="2609" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xU2SkuQgTLFWRh6jMNvamWbPxSw9-SJeMP4Gq4LdRxQmMrJLYoU9EuVGuOEltaPMy1IPd9re9nd9gGrpp2bGcuUOkcmLt6x390YmyqLRl9JjYbpxgk32NxmekMuBKkGTDe3pZJBn7uiKhwFLJV8TYOCC4QzFFzvVpAHy6lCsirZtysaQysUE/s320/20231007_234801~2.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><p>One of my brothers gave me this for my birthday, it's married, via Bluetooth, to my phone and hence to my favourite radio stations (one particular fave is out of Ireland that plays all classical all the time) and the sound is truly superb. it's been playing solidly for a couple of months now and I havent had to recharge it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mHZqTusoBsw84EOjO4uyvo8LB6YeyUog8OUjZ0XInPPdNacRGG_jJ69MuxGDWf__hdo-BxjCQoEmUkXYxo8wLOxXcb8XyA6_qXdw5dr6uyOhgBXjif4La0cd85sRpvYGX8mksKX58IXnhjokdoCjLmcFziLE7ctgPaAzqHd2dABZAz-m7LhP/s3468/20231007_234951~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2564" data-original-width="3468" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mHZqTusoBsw84EOjO4uyvo8LB6YeyUog8OUjZ0XInPPdNacRGG_jJ69MuxGDWf__hdo-BxjCQoEmUkXYxo8wLOxXcb8XyA6_qXdw5dr6uyOhgBXjif4La0cd85sRpvYGX8mksKX58IXnhjokdoCjLmcFziLE7ctgPaAzqHd2dABZAz-m7LhP/s320/20231007_234951~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I picked this commercial style shredder up for $15 from a sketchy looking fellah on the side of the road who sold it on Marketplace, used. I have a ton of files from my tax business to shred. it takes everything in its savage maw, staples included (important). I am thrilled with it. Already two full blue bags for recycling. Effortless. Better shredder than the one I left behind in my office in my former house.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJgjM6M0VxHJqIaIl8eXM9eNQ8WOKjVcS5oF84hvXuLWSv_ENCcNiv-oMZIsY4MaMd0x3X-BGSSaD53Fow3g7-h3JcUtQOES9fw_cWcqmPoB0DX_ts4glDRS9M_DMZ5G0FMhc2Syvc1kx1ttZJSFBUjfTsm0YveFcRMCT489-NNFakCicQj1K/s3378/20231007_234914~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="2843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJgjM6M0VxHJqIaIl8eXM9eNQ8WOKjVcS5oF84hvXuLWSv_ENCcNiv-oMZIsY4MaMd0x3X-BGSSaD53Fow3g7-h3JcUtQOES9fw_cWcqmPoB0DX_ts4glDRS9M_DMZ5G0FMhc2Syvc1kx1ttZJSFBUjfTsm0YveFcRMCT489-NNFakCicQj1K/s320/20231007_234914~2.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><p>A friend takes these incredible photos of birds. One of the newest arrivals to Newfoundland (climate change) happens to be the saw-whet owl (owl is my spirit animal) and he took this exquisite closeup last week. He says there are many of them here. Those eyes, yeah?</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm_DyNCUTv836mPFPHwJp2chySrM5ZCozML8X5Vd602zfR08kx9AEXJCO1KYs00ykNberxfcE16ACck7xDQ-A8jj-dDoEd4iUfLf-z6PZX7vmOkNSdvkau8HYbHHLqPMTZEmtdnlRCZy3cy7wbvDUub9WH-iG54KBRdwDbhtnZmkTkp22k5Hs/s1671/owl%20for%20drawing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="1671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm_DyNCUTv836mPFPHwJp2chySrM5ZCozML8X5Vd602zfR08kx9AEXJCO1KYs00ykNberxfcE16ACck7xDQ-A8jj-dDoEd4iUfLf-z6PZX7vmOkNSdvkau8HYbHHLqPMTZEmtdnlRCZy3cy7wbvDUub9WH-iG54KBRdwDbhtnZmkTkp22k5Hs/s320/owl%20for%20drawing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo credit Geoff Smith</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And finally, slightly vulgar, but many of you will snort as I did when this was posted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2ZSb5VyT_vwyMLp0azv4QKTLWHx1nYJR0xJV0y9US8PiXvkbXHkzwADxUZ9QURM0mZAWlxUimhYK7Ibd-CEyRDxnf7oezfn8WQp32vbw1lxp6e5gyqq6OLH-3IX0h1028gyNdit79-Gk-MDGZT_1IauH5-1TLJTypD16cP_YxR1UsSCgrrL-/s798/FB_IMG_1696475061177.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2ZSb5VyT_vwyMLp0azv4QKTLWHx1nYJR0xJV0y9US8PiXvkbXHkzwADxUZ9QURM0mZAWlxUimhYK7Ibd-CEyRDxnf7oezfn8WQp32vbw1lxp6e5gyqq6OLH-3IX0h1028gyNdit79-Gk-MDGZT_1IauH5-1TLJTypD16cP_YxR1UsSCgrrL-/s320/FB_IMG_1696475061177.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-59081555186502715742023-10-04T23:57:00.000-02:302023-10-04T23:57:10.408-02:30Stories I am told<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrggCvGjCa3rXpG4DcWhGHiz16cBHStNFkmQtAUKgQPYJr2btfHVRFZkUjnNdVeaeSoylt0hlqMWoKiuOFomKRw6fJSPteGuFdOXlX1lV1HlD0yKl5yM9h8XDKDyrObShlwPn81SNAwvzEVQPu_gk6fdXAoxcaKrTs9-sGHds3k8M0mhmI4WV/s216/grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="216" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrggCvGjCa3rXpG4DcWhGHiz16cBHStNFkmQtAUKgQPYJr2btfHVRFZkUjnNdVeaeSoylt0hlqMWoKiuOFomKRw6fJSPteGuFdOXlX1lV1HlD0yKl5yM9h8XDKDyrObShlwPn81SNAwvzEVQPu_gk6fdXAoxcaKrTs9-sGHds3k8M0mhmI4WV/s1600/grave.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo courtesy John Moore</i></p><p>I<span style="font-family: verdana;"> have one of those faces, the kind where a stranger will sit down and confide all kinds of personal events and occasions, happy and sad, broken hearts, personal history.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I make notes afterwards when something captures my attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently at a cafe, I was sitting harmlessly and writing in my journal when a middle-aged woman asked me could she sit down at my table as the place was packed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In due time she said she could write a story about her sister so I politely cocked an eyebrow at her. I was taking a break as I only have so much energy in my day now. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Her sister had always been trouble, since the day she was born, she ran away at fifteen and had a baby at sixteen that she gave up. Her father banned her from the house when she showed up one time, drunk and abusive. She would have been seventeen then, Anne, my temporary friend, told me. Her mother's heart was broken. Rosie went off again and they would hear from her now and again, looking for money. It was obvious she had a booze and drug problem. She was with a whole series of fellahs who abused her and, Anne suspected, pimped her out as she complained she couldn't work because of injuries.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dad died and mom was left on her own even though Anne invited her to live with herself and family. They hadn't heard from Rosie in a long while when mom got cancer and lasted only a few months before succumbing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rosie showed up year ago at her doorstep demanding her share of the estate. Anne refused to give it to her even though she had set her sister's portion aside in a trust account. She knew she would hasten the death of her sister who already looked wrecked and at least thirty years older than her age from hard living.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surprisingly, Rosie accepted she wasn't going to get the money unless she sobered up and got clean. She next asked where their mother was buried.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A month after that, a cop showed up at Anne's door and asked her to come to the graveyard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She did. And there by mom's grave was a small tent with the opening facing the grave and Rosie sitting inside talking away at it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The cops had received many complaints about the "homeless old woman" occupying a gravesite who never stopped talking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Surprisingly, Rosie was sober and coherent.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"I'm telling her everything," she said to Anne, "My whole life story, so she will understand why I didn't see her."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anne had a brainwave.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Come home with me so you can tell it to me every night," she said gently,"And I will type it up, and you can read it to her every day."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And slowly, with the cop's help, they gathered up the tent and the bits and pieces left of Rosie's life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"And what a story she told me," Anne looked at me, tears glistening on her lashes, "It would make the very hairs stand on your head."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And she got up then and left without even a goodbye.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN0Q_pUyj4QYu7VDwko2qkMHjqIoeT3XM7fNkOnBeB4B87JznwHgHf8PyHi9zMM0rahsTpQ7WFfMUAysDaGkAOQ7320cmikDOUKdrPly3lHqbEHrZvzIdJnBncYJZiFZgZPGleVf6cknF99586Nhw2chaJY-NmrIWVa6WT_0Ix9jNJDUQSqMB/s318/pages.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihN0Q_pUyj4QYu7VDwko2qkMHjqIoeT3XM7fNkOnBeB4B87JznwHgHf8PyHi9zMM0rahsTpQ7WFfMUAysDaGkAOQ7320cmikDOUKdrPly3lHqbEHrZvzIdJnBncYJZiFZgZPGleVf6cknF99586Nhw2chaJY-NmrIWVa6WT_0Ix9jNJDUQSqMB/s1600/pages.png" width="318" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-47945431976751844862023-09-28T11:11:00.001-02:302023-09-28T11:11:18.308-02:30Dreams<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp77BwnNqPjndqVG7zYIY1pVVa7IJjewMhISXuzEw3JjAb2luLvHDt_HEyLXt8SVTU5rqOc3ypjoJVkVB30kbtBCBMsfXDUzBnD0xcv0NBS1JSBkQNLULBYV0aV9p5XLj36t6bzl0D7gP_3nSiC8dPk-dWQc30IIvF6-Jukde32FIb0rgM5CUV/s3439/20230926_152045~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="3439" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp77BwnNqPjndqVG7zYIY1pVVa7IJjewMhISXuzEw3JjAb2luLvHDt_HEyLXt8SVTU5rqOc3ypjoJVkVB30kbtBCBMsfXDUzBnD0xcv0NBS1JSBkQNLULBYV0aV9p5XLj36t6bzl0D7gP_3nSiC8dPk-dWQc30IIvF6-Jukde32FIb0rgM5CUV/s320/20230926_152045~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Tuesday</i>, <i>I sat on the cliff at the ocean and watched the wild waves and mused.</i></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I find dreams enormously revealing. In fact I am quite good at analyzing the dreams of others, and a blog friend, sadly missed - who has gone into the vast stardust - and I exchanged our dreams at times as she also had the gift of dream insight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, I'm on my own with my sometimes baffling dreams.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently, two nights in a row, in sleep, I lost my car and the pursuit of my car was fraught with difficulties and challenges. One night I could see it at the top of a cliff and tried to climb up but kept falling backwards. I had a huge Newfoundland dog and endeavoured to have her help me by towing me up the cliff to no avail as she kept falling too. I woke in despair, carless.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next night I was in a familiar small town in Ireland which had a parking lot for shoppers and when I went back to the lot, my car was missing. I was told by a cop that I had the wrong parking lot, there were more parking lots, I had to check them. So I did, I kept wandering around, exhausted knowing I would never find it as I knew this town had only the one parking lot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dreams are utterly symbolic and tap into our subconscious deeply. I wrote about this dream in my journal as I knew it was powerful and I didn't want to forget all the details.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then it all fell into place.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recently I resigned from two pretty intense projects for many reasons. And now I am noticing I have lost bits of myself. I was changed in a way I couldn't define.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then it hit me. I have lost the drive, the force, that has always informed me, made me, ME.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I need to find it and this is my challenge at the moment. I need purpose. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I need to find my drive - my car.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rlwTKmYTdE1Jfvwet520yjNtg1anOX63J16eDj71keu_H2g5tsAdCflYigw0DvhjacwCq4EDL85TxanOTcKPWVwp34Nn3z_MUwlcd-T-QnlhLARYX4vf312yPeowLgR1luDAwhsTI00fZwwAst9nzFxlX6aEADaem8CdQqzPG6VMXkMuikYo/s2048/town%20I%20loved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rlwTKmYTdE1Jfvwet520yjNtg1anOX63J16eDj71keu_H2g5tsAdCflYigw0DvhjacwCq4EDL85TxanOTcKPWVwp34Nn3z_MUwlcd-T-QnlhLARYX4vf312yPeowLgR1luDAwhsTI00fZwwAst9nzFxlX6aEADaem8CdQqzPG6VMXkMuikYo/s320/town%20I%20loved.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">A photo from 9 years ago in the town I loved so well.</i></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-63114898956432103822023-09-24T12:19:00.000-02:302023-09-24T12:19:57.143-02:30Cults<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A couple of the definitions (brief):</span></p><div data-dobid="dfn" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: inline; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><blockquote><div data-dobid="dfn" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; display: inline; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">a <span class="AraNOb" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a class="rMNQNe" data-ved="2ahUKEwjg39K5tsOBAxX_EmIAHREMBYcQyecJegQIDhAq" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=568007022&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA961CA961&sxsrf=AM9HkKlerJ34Q8ThPymljXTjhy2kXVns0A:1695564625664&q=misplaced&si=ALGXSlbSiMNWMsv5Y0U_0sBS8EWzzO72kfK465hTn38xnEzdXnUEPCWpjeuYHUdbl8qLKhm6Ep5LrFSA3oXkR29oRf0OLZnjMQ%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="0">misplaced</a></span> or excessive <span class="AraNOb" style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><a class="rMNQNe" data-ved="2ahUKEwjg39K5tsOBAxX_EmIAHREMBYcQyecJegQIDhAr" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=568007022&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA961CA961&sxsrf=AM9HkKlerJ34Q8ThPymljXTjhy2kXVns0A:1695564625664&q=admiration&si=ALGXSlbxwhdHKc0fpoiOcM6OGd454pjTk_XX5kb57hyAfajSckhj2Vn8bYDfqlcwEq56BAk9d61NfmNfGCKeOE5kdr6THt4YMQ%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="0">admiration</a></span> for a particular person or thing.</div><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;">"a <b>cult of personality</b> surrounding the leaders"<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><span style="color: #202124;"></span><span style="color: #202124;"></span><blockquote><span style="color: #202124;">a system of religious</span><span style="color: #202124;"> </span><span class="AraNOb" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a class="rMNQNe" data-ved="2ahUKEwiLlr-Dt8OBAxV9F1kFHfH5AvYQyecJegQINBAK" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=568007022&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA961CA961&sxsrf=AM9HkKlvt6Lz7GNaM0yTW872LnbLcIKCFw:1695564780530&q=veneration&si=ALGXSlbxwhdHKc0fpoiOcM6OGd45eR8bboTrWbTf677BxeeAEZk9EAP2DhNxThtnYr4Tc4eRn7H21FtL2H7LwGM1adbmw_is4A%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="0">veneration</a></span><span style="color: #202124;"> </span><span style="color: #202124;">and</span><span style="color: #202124;"> </span><span class="AraNOb" style="background-color: transparent; color: #202124; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a class="rMNQNe" data-ved="2ahUKEwiLlr-Dt8OBAxV9F1kFHfH5AvYQyecJegQINBAL" href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=568007022&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA961CA961&sxsrf=AM9HkKlvt6Lz7GNaM0yTW872LnbLcIKCFw:1695564780530&q=devotion&si=ALGXSlY2XXqfLjvIaFfTE-GUlBx5pKRxDAcsxRFFE9c3mB6zfukPK0ABixybgjKljPUSBREOc_pxSl_4tWJbssU4AalGw2IMeA%3D%3D&expnd=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="0">devotion</a></span><span style="color: #202124;"> </span><span style="color: #202124;">directed toward a particular figure or object.</span></blockquote><span style="color: #202124;"></span></div></div></blockquote><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14px;"><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwf159QIVeaMFbsCSSypMCGb0m4mnGgO80BntvTT6tXwOmOxNO6W6Go4hDS7R5-MP2dy0Yb4k1DXBdhy496QSNjNOEen6vO9rUQHRoLk26DvtBMcdgaGTY5yPDek8X6wpJkbTJlK8R8wJo3AP3pxl8bNMK09urQirm3qWDMalILmGPXMK3x9U/s270/trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="270" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwf159QIVeaMFbsCSSypMCGb0m4mnGgO80BntvTT6tXwOmOxNO6W6Go4hDS7R5-MP2dy0Yb4k1DXBdhy496QSNjNOEen6vO9rUQHRoLk26DvtBMcdgaGTY5yPDek8X6wpJkbTJlK8R8wJo3AP3pxl8bNMK09urQirm3qWDMalILmGPXMK3x9U/s1600/trump.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am continuously surprised at those who can't understand those who worship Trump, who will put this criminal in charge of their very lives in the next presidential election in the US in spite of the indictments, the foiled impeachments, the 91 criminal charges. A man who exhibits contempt for them at every opportunity and spews venom and revenge rather than policy in every pathetic "speech." Who all believe it when he says he is doing it all for them as when they come for him they are "coming for you."</span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeucfcA_Pv9t99RLRhmUtgw9YvMxZk3rwLf0A2vspi6zUr2e6m-vU5pwtWuJwRvQaDQIITMjkXVZ6f0HQLmmPr-IVjWJnb4EiJfOLI_PeQf4xmtP8zhbq0AW_rCUVuttVx4MaVOoXKS_FZ_TtzvjONyHlNWfmEeUyzLeFvPqHKFkN9oN76U-Hv/s271/hitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeucfcA_Pv9t99RLRhmUtgw9YvMxZk3rwLf0A2vspi6zUr2e6m-vU5pwtWuJwRvQaDQIITMjkXVZ6f0HQLmmPr-IVjWJnb4EiJfOLI_PeQf4xmtP8zhbq0AW_rCUVuttVx4MaVOoXKS_FZ_TtzvjONyHlNWfmEeUyzLeFvPqHKFkN9oN76U-Hv/s1600/hitler.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have seen all this before in the cult of Hitler, the cult of Mussolini.</span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4_KkEgbflijoV9mGeHB_EAb0Brr4UzRETnCfVd8Vu7OOh5W80DazQVpjm32wZBKW3CKBvWLT1KfFrJ_qQRnWmwaLzoJZ53u7W8TuWmX7PuFyOYl5TpNvh1tsXBdt8AqVwBf1CwVMUJSQn5BqSD84a-_v8J5_IfmTR7Hg_kuz2u3QPweYV2Kn/s284/pope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4_KkEgbflijoV9mGeHB_EAb0Brr4UzRETnCfVd8Vu7OOh5W80DazQVpjm32wZBKW3CKBvWLT1KfFrJ_qQRnWmwaLzoJZ53u7W8TuWmX7PuFyOYl5TpNvh1tsXBdt8AqVwBf1CwVMUJSQn5BqSD84a-_v8J5_IfmTR7Hg_kuz2u3QPweYV2Kn/s1600/pope.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But more importantly for me, I observe it in the cult of the RC church. I am continuously astonished that despite all the evidence that it is and was a cult of rampant paedophilia endorsed by the Vatican in constant cover-ups and denials with victims thrown to the kerbs, and hundreds of thousands of children's lives destroyed forever, many continue to worship and donate and entrust children to be educated by this monstrous organization.</span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So the cult of Trump I completely understand.</span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en" style="color: #202124; font-family: "Google Sans", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 28px;"><span class="hgKElc" style="padding: 0px 8px 0px 0px;"><blockquote>Cult Psychology. </blockquote><blockquote>Experts who study cults suggest <span style="background-color: rgba(80, 151, 255, 0.18); color: #040c28;">the human need for comfort prompts people to seek out others or things to soothe their fears and anxieties</span>. Research suggests that these elements and others have led hundreds of thousands of people to commit to of cults operating around the world.</blockquote><p>With RCism, it is the promise of suffering here on earth which will guarantee you rewards in the afterlife. Like all religions. <b>But we need your money.</b></p><p>With Trump, he is the sacrifical lamb on the altar of Deep State. But even though bragging he's got billions of his own <b>he desperately needs your money to save him.</b></p><p>Bottom line is, of course, that it's all about money and the poorest of the poor are usually the ones who give it. Willingly, hopefully, thinking that their lives will be somehow improved, that the ones leading them by the nose will "save" them from the boogey man who lurks everywhere ready to pounce.</p><p>Thoughts?</p><p><b> </b></p></span></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p> </p><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div class="ZYHQ7e" style="color: #70757a;"></div></div>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-10829155960052454232023-09-19T16:52:00.004-02:302023-09-19T16:52:46.859-02:30Film<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In another life and time I would have loved to have majored in film study. I have been in love with films since I was 6 years old and taken to my first at the Savoy Cinema in Cork to see Cinderella. The night enchanted me. Thehuge organ at intermission coming out of the floor with the words of the songs printed on the screen, the extra B films, the newsreels, the icecream brought around in those little tubs with the wooden spoon, the upper balcony, the lower balcony. The magnificence of it all. Spellbound didn't cover it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the huge bonuses of my childhood was spending a chunk of the summer with my favourite aunt in the small town where I was born. Her husband owned the town cinema. I remember the serials on Saturday and the rapid turnover of various films during the couple of weeks I stayed there. I feasted on the likes of Roy Rogers and other films which were <strike>sanitized </strike> censored by the RCs who influenced the government and their <strike>righteous puritan hypocritcal hellhole </strike> Office of the Censor. I only got to see complete films when I moved to Canada including, if you can believe it, Hamlet with Lawrence Olivier and the unintelligible Gigi (huge swathes of film-ribbon on the floor in that one) so the plot hadn't made sense and finally did.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been in love with film for ever. I would mitch off school on a Wednesday afternoon and scrape enough money to go to the foreign film cinema and feast on German, Italian and French films (all cut by said Office). And of course the American blockbusters, short on nuance but loud on effects and Big Screen theatrics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had a collection of thousands upon thousands of films, many taped by me especially from TVO, an Ontario station that featured fabulous films on Saturday Night at the Movies along with serious interviews with the cast and directors. Downsizing, I had to let go of this massive collection (indexed and documented to boot - ADD much?)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I saved some of my favourites. But not many.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I recently discovered Criterion which has about 1000 old films in stock for streaming and am positively thrilled to bits. It continuously changes what's available and for me, this is a gift out of the blue. Around $8 a month to subscribe. Many are the foreign films from my teenage life at that tiny foreign film cinema in Cork which opened up so much of the world to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I try and see all the Oscar winners every year. Still. And I post irregularly on IMDB and have since 1999(ye gads, 24 years!)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's the link to that: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/user/ur0509769/">Wisewebwoman - Movies</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My favourite film of all time? <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dead_(1987_film)">The Dead</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzKCPDHG-e4ZoKEOU5jr6XtFvjvLPJUjws5w-Cv1Jb7vw65cV52Z1I_-PJk5Z8R602SihenB2-jYfW0wG1AuTT-P46KTTixed5B53s7B6P7POlxiTe2-4LGS_uI7wzccTcdOyUnYQijQbCqLQZ2esD9DDUPbH0facKlu_vdGLybiBUFCXMftt/s396/the%20Dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="256" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzKCPDHG-e4ZoKEOU5jr6XtFvjvLPJUjws5w-Cv1Jb7vw65cV52Z1I_-PJk5Z8R602SihenB2-jYfW0wG1AuTT-P46KTTixed5B53s7B6P7POlxiTe2-4LGS_uI7wzccTcdOyUnYQijQbCqLQZ2esD9DDUPbH0facKlu_vdGLybiBUFCXMftt/s320/the%20Dead.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But there are so many close that I can't possibly list them all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But a recent one comes to mind (pardon my Irish bias)</span></p><p><a href="https://www.imdb.com/review/rw8986707/">The Quiet Girl</a><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvk3r8E2DGEB8YJBK_9kA40dD8ujI33ASDLkPixdwxGF9l6xfPJxKXJK7YirUcLZUpKgEZKe_R5NmANRnJ5LwdqPMKwhZFTOL9A_MdvHJenXg7GLxZTJCRfgNdxZ7l8CB29BE1O_J1jUE7_LPgo9ZiWataBTqlGpS6Qy14fEjevBqzSFcG44S/s2048/quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1387" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvk3r8E2DGEB8YJBK_9kA40dD8ujI33ASDLkPixdwxGF9l6xfPJxKXJK7YirUcLZUpKgEZKe_R5NmANRnJ5LwdqPMKwhZFTOL9A_MdvHJenXg7GLxZTJCRfgNdxZ7l8CB29BE1O_J1jUE7_LPgo9ZiWataBTqlGpS6Qy14fEjevBqzSFcG44S/s320/quiet.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">But there are so very many incredible films. Many of them made in the forties and sixties but so many made today also.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bless you, Criterion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And your favourite film?</span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14874528.post-48843657432336356022023-09-14T11:35:00.000-02:302023-09-14T11:35:41.399-02:30Unsteady As She Goes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc-G7wqK5WuGxPfLnz04BKXKjTKDmGvQFe_cHT8mDjM7au7Hyn0SyWdqZvOaWedb3CcbybvoNIMIMWeYaU9pUuy7N5Tm-Qp5x5cG19HbPoXmkGuOouxYf0wl5POAdodQ4BP5qaVkLCmNXGtnKqIqgfzWNbBPAg-OAGS0CwLqSCalG8kmMSkUw/s1283/Little%20Sparo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1283" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxc-G7wqK5WuGxPfLnz04BKXKjTKDmGvQFe_cHT8mDjM7au7Hyn0SyWdqZvOaWedb3CcbybvoNIMIMWeYaU9pUuy7N5Tm-Qp5x5cG19HbPoXmkGuOouxYf0wl5POAdodQ4BP5qaVkLCmNXGtnKqIqgfzWNbBPAg-OAGS0CwLqSCalG8kmMSkUw/s320/Little%20Sparo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Two wonderful Australian friends visited and took me here for dinner.</i></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ivYkyHzXWdmku3c8s47cjZhKQpWuQRz07SUwE-jPhISsDJy-GJz-Ni_-JBjlIUGG6rmGmmPgqWyjlZEP_sQ3xapwjK-mkURVRlLuWLvYtecAsjBdSQvqVFDla-o61aVsue5i5zL4JSxZscllM0DxYMDBe86pldfQtzf1vD99-O6Nk2xVXO0A/s261/LS%20Cruise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="261" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ivYkyHzXWdmku3c8s47cjZhKQpWuQRz07SUwE-jPhISsDJy-GJz-Ni_-JBjlIUGG6rmGmmPgqWyjlZEP_sQ3xapwjK-mkURVRlLuWLvYtecAsjBdSQvqVFDla-o61aVsue5i5zL4JSxZscllM0DxYMDBe86pldfQtzf1vD99-O6Nk2xVXO0A/s1600/LS%20Cruise.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I told them (to much laughter) I had arranged for this cruise ship to leave as we ate dinner to enhance their harbour experience.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I get frustrated with this old age business. I'm finding lately I lose patience with myself. A lot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is so much on my plate and I want to tackle it all at once, just like the old days, quickly wipe my hands together and get on with the rest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But no. I'm finding more and more I need a whole day's break between a busy day's activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was complaining to Daughter yesterday about this and she said, as well she might: "Mum, you're 80 years old, that's normal!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't care for this new normal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The way my body cramps up and exhausts itself and falls down into sleep at weird times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And then, like today, I remind myself of how sick how I was just a few years ago when the pain wouldn't allow me sleep in my bed but curled up in a chair, where I needed a wheelchair to get anywhere, where tests and procedures ran my life and those of my family, where I couldn't stand long enough to get even my breakfast put together and had to send my laundry out and I feel a flood of gratitude that I am still here and more mobile but need to honour my body, my outlook, my life and yes, ADAPT, my motto. And remain grateful in my self-reminders of how far I've come.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I will pace myself and know my limitations. Say no, politely and nicely and do the things I do best and there are many and it takes a long, long time for us to know we are precious and amazing and talented and are worthy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our one wild, extraodinary life waits for us to wake up. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Every single day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Wisewebwomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15281689872840844191noreply@blogger.com24