Monday, October 31, 2011

Contemplative Monday



Some good advice for us all, don't you think?




Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sunday Selection


This young woman has a hauntingly clear tone to her voice that will stay with you.......not to mention the passion driving that voice. Where does this come from at such a young age?


Even though the song is a 'sad' one, I am sure it may lift your spirits when you see for yourself that Adele is a performer to watch.


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Retro Saturday

The product below played a big role in my life as a child. Everybody drank this stuff! Not to mention it was very popular for a lot of kids to set up a little table and sell it in the neighbourhood on a hot summer day.


I remember wondering how the makers of commercial made the pitcher/jug talk! Actually this one was made before we got a TV and I remember a later advertisement with a different jungle: 'Kool Aid, Kool Aid....real great. Kool Aid, Kool Aid....can't wait!'


Anyone out there remember these earlier commercials?


Friday, October 28, 2011

Fall

                                                  
   
......kharif......autompne......falltime......maturity......

                           
......season......spill......surrender......pin......


......crepuscule......declension......harvest......dusk......



......equinox......capitulation......descent......gloam......


 
  ......autumnal......harvest......Indian summer......close of the year......

   
......St.Martin's summer......cropping......gathering......fruitage......

 
    They all mean the same thing: winter is coming.





Thursday, October 27, 2011

Thinking Out Loud





It hit me last week when I was at Dad's as he and my brother Freddie were talking. 




My father is not the least bit 'cluttered'. To come think of it, he never was. He looks at things in very simple terms and doesn't 'muddy the waters'. What you see, is what you get. Like it or lump it. No big deal to him.




Dad is 95 years old. He is more lucid than some 70 year-olds. His sense of humour is very much intact and if it wasn't for his hearing loss, he could 'keep up' with the rest of us in conversation.




James Sr. has always had a 'light' approach to life. He is the consummate joker. It used to get on my nerves and well, it still does after a while. I remember as a kid I never found it funny. I was more serious, like my mother.




In retrospect, if I had had a choice, it would have been nice to appreciate Dad's 'outlook' a little more back then. Maybe I would have acquired some of his lightness of being.




Hey, maybe it's not too late. Lighten up Jim!


    As a kid I used to play in the small park in front of these buildings in the north end of Halifax.     I lived just down the street towards the harbour.







Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Occupy Nova Scotia


                            Last Friday afternoon I visited the Halifax Parade Grounds.
                           It has been the site of Occupy Nova Scotia for the past couple of 
                           weeks.                       
                            Ironically it is situated under the shadows of two Canadian bank
                            buildings.                                                      
                           There were a number of very varied organizations  making 
                           their presence known.
                            This guy was obviously keeping up appearances. First time I saw                                                                                                                      
                            someone brushing their teeth on the Grand Parade!
    I tell you it had the feeling of the 60's all over the place! And I felt right at home!
    This was a 'seminar' of sorts and I could hear a lot of economics being discussed.                                    
    We had torrential rains the day before....thus the hanging sleeping bags.
                            This young woman was busy getting ready for later.
                            These chalk signs were everywhere.
                            I had a tie-dyed purple t-shirt in the late 60's with this 'peace' sign.
    Little do we know that the power to make change is in OUR HANDS.
                            And little do we know that we do have A LOT of power in those hands.
                            And that power can be exercised on voting day.
    All views were apparent. Some were extreme and some were moderate.
                            Both have a democratic right to be seen and heard.
    Now in my eyes the key to the success to this movement/occupation is some sort of       
    compromise on the part of the groups.
                            When and if they reach a consensus of their demands, they will
                            appear more united and organized.
                            In any case, this is what democracy is about.....when people have 
                            concerns about something they have a right to make those views
                            known.
                            It is our choice if we want to listen or not. What I did notice about 
                            this 'movement' though (all over the world) is that it attracted people
                            from all 'walks of life'.
                            This is what got my attention. Plus, of course, the fact that the 
                            world has taken on a look of desperation and greed.
                            And the disparity between the rich and the poor is becoming too 
                            obvious to ignore.
                            There are more 'poor' people now than ever before.
    And the 'rich', the 1%, are calling all the shots!
                            I really do hope that this 'movement' achieves it's goals to snap
                            us all out of our 'daze' and realize that we (the world) could all be in very
                            serious trouble before we know it.
    What happens in one country, particularly the western world countries, affects us all whether 
    we like it or not.
    So I will continue to support this in my own way.
    These folks have to eat don't they.
    I'll be back for a visit soon.                                     

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Laughing Out Loud


Found this on You Tube and thought it was funny. This guy is good! Enjoy.


Monday, October 24, 2011

Contemplative Monday




"Deep down in the human spirit there is a reservoir of courage. It is always available, always waiting to be discovered."    Pema Chodron, from her book 'Taking The Leap'





Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sunday Selection



Do any of you remember this song? It is the type of song that all can 'put a face to', I'm sure you can!


It was recorded in 1972 by Roberta Flack.


Saturday, October 22, 2011

Retro Saturday


This cigarette commercial was made in 1948. I guess that would make it 'vintage'!

It is kind of mesmerizing.........follow the leader, everyone join in! Guess it worked for a while, eh?


Friday, October 21, 2011

Fred



My brother Fred, actually Freddie is what he is called at home, is here for 10 days. He lives in Calgary, Alberta and he returns home 3 or 4 times a year.




For the past 9 months my father has required more care at his home.....in terms of someone being there overnight and in the mornings. So Freddie wants to 'contribute' when he can. He stays with Dad overnight and gets all the meals.




This is a break for the rest of us and we really appreciate it when he does this.  Thanks Freddie. I know my sister Marilyn from Edmonton, Alberta will be reading this, so I better thank her as well. She too spends time with Dad when she is home and we are grateful as well to her.




Only one of the perks of having 7 brothers and sisters.........sharing the wealth!


                                 This is Freddie and Sophie. He 'ranks' 7th in the family hierarchy.











Thursday, October 20, 2011

Thinking Out Loud


I have always been a political animal. Certainly didn't learn it 'at home' as a child.......maybe that IS why.




I see pretty much everything in a 'political' vein. 




When I was in university I hung around with a very active, politically motivated group of people. 




When I was a young teenager, I was always standing up for the 'downtrodden' members of our society.....and continue to do so.




I do not mind at all taking a stand on an issue that I believe in. Often times this has gotten me some pretty strange looks from people.




I demonstrated and protested in the 60's and would like to think helped in my small way to 'change' things and make them better than they were.




Everything can be better. Things must change. 




Now, it is the fashion/way we choose to get 'things done' that can be challenging for some. Not everything can be done in a manner that pleases all.




Take for example the recent protests on Wall Street. It was like deja vu .......young people finally 'taking a stand'....... These are not a bunch of uneducated losers, not wanting to work and just stirring up trouble. Who in their right minds would want to 'live' in this small park for days? They feel very adamant about what they are doing.




And in little ole Halifax we have a group of about 50 camping out at  the Grand Parade Grounds at City Hall.




People  feel strongly enough about issues of which they are totally fed up and are willing to do something......like taking issue with the multinational corporations, banks, insurance companies and the complicity of governments (western world governments). A HUGE gap has been created  between the very wealthy and the 99% rest of us.




I am all for what the Occupy Wall Street protesters are trying to accomplish..... peacefully. Who are they hurting? Hopefully only the image of those greedy companies.







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