Wordless Wednesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB5c39PZFQ4&feature=player_embedded

(I'm not techo-savvy to embed this correctly into the blog. But I did want to give thanks to East Coast Wahine for bringing this to my attention.)

My Gift from the Sea

I confess - I pilfered a book bought as a stocking stuffer for my daughter. It's Gift from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh. I read this book over 25 years ago but still cherish her encouraging and self-reflecting meditations. Her passages brought me comfort while going through a painfully emotional divorce. Her words today bring inspiration and reminders of my life's priorities: "To live in grace" as Lindbergh defines "inner harmony, essential spirituality which can translate into outward harmony". Lessons learned from the shells of the beach - the art of shedding (physical, hypocrisy) and simplify. Ah, my mantra these days - 'less is more'. Simplification of my outward life is progressing - inwardly, well that's another chapter.


When we start at the center of ourselves, we discover something worthwhile extending toward the periphery of the circle. We find again some of the joy in the now, some of the peace in the here, some of the love in me and thee which go to make up the kingdom of heaven on earth. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

No Resolutions

except one. Mindfulness. I have been thinking how to celebrate the new year with something that resonates with me now and in the future. I thought about the words: reflection, patience, compassion. Although each connotes many emotions and actions which could be a topic of self-improvement, it was mindfulness that incapsulated the sentiment I was seeking. So, taking the time to notice things as they are or sometimes seeing things with a different lens is key for me in 2010.

May your new year be filled with all the wealth of happiness and healthiness you seek. Over and out for 2009.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Photo courtesy of internet.

A Mash Up

Family calls but I wanted to post for Wordless Wednesday and Gratitude Friday:

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor to measure words but to pour them all out, just as it is, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away. -- George Elliot


Buon Natale and Mele Kalikimaki everyone in my blog world!

Though the weather outside is frightful

... It does make for a white christmas! (But it makes me miss Hawaii even more.)

PhotoHunt: Fast

as in fast food - Hawaiian style. I mentioned my love of signs - all kinds of signs. This neon sign seemed like a throwback to Old Hawaii when I saw it a few years ago. LikeLike is a highway in Oahu that traverses north to south, but the drive 'inn' is not on the Likelike and is not a drive through restaurant anymore. But, I do like the idea of this sign - saimin and all!

Gratitude Friday: Love

I am grateful for the love of family and friends. My life is overflowing with the warmth and care of these people in my life. Best to all my blogging friends.

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new
world is born. ~ Anais Nin

Wordless Wednesdays

The light of the candle, during this season, reminds me of the hope of peace. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all.

PhotoHunt; Undesirable

The rack at the Tower of London, a fortress and later a prison. Many a fair maiden, knight, and even a few queens met their fate here. The reigning monarch sent "undesirables" (dissenters of the Crown) to the Tower for a permanent stay at the Tower. Sir Thomas More was one of many who experienced the torture of the rack at the Tower before being beheaded in jolly 'ole England.

Gratitude Friday: Books

More specifically, books by Pat Conroy. I fell in love with his writing with The Great Santini, which lured me into reading The Prince of Tides. His new book, South of Broad, does not let me down. His artistry and the images he paints with his words are masterful. Who else could describe the his father's love of stars as "love songs written to him by God"?

Quote for the Day

Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make.
Something you do. Something you are. And, something you give away. ~ Robert Fulghum

Wordless Wednesdays

Doesn't the moon seem larger and brighter in a winter sky?

Smile

..you're on candid camera! Have a surprisingly fun day!

Quote for the Day

Shadow and Light


How does
a part of the world
leave the world?
How does wetness
leave water?

Don’t try to put out fire
by throwing on more fire!

Don’t wash a wound
with blood.

No matter how fast you run,
your shadow keeps up.

Sometimes it’s in front!

Only full overhead sun
diminishes your shadow.

But that shadow
has been serving you.

What hurts you,
blesses you.

Darkness
is your candle.

Your boundaries
are your quest.

I could explain this,
but it will break
the glass cover
on your heart,
and there’s no fixing that.

You must have
shadow and light source
both.

Listen,
and lay your head
under the tree of awe.

When from that tree
feathers and wings
sprout on you,
be quieter than a dove.

Don’t even open your mouth
for even a coo. ~ Rumi

PhotoHunt: Curved

Both of these photos were taken in England. The first is a rower on the Thames, under an arched/curved bridge. The second, well, what can I say - curved lines of a spider's web. PS: Sorry I haven't been blogging of late - life seems to be a little hectic at the moment. Hope this week is better. Enjoy your weekend - we are getting our first forecast of snow.

PhotoHunt; Technology

OK, it's not an original photo, but it does give me an opportunity to wish you all belated holiday greetings, and apologize for being an inactive blogger lately. Between family arriving from other states, holiday planning, shopping and cooking, and a trip to the ER last week, it has been hectic here in Boston.

This comic deals with medical technology, of which I am thankful (there, I've satisfied my Gratitude Friday post as well) because I suffered, for the first time, vertigo last week in work. It was a little unsettling as it affected my vision, which in turn affected my balance, which resulted in an ambulance ride to the hospital's ER. I'm fine now. Thankfully, the diagnosis was vertigo and nothing more serious. Halleluia for medical technologies: EKG monitors, blood pressure monitors, oxygen monitors, MRI's. All good stuff!

PhotoHunt: Birds

Thought this week's theme would be difficult as I have this 'thing' - thanks to my Irish friend into folklore - that photos of birds are bad luck. But, I did manage to get a few from my files - the lady's hand feeding the bird is from Byoto-In Temple on Oahu, the long-legged stork is on a beach in Naples, Florida and the last was taken from the beach at the street's end in Falmouth - gulls of course!

For those celebrating Thanksgiving, have a good day!

Gratitude Friday: Ipod

It gets me through the gym exercises and treadmill, long drives and walks. I know it's a benign item to be thankful for but honestly, I go into crazy mode when something happens to it.

Quote for the Day

Never regret something that once made you smile. ~ Amber Deckers, Mental and the Good Sense Guide

Wordless Wednesdays - Clean Slate

Work has been tedious and crammed with = well = work! On top of everything else - being close to short holiday break - applications due for various things - trips to be planned (no - not me) - the college is going through a complete change over to new hardware and new software systems. So, my computer is now a clean slate - which means none of my photos are stored here at the moment.

Wish my brain were a clean slate at the moment ....

PhotoHunt: Music

.. it must be in the air as I chose this subject for Gratitude Friday without knowing the theme for this week's photohunt. Photo taken in Sevilla, April 2003.

Gratitude Friday: Music

The world would be black and white without music. I was fortunate to grow up in a family where music was a part of daily life - from playing instruments to classical music on the 'phonograph'. I love all types of music, but rock and roll is my favorite genre. Jazz is a close second. Saturday routines include a healthy dose of classical music; Sunday mornings reserved for a whole helping of jazz. I am just beginning to listen to the local country radio station on my way to work and have a bit of Sugarland and Lady Antebellum on my ipod. So much to choose from ....

quote for Today

And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.

Mark Strand

Wordless Wednesdays

Quote for the Day

Each one is a gift, no doubt,
mysteriously placed in your waking hand
or set upon your forehead
moments before you open your eyes. ~ Billy Collins, Days

PhotoHunt: Veterans

A few photos taken in April on our trip to DC. The WWII memorial took a while to come to fruition, but it is awesome to see the care and thought that is evident in this structure. Each state is represented by the columns surrounding the fountain of hope. Of course, the Vietnam memorial, both the wall and the soldiers statue evoke many unpleasant memories for me as this was my era. The nurses tribute is long overdue. The Korean Conflict tribute is unique with the soldiers seemingly marching through a field, the wall beside them being a reflection to enhance your visualization of more troops.

Who's your Daddy~

Once again, Red Sox Nation will be rooting for Pedro...tonight. Hope he can throw as he did last game - win another one for the Phillies!
Photo courtesy of NYT

Wordless Wednesdays

Sometimes you just don't need words .....

PhotoHunt: Bags

I thought I would have a difficult time with this subject matter - not so! I couldn't decide which photo to feature because they are from places I love. So, I have posted two from the North End of Boston: bread boy and pizziella's et al in bags. Also from a Kapiolani Park Craft Fair (Oahu) and my wonderful Italian treasure, Lara, whom I met serendipitously while taking family and friends on a tour of Rome. She is a remarkable woman and got us into places within the Vatican only she and Constantinople knew of! She fed my desire to see more and more and more Caravaggios.

Gratitude Friday: Silence

I cherish silence as a way to meditate and pray or pray or meditate....or just be. As I get older, I understand that moments of silence are like whispers of calm. A pause helps to keep my world from rockin and rollin when I want it to be more like a waltz.

I consider myself today a very spiritual person, maybe not so much religious - in a Catholic sense. Prayer has been something recently arrived back in my life.

Wordless Wednesdays

PhotoHunt:Tied

Sailboats - cleat and boon sail. Typically common things tied in sailing.

Gratitude Friday: Girlfriends

May there always be work for your hands to do, may your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane, may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. ~ Irish Blessing


Spent some quality girlfriend time savoring a long-awaited reunion dinner. We toasted to us – having known each other for over 40 years. Seen each other through divorces, deaths, children’s births, serious health and emotional issues, renewed romances, memorable trips, momentous decisions, and many hysterically funny and sometimes embarrassing situations. As one friend put it, there are things you can tell your girlfriends that you can’t tell your partner or your family.

Photo courtesy of web

An Invitation in Dead Time

Fortunately, I have worked with one of the gentlest, wisest, most caring people in the Jesuit order. Indirectly he taught me daily something new about myself and realizations about my spirituality. Along with his passion for contemporarizing spirituality, he was a crafter of thoughts with words.

I still keep one of the sentences he used in some of his talks, and thought I would share it, this personal question, with you.

“What is your defining horizon?”

This was just one question he would ask you to ponder in ‘dead’ (spare/free)time. I thought that was truly painting a visual picture!

I'll share with you mine: when my mom died I was young and did not realize the impact her death or her influence and the depth of my loss until I had children; a counselling session while going through divorce proceedings when I realized I could and would survive; a Mother's Day card from my son, broke because of med school, but presented a most thoughtful letter about being a son to me; remeeting Ty.

Wordless Wednesdays - GirlFriends

Where would we be without them?
PS: Gratitude Friday will feature same topic!

Quote

What fun is it being cool if you can't wear a sombrero. ~ Calvin and Hobbes

PhotoHunt: Water (our choice)

Sticking with the 'water' theme (see Gratitude Friday this week - Rain).

The surf boards are a visual gift of Lahaina - although not uncommon for sure, they aided in making an early morning eye-opening a treat for me and Ty in Maui.

The other photo is of Portofino from the trail above the city - lovely, photogenic, wealthy Portofino ... The Italian and French Riviera - need I say more?

Alhambra (Granada) Spain

Kathy at (http://trekcapri.blogspot.com) and I have shared our stories of Andalucia - especially the Alhambra. We even blogged common photos.

Since my return from London, I have become eager to learn about the line of monarchy and thus the history of England (bear with me). So, I have been devouring historical fiction novels about the notable queens and notorious kings. Presently, I am reading, The Constant Princess, which is a novel about Catherine of Aragon - youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, Princess of Spain and Wales (Arthur's wife and then dutifully, faithfully and tragically - Henry VIII's). The book describes the entrance into the Alhambra after the King and Queen of Spain defeated the Moors. The author, Phillippa Gregory, describes the Alhambra like poetry: "But the little doorway is like a keyhole to a treasure chest of boxes, the one opening out into another. ....Their very names are a poem: the Golden Chamber, the Courtyard of the Myrtles, the Hall of the Ambassadors, the Courtyard of the Lions, or the Hall of the Two Sisters. It will take us weeks to find our way from one exquisitely tiled room to another. It will take us months to stop marveling at the pleasure of the sound of water running down the marble gulleys in the rooms, flowing to a white marble fountain ..... Every window frame is like whitework embroidery - the stucco is of fine, so delicate, it is like sugar work by confectioners ..."

I hope to paint you the picture of the Alhambra in your minds - it is truly breathtaking to see..

Photos from the web.

Gratitude Friday: Rain

I'm grateful for its nourishment. Sometimes, a little solitude is a good thing. Rain can instill a reflective mood.