Feeling different is OK.

I’m pretty much done, and have said everything I set out to say.  

Please Remember this: 

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

Look for the magical. It’s everywhere. 

Saving the Country

 “That anger simmers in the background,” Mr. Cassidy said. “My whole life, reading about great men and women who sacrifice for our country, who sacrifice so that we could have the freedoms that we have here today — and the idea that somebody would attempt to usurp those and destroy them?”

Senator William Cassidy, Republican  Louisiana 

From an article in the New York Times.   

Give this guy a Medal of Freedom!  

And while we're at it, it's time to send a shout out to Adam Kinzinger.

"I did it knowing full well it could very well be terminal to my career," Kinzinger said of his vote at the time. "But I also knew that I couldn't live with myself having, you know, try to just protect it and just felt like the one time I was called to do a really tough duty, I didn't do it."

He reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt:

"To sit home, read one's favorite paper, and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do things is easy, but it is markedly ineffective."

It's time to get off our duffs....   

Sunday Stealing: Valentine's Day

 

Hi! I'm your host Bev 2 Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This 3 feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal 4 all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise 5 to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and 6 intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

 Thank you Bev!  Always is fun..

Readers, if you would like to visit other blogs in the rota, Go HERE

Taken from ESL Conversations

 

 And Away we GO!

 1. What is the meaning of Valentine’s Day in your country/area? What happens on this day?  It's a day to celebrate Love.

2. Is Valentine’s Day more for men or women? Explain your answer.
It's a day to tell someone you love that they are special to you.

3. Do you have any special plans for Valentine’s Day? What will you do?  In a normal year, we would probably go out to eat.  On this day, we are going to just make a dinner and maybe a mug cake... A lot depends on the food supplies we already have.

4. Which traditional gift would you rather receive: chocolates, flowers, or a card with a personal message?  I would like any of the above but being realistic, when you can't just run around doing things with any semblance of normalcy, I will just be happy  that our kids are well, and that we are both alive and well.


5. Is Valentine’s Day only about romantic love? Or is it a good occasion to celebrate friendship as well?  As the story goes, St. Valentine was imprisoned for his faith.  There are some real questions about whether or not he actually existed, but for the sake of a lovely and loving holiday, we will say he did.  Anyway, he was in prison, and would drop little notes out his barred window asking that his friends and presumably his colleagues, would remember their Valentine.  And so we have this holiday. Sweet isn't it?


6. Do you like romantic movies? What is your favorite romantic movie?
I do. And that favorite is actually three: "Princess Bride", "Enchanted April", and "Emma".

7. Have you ever received a Valentine’s Day card or gift from a secret admirer? How did it make you feel?  I have a knack for finding jewelry right where I was told to look for it.  The *whatever* or *whomever* is was  never showed their face, but they could send dreams about where to look.  I once found two separate golden earring pieces at Balboa Park - one in the Grass while playing toss with a football- and several days later, I found the match for it in the grass at Ventura Cove.  

It was flat out weird but it really made a believer out of me.  There was SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT LOVES US!  My hubby and I are still stumped about it.  It's just not something a person forgets.  There are other things that point to a wonderful hidden world that is all around us, just as Jesus and other holy men have said it was....

8. Is Valentine’s Day the most romantic day of the year? If not, what day is?  Yes it is.....

9. What is the most romantic thing you have done for another person?  For a few years running, I take all my valentine things and decorate Mr. Z's work station with them.  He goes to sleep earlier than I, and he also rises earlier.  So it's so easy....

10. Valentine’s Day is promoted by companies whose only interest is making money. Discuss whether you agree or disagree.  I agree.  It's like any other holiday.  Valentine's isn't immune to the same commercialism that infects the rest of the days of the year.

11. Describe your perfect Valentine’s Day date.  Snuggled up and watching some dumb Rom Com .. "Romancing the Stone" is a good one... with my favorite guy.

12. How should a single person spend Valentine’s Day? What do you suggest?
Do something loving and kind for a random person, or as many people as you can, and I'd try to remember the (true lies) St. Valentine story that gave rise to the day, 

13. Do you enjoy playing cupid? Do you try to introduce people in the hope they will make a love match? No.  I'd rather let people stumble blindly along making their own choices.  That way they have ONLY themselves to blame.  Having said that, I like to remember the movie, "Grand Canyon".  If you don't know it, check it out HERE.  You'll like it...

 14. Some restaurants charge higher prices on Valentine’s Day. Are you willing to pay more to dine out on this day?  I'm not willing to go out to eat on ANY holiday this year, thank you!  So, I guess that's a "no".

15. Is a romantic gesture more powerful on Valentine’s Day or on another day of the year?  Well, maybe.... Flowers for absolutely no reason other than you know your lover likes them and appreciates them is always a powerful message.  Candy ... yah, that, too.

 

Saturday9: My Valentine

 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Paul McCartney sings that he won't let a day go by without remembering why he loves his valentine. What blessings are you thankful for today?  I'm thankful that the people all over the world are getting a handle on this pandemic, finally...

2) Paul directed the video of Natalie Portman translating his song into American Sign Language (ASL), which is the third most commonly-used language in both the United States and Canada. British Sign Language (BSL), commonly used in EU countries, is very different. Do you find it easy to learn new languages?  Yes, but I've never tried one of the tonal ones, only the western European ones.  However, tonal ones, like Mandarin Chinese - that has to be HARD!

When we get bored with something that's going on, Mr. Z or I will sign "Look at the Dirty tree." in ASL to each other and silently crack up.  Sadly, we only know a little ASL.  

3) The song is on Paul's Kisses on the Bottom CD, for which he won one of his 18 Grammy Awards. What compliment or accolade have you recently received?  Awe Shucks.  I cannot think of any recent ones.  I mean in the last decade at least. lol

4) Paul is an honorary NYPD detective. He was given this designation for performing a charity concert after 9/11. Do you know anyone in law enforcement?  Yes, several of the in-laws have been, or still are, in law enforcement.

5) Bob Dylan has said of Paul, "I'm in awe of McCartney. He's about the only one I'm in awe of. He can do it all. He never lets up. He's just so effortless." Tell us about someone whose talent you admire.  I've not ever seen an artist like my own daughter.  She is amazing.  Very gifted from a young age.  She works as a CAD artist for a mid-sized company.  I wish that she would sculpt and draw on her own more.  she did sets for a small theater group at one time, and designed toy animals for another company.

This is the last Saturday  9 before Valentine's Day and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday. 

6) The holiday is also known as The Feast of St. Valentine. Do you have a special meal planned for February 14?  No, but I might bake a small cake or something for the two of us. 

7) The phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve" began in medieval times. On Valentine's Day, men would celebrate the holiday by displaying their lady love's name on their sleeves. If you were going to adopt this custom, whose name would you wear?  The Love of my Life's would appear.  And a heart would surround it.  The heart would be made up of daughters' names in tiny, delicate, long hand writing.

8) Women buy and send more Valentines than men do. Who received the last greeting card you sent?  Probably my sister, last year. 

9) Men buy and send more roses at Valentine's Day than women do. What's your favorite flower?  I like them all. To be surrounded by a flower garden is my heart's desire. I play no favorites. ;o)

If you would like to see other Niner's  offerings, go HERE

Thank you Sam!

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

 

 

 

February 11..

 What have you been most worried about?  A. Covid19.

Is it realistic to worry about?  A. Yes

Is there anything you can do about it? 

 A. There was Plenty, not the least of which were to get a dire idiot out of the White House who prompted death threats upon the family of our leading health officer, and to wear a mask to protect others from ME should I fall ill. 

February Challenge: 10th Day: The list of Ja!

 This is not all the things but only a few. No need to go on and on. 

Yes to knitting everyday.

Yes to sewing every day.

Yes to sending loving vibes out into the universe.

Yes to rejoicing that we just may have averted national disaster

Yes to hoping for good health and energy to return to our people..all our people. 

Yes to baking small batch cookies now and then. 

February 9th Challenge: A list of Nö

 No more wars

No more factory farm dairy, meat 🥩 eggs

No more cruelty, hidden or other wise

No more treating women like chattel 

No more treating the Earth like it’s expendable

This will make you sick. I want that man arrested and charged with cruelty.

Crazy old man in Alabama is confronted after dragging a dog with his truck pic.twitter.com/oC2KRfCPGN

— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) February 8, 2021

February 7th Challenge.. When do you feel most energized.

Lovely Front Porch Garden in Santa Cruz.

 

I feel most energized when I see the beautiful creations of nature.

 

Rhododendron flower in the woods

Sunday Stealing: January - part 2

The Questions 

Thanks Bev.  

sorry it's not complete.  I couldn't get the other parts to do anything but add extra long strings of code.....

Can you eat with chop sticks?  Very well, in fact I like them better than a fork for most things.

2.Could you tell real money from counterfeit? Gee, I hope so.  Our money anyway, it's pretty easy, or so we are lead to believe.

3.What do you think about school uniforms?  I think they are cost savers for the parents.  I've had kids in both sorts of schools, and liked the uniforms.  Uniforms also keep the minds of the kids where they should be.  Also, with everyone in uniform, it means that no one can be a snob as far as clothes go.

4.What ancient civilization would you most like to visit? Greece.  That's where democracy was invented. I'd want to sit and listen to Socrates. Or Pliny, the Elder.

5.What would make a great new Crayola color?  I think there are enough Crayola colors as it is.  I think you should be able to order custom built sets.  That might be a better in innovation.

6.If an art project is created with the intent of getting rich and famous, does that cast doubt over its significance as a work of art?  Yes.  I think of Andy Warhol and shudder. There are lots of others but his is the most purely commercial "art" that there has ever been.

7.What do you get in trouble for the most? Having iron clad opinions about what modern art actually consists of.
 
8. Do you blow your nose in public? If I have to I will do so discretely.  I'd dash behind a tree or bush or something.... lol

9.If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go?  Seriously?  You have to ask this?  It's on an Island somewhere...

10.Is it as easy to make you happy now as it was when you were a child?  It's a darn sight easier for me to be happy than it EVER was when I was a kid.

11.Who knows more...you, or your parents? I do.  Both of my parents are dead.  My Dad could speak and write in five languages but he was a rotten provider.

12.What instrument would you like to be famous for playing? Guitar or the Lute.  If I had to be famous.  But, to be honest, I'd rather just be able to put up lovely little one minute covers of famous guitarists on Instagram, and be done with it.

13.Would you have sex with a stranger for one million dollars? My God, what a question.  NO!

14.Are you completely in control of your body? Not any more.  My body dictates my whole freaking day. My body speaks in three languages,  the brat!

15.What is the coolest web site you know of?  I don't know of many web sites, but Pinterest comes to mind. I like it lots.

If you would like to see other responses, please go HERE to the Linkie..
 

Saturday9: Waiting for Tonight

 

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

Readers:  if you want to read the rest of the gang, go HERE

 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Jennifer Lopez anticipates a night of unbridled passion with the love of her life. What are you waiting for tonight? (No pressure; it doesn't have to be as thrilling as hers.)  I'm eager to see the final episodes of season 4 of "Outlander"!

2) She sings that she's glad she's beyond those nights that found her tossing and turning alone in her bed. Did you enjoy restful sleep last night? I did.

 

3) Whatever Jennifer has planned for tonight, it won't include alcohol. She never drinks liquor. What's the last adult beverage you enjoyed? Had to be last year, probably, ushering in 2020.  Little did we know...

4) Ms. Lopez performed "Waiting for Tonight" during last year's Super Bowl halftime show. Will you be watching The Big Game this weekend? nah

 

5) Speaking of this weekend, The Weeknd will headline the Super Bowl 2021 halftime show. Are you a fan of his? Who?

6) Super Bowl Sunday is the #1 day for guacamole consumption in the US. When did you most recently eat something with avocado in it?  A few months ago I had avocado toast.

7) Chicken wings are a popular Super Bowl dish, too. When did you most recently eat chicken? How was it prepared? Two days ago we had a grilled chicken salad that Mr. Z made.  it was yummy.

8) This year, fast food chain Chipotle will run their first-ever Super Bowl ad. Do you pay closer attention to commercials during the Super Bowl?  Don't watch the super bowl anymore.

9) Random question: Are you more likely to pretend to be more naive than you really are, or more sophisticated? I'm too naive to pretend I'm sophisticated so I can't say for sure. 😉
 

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

February Challenge, plus a link to an article on the Impeachment.

First, the fun part:  February Challenge for the 5th of February.

From the Mother ship:

"Rules: 

*Grab a book, any book. 

*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader (If you have to improvise, that's ok.) 

*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) 

*Post it."

" McCabe knew about the conversation, and had seen a detailed three and a half page memo recounting the one hour and 20 minute dinner [conversation] that Comey had prepared and shown him. 

The Conversation was 'chaotic', Comey had written, 'conversation-as-jigsaw-puzzle, in a way, with pieces picked up, then discarded, and then returned to.' "

 

Now, the impeachment article before I lose the link:

Washington Post Article about the Impeachment.

February Blog Challenge: If you Had a theme song, what would it be?

I would probably have "I write the Songs". 

 

The February Blog Challenge

Today's prompt: What are the common misconceptions people have of you?  What do you wish they knew about you? 

They think that I am an introvert.  And, since I've had a blog since GeoCities, what people don't know about me by now just isn't worth knowing. 

February Blog Challenge, PLUS First shot ... Please go get yours..

 

 This is from Kwizgiver's Blog.... I hope you'll go have a "looksee". 

And though I have a feeling that I'm doing this all wrong... Here goes!

1. We didn't have to go to the mega center (read: Zoo) at the Petco Park.  A nearby Hospital set one up in a shopping center, and those guys really had it organized well!  

2. Happily, though it was cloudy, the rains, which would have really snarled up the enterprise, were over.  

3. It's almost noon and I'm eating my breakfast.

4. Chocolate was yummy, today.

5. Trimmed little Wolfie's face so he wouldn't get food caught up in his snout.

6. Avoided the news.

7. I'm not sure how this works but giving it a try. 

8.One of the volunteers at the clinic flashed me a Peace-✌️ sign, and I flashed one back, along with a  "Mahalo"- 🤙.  We both laughed through our masks and smiled with our eyes...

9.  It already seems like life is brighter.  I hope that any and all obstructions will fall so we can get everyone safe and through this!

10. I'm going to knit as much as possible today, though a nap will surely follow.  Getting 4 hours sleep a night has not been that good for a little old lady. 

Hope every one is safe and happy. ✌️ and 🤙 thank you....