Reasons To Ride A bike By Armani

I saw this video at Cycle Chic, from my reading list.

 I thought it might show several reasons to ride a bicycle!

And several reasons to follow 

someone on a bicycle!

Am I A Tramp?

There is always a method 

to my madness

first some dinner

and a few drinks

and then

you betcha!

and to think I learned it

all

from 

Walt Disney!

coffee time

ray

All Hail The Mighty Weed-Repost

A poetic follow up to the last post from a couple years ago.

!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

when did it start

the love of the lawn

endless sea of green

soft and tender

underfoot

natures carpet

to frolic upon

roll and play

used as feed

for many an animal

forage for a meal

in rolled in the weed

many shapes and forms

prickly or not

flowered or clinging

ground cover for some

spoiling the greenery

for many

yank pull cut dig

no stopping

the green vermin

stop it now

bring in the pro

a gunfighter of sorts

the weed killer

rode into town

with promises aplenty

worry no more

action it will take

machine or by man

lay down the spray

pellets by some

time and money

watch them die

but wait

like a swamp creature

from the deep

a lawn nightmare returns

jason could admire

a nightmare back

a summer scream uttered

didn't kill us all

badder then before

overcome the weak sister

lawn

let nature take its

course

do what it will

hail the mighty weed

and remember the 60's

grass is for smoking

Do Weeds Know We Are Having A Drought?

We are having the worst drought conditions

in thirty years

I swear that I am not a slacker

when it comes to yard work.

but pictures don't lie.

some pics from the front

this is a section that we will be putting down pavers

it would appear not 

a moment too soon

a weedy

gate view

my lighthouse

lonesome

foxtail palm

right now 53 inches high

when fully grown 35-40 feet!

Yes, I did the weeding.

I could hear them laughing at me.

"Run boys!" I heard one cry out.

"He can't get us all!"

They were right,

the bastards

coffee time

ray

A Father's Day Letter Repost

I think this got lost in the father's day shuffle. A letter from my daughter.

Daddy

Let me just start by saying that I am beyond blessed for the wonderful family that God has given me. My parents are extremely hardworking, honest, genuine, giving, beautiful people. I am Very proud of the woman they have helped me become. I will be forever grateful for all their efforts. It being Father's day and the fact that my dad enjoys writing, this is for you Daddy.

I have been asked more tan a few times who my role model is/was and why? Without any thought or hesitation, my answer is always "my daddy". So why? My dad is one of my favorite people!

My Dad...

Taught me how to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, and catch a football. Never missed a violin recital, softball or basketball game or practice. He made sure to call me "nanie" in front of everyone ( when little she couldn't say Dana, came out nanie ) and then buy me a "marlin" slushie ( meaning it was teal in color ).

He made sure I saw the simple beauty of nature by watching the sun come up, even if that meant waking me up at 5 a.m.

He taught me how to tile a floor, paint a wall and plant a flower. He taught me how to ride a bike, tie my shoes, swim and drive a car.

He taught me how to spell by making me look up everything in the dictionary. ( I am not sure if that was for his benefit or mine ).

He defended my intelligence in elementary school by saying I wasn't too stupid to read. I just needed glasses. ( I was too stupid to read ).

He taught me not to gamble. But if I do, how to keep a straight face.

He taught me how to beat "Doom" on the computer And Nintendo!

My dad taught me how to play the drums on the dashboard and not to be afraid to dance and sing in public.

My dad taught me how to give me the last dollar in my pocket to someone in need. That there will be always be someone worse off than me.

My dad has shown me the power of love by offering a helping hand, a compliment, a hug, or even just a smile.

My dad has taught me that even though I was brought up Catholic, that it is important to make my own decisions and follow my own beliefs and what is in my heart.

My dad taught me how to judge someone by their actions. Not by their skin color or ethnicity.

My dad taught me the power of imagination and to keep reading, no matter how old I get.

My dad encourages me to run faster. Work harder. Be stronger. Mentally, physically.

My dad taught me through tough love and how to fend for myself.

My dad taught me to give everything my all.

Then he taught me how to pick myself up when I fall.

He taught me that it is okay that big girls do cry.

So Day. thank you for doing everything from eating my salad creations to building me a strong foundation in life.

Thank you for the fact that you have Never stopped believing in me. In return,I will Never stop believing in you!

Love,

Dana

Does it Matter?

With all the hustle and bustle of daily living

With the daily trial and tribulations we go through

With all the wonderful thoughts

With all the wonderful brilliant people

With all the information and sights

Does it matter what I write

and draw

and tell my thinking on a subject

or idea

or opinion

when people stop by

do they read

or skip

on their journey

to somewhere else

is my voice being heard

or is my sound being muffled

by the din of all the noise

sometimes I wonder

is there worth in what I do?

My Sunset-Sunrise

last night sitting out in the front

of the house this was 

my view of the sky

It could be a picture

from anywhere

in the world

this time it

was mine

this morning as I walked

out to go to work

I saw this

looking a little further

I saw what looked like

three sisters

a nice way to start 

my day

now, of course, it is beer time!

ray

Drug Therapy On TV

A commercial comes on. It is for the latest wonder drug. It can cure this or it can cure that.  A sad looking woman, looking lost, wanting to be happy, enjoy her family once more.
She is depressed or has a breathing problem or weighs too much or something.

Then another voice comes on to let you know that this same woman who is now smiling and hugging people could just as soon die from the very drugs that are used  to save her. The list is long and scary.

The bad things have already happened to some people who were in the test group that was used to get the ok from the FDA for the drug companies to sell and manufacture the newest miracle cure.

But people don't pay attention to the disclaimers. They wander in to the doctors office and want the new wonder drug. They don't know what it is for, but a friend of a friend told them...

A drug for something you think you have.  You have a problem. But you don't know what caused it. Or the drug can cause worse problems.

I am not saying that all drugs are bad, just to be careful out there.

We need you. I need you. We want you to smile again.

Ignore the "as sold on TV" ad.

ray

Storm Rolling In

I know all over the country the weather can get a bit nasty. But here in South Florida it can get stormy in a moment. Hey, we have a hurricane season. Some pictures that I took before the latest deluge.

we don't get the nice puffy clouds that let down a nice rain.

they look scary

when I first moved down here

I would watch in wonder

different direction

moving in from all directions

almost time

the rain came down for about 20 minutes

drainage is always a problem with part

of the driveway

gets kind of deep

ankle deep

gratuitous tummy shot

ah that's better

beer time

ray

A Father's Day Letter

Daddy

Let me just start by saying that I am beyond blessed for the wonderful family that God has given me. My parents are extremely hardworking, honest, genuine, giving, beautiful people. I am Very proud of the woman they have helped me become. I will be forever grateful for all their efforts. It being Father's day and the fact that my dad enjoys writing, this is for you Daddy.

I have been asked more tan a few times who my role model is/was and why? Without any thought or hesitation, my answer is always "my daddy". So why? My dad is one of my favorite people!

My Dad...
Taught me how to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, and catch a football. Never missed a violin recital, softball or basketball game or practice. He made sure to call me "nanie" in front of everyone ( when little she couldn't say Dana, came out nanie ) and then buy me a "marlin" slushie ( meaning it was teal in color ).

He made sure I saw the simple beauty of nature by watching the sun come up, even if that meant waking me up at 5 a.m.
He taught me how to tile a floor, paint a wall and plant a flower. He taught me how to ride a bike, tie my shoes, swim and drive a car.

He taught me how to spell by making me look up everything in the dictionary. ( I am not sure if that was for his benefit or mine ).
He defended my intelligence in elementary school by saying I wasn't too stupid to read. I just needed glasses. ( I was too stupid to read ).

He taught me not to gamble. But if I do, how to keep a straight face.
He taught me how to beat "Doom" on the computer And Nintendo!
My dad taught me how to play the drums on the dashboard and not to be afraid to dance and sing in public.

My dad taught me how to give me the last dollar in my pocket to someone in need. That there will be always be someone worse off than me.
My dad has shown me the power of love by offering a helping hand, a compliment, a hug, or even just a smile.
My dad has taught me that even though I was brought up Catholic, that it is important to make my own decisions and follow my own beliefs and what is in my heart.

My dad taught me how to judge someone by their actions. Not by their skin color or ethnicity.
My dad taught me the power of imagination and to keep reading, no matter how old I get.
My dad encourages me to run faster. Work harder. Be stronger. Mentally, physically.

My dad taught me through tough love and how to fend for myself.
My dad taught me to give everything my all.
Then he taught me how to pick myself up when I fall.
He taught me that it is okay that big girls do cry.

So Day. thank you for doing everything from eating my salad creations to building me a strong foundation in life.
Thank you for the fact that you have Never stopped believing in me. In return,I will Never stop believing in you!

Love,
Dana

Happy Father's Day!

Here is a repeat of a poem I did a few years ago

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Remembered today

thought from Kat

maybe missed

enjoyed for now

did something right

that they care

not just one day

or two

some presents

cards given

one made me laugh

one made me smile

one almost

made me cry

thoughts when young

holding hands

watching out

show them how

teach what I know

hope its enough

bumps and bruise

hugs will fix

help the hurt

try this and that

one plus one

soon they pass

grow on their own

talents hidden

rise to the surface

bigger faster stronger

maybe taller

beautiful

handsome

had a part

in the making

boy friends

girl friends too

some nice

some hurt

learn to trust

deserved ones

smart in school

smart in life

fundamentals

no short cuts

do it right

right thing to do

almost time

leave the nest

holding breath

hand always out

help on the way

can't do it all

tried my best

be dad forever

good times

bad times

be remembered

best times

happy

father's

day

Happy Father's Day

to all the Dads out there

We do the best with 

what we have

and our only hope is that you

kids

do better then us.

I am happy to be your dad!

That is a present all by itself!

sniff

sniff

ray

The Tree Has To Go

I have a dying tree outside my fence in my back yard. I never did like it because of the tremendous amount of leaves and seeds it dropped everywhere including in my pool. But it did offer some shade and I was reluctant to cut it down.

There is another small tree that is attached to it, using the old tree as a host to live on. It has probably hastened the demise of the other tree.

a different view

here you can see the small tree

growing on the side

I did have a visitor stop by.

I ran in to get the camera

It was not really happy to see me

and started to turn to leave

slowly at first it ambled away

as  it got closer to the water

it really picked up speed

running to the relative safety of the water

The water levels are way down

as the rainy season has been slow to start

I wanted to take a picture

as it went in but there was no time

the finished look for now.

It was hot out. The good news is that the

falling limbs did not damage the fence.

and I did not get knocked off the ladder

or get hurt.

That is a very good thing!

Of course there was cleanup

involved. Tree limbs can be very

heavy so it took time

but now it is ready for pick up on

Monday.

It was not an exciting day

but it was a successful day.

coffee time

ray

The Versatile Blogger Award!

I would like to thank Shayla at http://shaylafish.blogspot.com/ ( The Inexplicable Rabbit ) for nominating me for this award. She is a talented artist, young and beautiful and has a wonderful and creative style.

I am totally surprised. I would like to thank the academy...pausing to allow picture taking...and to thank all the people behind the scenes that make all the work on my various blogs worthwhile.....waiting for the applause to die down.....or to start....cricket noises........

My first award ever.

But there are some rules to follow.

Award Rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 7 bloggers or more who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (in no particular order…)
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

1.

I love the old style of writing where the thought process of constructing a meaningful sentence written to someone or in a story was so powerful as to leave one wanting more. A letter from Thomas Jefferson for example.

2. 

I wish I had the skill to make objects of beauty with my hands. A sculpture, a painting, a fine piece of furniture that would stand the test of time.

3.

I love comedy. The kind that leaves you in tears, gasping for air, rolling on the floor, unable to speak, and then it starts all over again.

4. 

I love the stillness of the early morning. Nature starting to stir, a nice breeze, night into day, the perfect time for me.

5.

I am a quiet person around strangers. But I force myself to interact on a daily basis to free up my personality and have fun.

6.

I am an information and knowledge junkie. Once I have a question on something, I will not rest until I am satisfied I know the answer. 

7.

I have a math phobia. Try to teach me abstract math and what I learn today, I will forget by tomorrow.

Now for my nominations

1.

Linda and her Twaddle

You will enjoy her wonderful writings that depict her daily life's doing and her take on everything around her.

You will also see why she was awarded the Sexy Blogger award!

2.

 Cycle Chic from Copenhagen - The Original. Streetstyle and Bike Advocacy in High Heels

The title pretty much tells it all. A tireless promotion to make the world a better place through bicycling. Wonderful photos in every post.

3.

 Journey & Adventure

Great commentary on the workplace, outdoor adventures and life in general.

4.

 anybody listening?

The humorous and daily life going ons as a grown up middle child.

5.

 Christine Macdonald

You will be spellbound while reading the life story of a former stripper. You will laugh and you will cry.

6.

 Poetikat's Invisible Keepsakes

If you love poetry, you will love the poetic wordings of Kat!

7.

 Linda Lou, live from Las Vegas!

You will love her witty observational humor from the heart of Las vegas.

There you have it. It has been fun. I will wear the badge proudly.

coffee time 

ray

Egon Schiele-Wally Neuzil in Black Stockings, 1912

side by side

or 

top and bottom

as it were

The 

original I found

Egon Schiele-Wally Neuzil in Black Stockings, 1912

Courtesy of Richard Nagy Gallery, London

my effort

I used Derwent watercolor pencils

and added a bit of water to bring out 

the color

glad to be back drawing

time for a big cup of coffee!

ray

also found on R Jacob Artwork

Morning Rant

I see a country

where large pockets of racial bigotry and hatred are considered ok.

where backward thinking about the evolution of life is the right way to think.

where the rights of a woman are not considered her own rights

where the needs of a rich few are more important than the needs of society

where every religion thinks their religion is the chosen one

where controlling people is accomplished by infighting and jealousy

where economic disaster is used to keep people in line

where men without conscience are allowed to be in charge

where the playing field of life is never fair or level

where fear of loss is used to give up civil liberties gratefully

where lack of education is a plus to control the masses

where the constitution is being gutted and not noticed by most

where an economic crisis is planned to take what one has left

where water will be a tool to control countries and its people

where food will be a tool to control countries and its people

where the right to vote is limited and manipulated to achieve the end results needed

where the press, once used as a guardian of the people, has been gutted and silenced beyond all recognition

where the land of the free and home of the brave is an illusion and is neither

where money being spent does not exist

where social security funds contributed to by the masses has been stolen and to hide that fact, it is looked upon as an undeserved entitlement

where the saying " promises are made to be broken" is not a line from a song but what passes as a government practice

where manipulation of food quality is designed to hurt not to help mankind

where the quality of life in other countries is to be derided not emulated

where might does not equate right

where the image as a world power is an illusion

where world rights and there sovereignty  is being trampled upon and accepted as right

where the need to be accepted clouds independent thinking

where grotesque profit is the ultimate motivator

where corporations are considered people

where reality shows are considered important social commentary as opposed to cheap mindless entertainment

where sports figures are considered role models instead of spoiled pampered one dimensional characters

where being a teacher of children is considered very important until it is time to pay them to teach

where the internet is considered not a godsend but as a detriment against controlling people

where facts are omitted or manipulated to champion a cause

where mediocrity is considered something to aim for in life

where one doesn't rob a bank instead be a bank to do the robbing

where to not be held accountable for corrupt business practices must mean one owns a piece of Wall Street

where fast food giants write food processing laws

where big banks write banking laws

where large pharmaceutical companies write the drug laws

where companies have bankruptcy protection but people don't

where greedy and manipulative people are looked upon as role models

where having a conscience is considered a weakness

where the vulnerable are considered prey by the strong

where the scary science fiction stories of the past are no longer fiction

where machines are replacing people in the workplace because they have no needs

where creating three burger flipping jobs while losing one high paying job is considered an uptick in job
growth

I have more, but that is enough for now.

Hopefully this was  not too boring.

coffee time

ray

Male Hormones

It happens to men too. No, it is not the long list of changes that women go through, the suffering to the body and mind that takes it toll.

Instead it is of the stealth variety that plagues men. The biggest culprit is the gradual loss of testosterone. It is a big factor in the gradual decline of ones health. Such problems as fatigue, depression, sexual problems are associated with the problem.

Men are loathe to discuss such things amongst their peers. It is one of those things that men do, to suffer in silence, that is the way we are.

Imagine the light inside a car left on and unnoticed. Left on on long enough, the slow drain gradually make the battery unable to turn over.  The problem is magnified over the years when the pounds start to add up, life styles become more sedentary, bad eating habits, lack of exercise and so.

Nope, we don't go through the night sweats and stuff, the hormonal imbalances and stuff. We don't want to go through it either. We can't begin to understand what is happening to you.

But we sufferer in our own way. Quietly. And it's no fun either,


ray

“16 Harsh Truths That Make Us Stronger”

“16 Harsh Truths That Make Us Stronger”
by Marc and Angel Hack Life Blog

“It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more manhood (or womanhood) to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind." - Alex Karras

   1. Life is not easy. – Hard work makes people lucky – it’s the stuff that brings dreams to reality.  So start every morning ready to run farther than you did yesterday and fight harder than you ever have before. 

   2. You will fail sometimes.  – The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  So get out there and do something!  Either you succeed or you learn a vital lesson. Win – Win.

   3. Right now, there’s a lot you don’t know. – The day you stop learning is the day you stop living.  Embrace new information, think about it and use it to advance yourself.
   

   4. There may not be a tomorrow. – Not for everyone.  Right now, someone on Earth is planning something for tomorrow without realizing they’re going to die today.  This is sad but true.  So spend your time wisely today and pause long enough to appreciate it.

   5. There’s a lot you can’t control. – Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation.  Invest your energy in the things you can control.

   6. Information is not true knowledge. – Knowledge comes from experience.  You can discuss a task a hundred times, but these discussions will only give you a philosophical understanding. You must experience a task firsthand to truly know it.

   7. You can’t be successful without providing value. – Don’t waste your time trying to be successful, spend your time creating value.  When you’re valuable to the world around you, you will be successful.

   8. Someone else will always have more than you.  – Whether it’s money, friends or magic beans that you’re collecting, there will always be someone who has more than you.  But remember, it’s not how many you have, it’s how passionate you are about collecting them.  It’s all about the journey.

   9. You can’t change the past. – As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  You can’t change what happened, but you can change how you react to it.

  10. The only person who can make you happy is you. – The root of your happiness comes from your relationship with yourself.  Sure external entities can have fleeting effects on your mood, but in the long run nothing matters more than how you feel about who you are on the inside.

  11. There will always be people who don’t like you. – You can’t be everything to everyone. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently.  So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.  What others think and say about you isn’t all that important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.

  12. You won’t always get what you want. – As Mick Jagger once said, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need.”  Look around. Appreciate the things you have right now.  Many people aren’t so lucky.

  13. In life, you get what you put in. – If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It really is this simple.  

  14. Good friends will come and go. – Most of your high school friends won’t be a part of your college life.  Most of your college friends won’t be a part of your 20-something professional life.  Most of your 20-something friends won’t be there when your spouse and you bring your second child into the world.  But some friends will stick.  And it’s these friends – the ones who transcend time with you – who matter.

  15. Doing the same exact thing every day hinders self growth. – If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Growth happens when you change things – when you try new things – when you stretch beyond your comfort zone.

  16. You will never feel 100% ready for something new. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means you won’t feel totally comfortable or ready for it.

And remember, trying to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.  Strength comes from being comfortable in your own skin.”

- http://www.marcandangel.com/