tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35421310575368905702024-03-13T06:55:43.249-07:00Verde WordTHE VERDE WORD: REAL WORLD PHILOSOPHYAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-38815492011948294772016-10-27T06:58:00.001-07:002016-10-27T18:53:03.414-07:00THE BIG PINEAPPLE, BANANA AND MELONS<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMqJ_xKKoH0/WBHvX3BEOvI/AAAAAAAACkc/8fYW5BAzxlYbuogbW1YnYaWHUGVNwKQQACLcB/s1600/pineapple%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMqJ_xKKoH0/WBHvX3BEOvI/AAAAAAAACkc/8fYW5BAzxlYbuogbW1YnYaWHUGVNwKQQACLcB/s320/pineapple%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">Once
upon a time in Fruitland...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the
Nation of Fruitland the highest position in their land was the Big Pineapple,
the title given to their national leader. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Big Pineapple, knowing it held the solidity of compatriots, citizenry
and other fruits of the nation, was one of the great leaders. The current Big
Pineapple was colourful, healthy to the core, and sweet but could also be prickly. This Big Pineapple did a good
job. However in Fruitland, to be fair to
everyone, national leaders have to stand down after four years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This meant, the position of being the Big Pineapple was available
to whomever the citizenry, Fruities, chose as their leader. The abilities
for being the Big Pineapple were an even temperament, ability to get on with
others, able to manage the national economy in which all fruits equally worked
and were paid, health care, safety, security and naturally, democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The position was not one for liars, Demi-Fruits nor business
fruits who had their own interests at heart instead of Fruitland, their great
nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The time had come for Fruities to decide who they wanted to be the
Big Pineapple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The finalists in the running for the Nation’s Chief Executive,
being the Big Pineapple, were Banana and Melons. Although Melons is plural, it is one
entity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, there were two contestants.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Banana</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3JBtuhTWCE/WBIFQjLermI/AAAAAAAAClA/Xa0ioj0iAV0dLOAVaKuW1UpPdgoJTLBbwCLcB/s1600/smallbanana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3JBtuhTWCE/WBIFQjLermI/AAAAAAAAClA/Xa0ioj0iAV0dLOAVaKuW1UpPdgoJTLBbwCLcB/s1600/smallbanana.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Banana believed it was the best ever Fruitie to become the National
Leader, the Chief Executive and take the Big Pineapple position, however, ego
was in the way. Banana, like many other bananas, thought it was the
biggest, longest, thickest and able to give the most to the Fruities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Melons</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melons, also believed it was the best ever Fruitie to become the
National Leader, the Chief Executive and wear the mantle of the Big Pineapple
because of past experience working in the Big Fruit Bowl, had met, managed and
successfully negotiated with representatives of many other nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, the Fruity citizens had to choose a leader, was it to be Banana
or Melons?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The biggest and most well known faults of Banana was the
propensity to blame others, was a braggart, not able to focus or stay 'on
message' or be truthful. Banana, being
thick could not develop any valid or sensible plans or strategies for Fruitland
citizens work, health care, security and, democracy. In fact, Banana in
wanting to make their nation greater than before, was a conflict because some,
perhaps most Fruities thought their nation has always been great, even now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">On the other hand, Melons biggest faults were the difficulty in
being able to communicate in a personal way, gave a misleading image as
although Melons appear thin skinned and sometimes mushy inside, the Melon image
appeared misleading. Following, Fruities lost the Melon flavour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melons had another negative issue based on honesty or openness
or lack thereof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melons
had been accused of causing many deaths in another far away nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The battle between Banana and Melons was troublesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Finding the taste unsavourable, some Fruities were not in favour
or Banana or Melons as both had lost the flavour of what the Fruities wanted in
their Big Pineapple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Consequently, although some Fruities were fans of Banana and some
of Melons, they would not vote for either.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However,
and also, there are a number of Fruities who will not be voting at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here's the thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">If a
number of Fruities fail to vote at all, they are literally giving their vote
and democratic rights away and afterwards, well may regret not having had a say
in who wins the Big Pineapple position. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Additionally,
by not voting, it will be four years before the opportunity comes to have a say
in who runs their nation. Non-voters are
cheating themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, if they vote for Banana or Melons and Banana or Melons gains
the Big Pineapple position and does a good job, this Fruitie voter will feel
pleased with being able to contribute. Obviously if Banana or Melons does
a lousy job, the elected Big Pineapple will not last long. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
power is in the democratic hands of the voting Fruities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Once, I was
in a Fruitie position in that I strongly disliked both competitors running for Office. I did not vote and I regretted if for a
number of years. I felt I cheated myself, others had a say and I had
nothing to contribute to, be pleased for or whinge about, because I had no
rights as I had thrown my democratic rights away. Ever since then, I have always ensured I voted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Big Pineapple role is comprised of many people and positions,
if Banana or Melons attains their goal and they are performing badly, there are
many supporting Fruities that can deter or stop the stupidity of the Big Pineapple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">In conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Feeling
that both Banana and Melons were not good enough to be the Big Pineapple, some
of the smarter Fruities decided to extract or not include their feelings for
the two competitors and instead, made their decision of who they shall vote for
by looking at the issues at stake in Fruitland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Fruities who voted this way felt they were making an
informed decision and were pleased they did not cheat themselves out of their
democratic rights to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif";">Enjoy your Democracy,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif";">Verde.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-73690114427449034362016-09-24T23:27:00.001-07:002016-09-25T01:38:31.694-07:00THE GOD COMMITTEE<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHM9joEkzT4/V-djCijrlmI/AAAAAAAACjo/tsTwd9pBDM01AXrWN_t-Jk4OqJhILh4gQCLcB/s1600/two%2Bplanets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PHM9joEkzT4/V-djCijrlmI/AAAAAAAACjo/tsTwd9pBDM01AXrWN_t-Jk4OqJhILh4gQCLcB/s1600/two%2Bplanets.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Once Upon a
Time, in the nethermost of godly stupidity, four gods decided to form a God
Committee. Their idea was to unite and share their efforts in creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Each of the
four gods individually believed they were clever and smart. Secretly, to each of themselves, they
believed they were the 'best ever', 'all-knowing' god.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However,
their individual self-opinion and self-focus was detrimental to their achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">This Is The Story</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IgrgB39FAu4/V-dnEdL_sdI/AAAAAAAACj4/UwD1dF0kZ2wGMif2bUnD5aUnKRExqt5uwCLcB/s1600/twoplanets%2Betc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IgrgB39FAu4/V-dnEdL_sdI/AAAAAAAACj4/UwD1dF0kZ2wGMif2bUnD5aUnKRExqt5uwCLcB/s1600/twoplanets%2Betc.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">In a remote
galaxy system a new planet was forming</span></span><span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Like Earth,
the planet held an orbit around it's sun with a slow rotation on it's axis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The new
planet held an atmosphere similar to planet Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Following millions
of evolutionary years the planet’s environment consisted of hydrogen and oxygen. In fact, an 'Earthly'
atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The God
Committee claimed this former rock, now planet as their own. As the God Committee was lacking creative
naming ideas, they used the name 'Earth' and turned the letters backward. Hence, Planet Htrae.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The main
differences between Earth and Htrae was that Earth was much larger and held
more mountains, greenery and lush plants, animals and insect life because of
abundant water. From a distance Earth
appeared blue but planet Htrae looked brownish grey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The gods,
being concerned that Htrae had few plant and animal forms realised this had to
be rectified. So, they decided there was a need for running water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">They created
four rivers. Now, because the four gods were ego-centric and not very
creative, they named the rivers after themselves.
Henceforth, the four rivers were named: Anger, Hate, Revenge and Fear.
The god Fear was the wimpy one of the group, never expressed an opinion
firm or otherwise, had any ideas nor contributed much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When the
rivers began flowing the God Committee were alarmed and did not understand why the
rivers were exhibiting the behaviours of anger, hate, revenge and fear. The God Committee did not realise the rivers
were behaving how the four gods behave, that is, each one singularly being
angry, hateful, revengeful and, fearful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And, like the
four gods, each river acted according to their individual will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">River Anger
violently bashed, thrashed and abused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">River Hate sneeringly displayed excessive dislike and demeaned all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">River Revenge
angrily raged, abused, falsely accused and 'got back' at those who had
supposedly wronged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">River Fear
timidly dribbled downstream whilst being frightened of everything in its path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Towards the
end of the rivers journey, they merged as a raging torrent with each trying to
dominate the others, except for River Fear who, being overcome by the others,
adopted an "oh whatever" attitude and flowed with lassitude over the bottom bedrock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The raging
violent melee finally became a lake. Sadly, after the flow of anger, hate,
revenge and fear, the lake became toxic, dismal and devoid of any nutrient rich
life. Thus, the God Committee failed to provide life forms such as those on Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Unfortunately,
the God Committee in their stupidity of creating rivers based on anger, hate,
revenge and fear, created a disastrous situation. After all, are not anger, hate, revenge and fear
related, connected and capable of poisoning that which is in proximity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The God
Committee could not foresee events, so much for 'all-knowing'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHkPqPa1bfU/V-dkE-cs_UI/AAAAAAAACjs/JhdPbQgwWlwahZQrnN3jzCqy5_jtvz-vwCLcB/s1600/dead%2Briver%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHkPqPa1bfU/V-dkE-cs_UI/AAAAAAAACjs/JhdPbQgwWlwahZQrnN3jzCqy5_jtvz-vwCLcB/s1600/dead%2Briver%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, the God
Committee considered themselves as the only gods, they were the one the only,
the original and no others existed. This
was onerous and very far from the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was another
god who acted alone with no need for a committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This god had no
gender, colour, physical features, language or anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There was no
need. However, because humans identify things by names, this god is named 'I Am'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am was
present only as a non-being, a non-entity. I Am did not 'exist' nor be
'non-existient' in our human understanding. I Am simply....'was', 'is'
and 'always would be'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am although
named by humans is of 'non-existence' a
god of 'nothingness' and because of 'nothingness' I Am both does and does not exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In contrast
to the God Committee, in human terms, I Am is a god of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">§<span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">I Am created
a river where no other rivers or lake existed.</span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Because I Am both does and does not exist, I Am has no emotions nor other human traits and
therefore, no ego. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For human
purposes, the name of the new waterway is the River of I Am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The River of
I Am peacefully, calmly flowed into another lake on planet Htrae and the lake
teemed with life such as grasses, worms, insects, crustacea, fish and many plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">One side of
Htrae was experiencing death throes and the other side was peaceful, alive, and held
richness of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">§</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The God
committee was distressed that rivers Anger, Hate, Revenge and Fear were so
destructive that the waters became toxic. The toxic waters flowed into
their lake and because the toxicity was so high, the lake slowly died and this
affected the climate and plants in the area and plants died and following, the four rivers also died. The God
Committee did not understand why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The River of
I Am and the lake into which I Am's waters flowed, continued to remain clean,
fresh and healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am,
observed all, instead of being self-focussed like the God Committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am, being
wise, could see the toxicity of Rivers Anger, Hate, Revenge and Fear poisoning
all living things within the proximity of the lake of these rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am knew in
time, the toxicity of the God Committee river water may reach the River of I Am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I Am had
created the only clean pure water, rivers and lake on planet Htrae and wisely
knew that love is needed for survival and growth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Negatives
such anger, hate, revenge and fear can be overcome by love, although at times, without much patience and kindness, toxicity can leach and poison everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The God
Committee may have recognised their error, but let us not leave everything up
to the gods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">With the riddance
of our ego-centric self, doing our best, being self-reliant and not trusting
some intangible omnipresence to correct errors in our world, we can ensure the deterrence
of toxicity in our lives and our planet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beOdFMQSncI/V-dW3eb6XtI/AAAAAAAACjY/dL90VglRPBIN7kOcwRDTke-g2yYs7tiXACLcB/s1600/River%2BI%2BAm%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-beOdFMQSncI/V-dW3eb6XtI/AAAAAAAACjY/dL90VglRPBIN7kOcwRDTke-g2yYs7tiXACLcB/s200/River%2BI%2BAm%2B2.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">God or gods
may or may not exist however whatever we consider gods to be or not be, it is
folly to see them in our own image, because being a seemingly ethereal existent
or non-existent entity, they are not human nor do they consist of human
emotions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Take more
personal control over anger, hate, revenge and fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Be wary of
being a part of any 'God' Committee as we must stand on our own feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not all God
or other committees really understand what they are doing when they hold their own
interests above others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Human life is
short, we must refuse to be poisoned by Anger, Hate, Revenge and Fear and, we must look
after the River I Am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verde.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "bembo std" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif;"><u>Credits</u>:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "bembo std" , serif;">Dead river - dronesonvideo.com</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">Two planets - allhistory.wikia.com</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">Stream - Val Verde</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-22457185747789864542016-08-29T22:23:00.000-07:002016-08-30T02:00:57.181-07:00THE HAPPY MUSHROOM<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-baC1Iq8ToiE/V8UR388iehI/AAAAAAAACiE/kcmiKt6PGTIvpxfPRVinsZSRIZMkvuhpgCLcB/s1600/Happy%2BMushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-baC1Iq8ToiE/V8UR388iehI/AAAAAAAACiE/kcmiKt6PGTIvpxfPRVinsZSRIZMkvuhpgCLcB/s320/Happy%2BMushroom.jpg" title="The Happy Mushroom" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This a distant cousin)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Once upon a time, in a far away field lived a happy little
mushroom.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She was a pretty mushroom, her cap was white with large red
spots and the underneath was...well...mushroom coloured. Her stalk was
cream and a bit thick at the bottom where it met the soil.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Happy Mushroom lived by herself on a mound near the top of a
rise in the field which was very large. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Although
she was alone, a fact she had no control over, she was happy. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Each day as the sun rose she welcomed
the warmth of daylight and in the evening she welcomed being wrapped in
darkness. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Much like any
other mushroom I suppose. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Happy Mushroom enjoyed her outdoor existence and was
continually occupied in feeling the changes of weather, seasons, sounds of the
outdoors as well as the presence of other living things. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She not only enjoyed life but she
loved being surrounded by life itself.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, as time drew on the Happy Mushroom became dissatisfied
and became the Not So Happy Mushroom.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, being smart, the now Not So Happy Mushroom knew she had to
do something to improve things. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She
wanted to become the Happy Mushroom she once was and enjoy her life again.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She began to think about how she could fix things.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Fixing things began with thinking about the cause of her
dissatisfaction, what could she do about it and, what would make her happy
again.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She was alone, immobilised on the top of a rise in a very big
field. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What could she do?<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx0USXEkgoI/V8UVSF73XZI/AAAAAAAACiQ/XL0jWViA9_MlZWGjwkQBPSNUTwNoc5d7QCLcB/s1600/Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx0USXEkgoI/V8UVSF73XZI/AAAAAAAACiQ/XL0jWViA9_MlZWGjwkQBPSNUTwNoc5d7QCLcB/s320/Field.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The now Not So Happy Mushroom, being an outdoorsy mushroom,
began solving her dilemma by thinking about her nutrition and then examining
how she felt about things.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> After
all, did her mother not tell her about the wisdom of the sage of mushrooms
knows as ‘The Big Fungus’ and that he used to say that nutrition for mushroom
growth comes from two places, good earth and the enjoyment of being?<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, the Not So Happy Mushroom firstly thought about her place
on the mound in the field and naturally she was rooted to the spot. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Literally rooted! <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So she could do nothing about
it. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She was to remain in
this spot forever. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>She
considered the earth to which her roots were bound and then she realised
something important.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As she had been on the mound all her life, there were a few
unfortunate factors. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Firstly,
being on a mound, over time, rainfall washed earth away from her roots and
secondly, her roots had been removing nutrients from the soil. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>In short, her nutrition larder was
becoming scant of good quality mushroomy minerals.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Not So Happy Mushroom was beginning to solve her problem.
She had addressed the issue of nutrition, but not how to improve it.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">‘What would ‘The Big Fungus’ say?’ she thought.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thus began the use of her ‘being’ that ‘The Big Fungus’ used to
expose as his philosophy, a bit like Buddhism or Taoism.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">‘What would ‘The Big Fungus’ do?’ she asked.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Not So Happy Mushroom realised she was now becoming the
Little Philosophical Mushroom.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But really, all she wanted to be was the Happy Little Mushroom again
but this would not happen unless she kept on following her path and that path
took her back to nutrition, of the mineral kind.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Little Philosophical Mushroom came to the conclusion that
somehow or other she needed to be sitting in and being surrounded by better
quality soil. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>So, by
putting on her metaphorical philosophical cap, she figured the only way to be
surrounded by highly nutritional soil again was to ‘feel’ it into ‘being’, to
‘think’ herself being surrounded by, and a part of rich nutritional humus,
grass and other such naturally fiberous material.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The former Happy Mushroom who had become the Not So Happy
Mushroom and then the Little Philosophical Mushroom whilst being rooted to the
spot did what The Big Fungus used to do. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She stilled her inner self by excluding sounds, smells,
vibrations and all other extraneous distractions.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Whilst meditating with images of being surrounded by good
quality grass and other humus type material, her inner voice was saying over
and over:<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> ‘I am...surrounded by good nutrition,<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I am...surrounded by good nutrition,<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> I am...surrounded by good nutrition, <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I
am...surrounded by good nutrition’<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Over and over and over and over, in her mind she continually
pictured being surrounded by good mushroom nutrition and her inner dialogue and
image continued and never stopped.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The afternoon, evening, night, dawn, day passed and a few days
later as the morning coldness and frost was still present, the sun rose from he
horizon. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>And as the
Mushroom emerged from her meditation, she felt different. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>The morning, although very cold, her
roots felt very warm, she could smell the morning grass but it was much sweeter
and as she slowly emerged she realised a major change had occurred in her life. <u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It was this morning that she became aware that she was almost
fully covered in some kind of mushy grassy fresh sweet smell of humus rich soil.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The former Happy Mushroom who had become the Not So Happy
Mushroom and then the Little Philosophical Mushroom whilst being rooted to the
spot doing what The Big Fungus used to do was now the Happy Mushroom again!!!!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Not so far away was a Happy Cow and, the Happy Mushroom was
almost completely covered in cow manure!!!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">§<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Moral of the story, if you have faith and focus on what you want, it can happen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You too </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">can be a metaphorical Happy Little Mushroom.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Verde.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhEYindxV8Y/V8UXt8AJByI/AAAAAAAACiY/1BZz6dihUk8RVrlpMjJh3nOJwycg_B9GgCEw/s1600/Cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QhEYindxV8Y/V8UXt8AJByI/AAAAAAAACiY/1BZz6dihUk8RVrlpMjJh3nOJwycg_B9GgCEw/s1600/Cow.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1. Mushroom image: feelgrafix.com</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2. Field image: aecos.com</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3. Cow image: vmbulletin.com</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-39037212121659672372016-07-01T05:37:00.001-07:002016-07-01T05:37:29.388-07:00CHEEEEEEZES!<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5OfqiCzBrA/V3YRTnCJwdI/AAAAAAAACdI/JeuNQk-F4D48HJZsHfVUl2ybYM5XcAueACLcB/s1600/mouse%2Beating%2Bcheeze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e5OfqiCzBrA/V3YRTnCJwdI/AAAAAAAACdI/JeuNQk-F4D48HJZsHfVUl2ybYM5XcAueACLcB/s320/mouse%2Beating%2Bcheeze.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We have all heard the question: 'If you were an animal, what
would you be?'</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">However, I have a different take on this question.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiiJq86HmkA/V3ZbkTsBbTI/AAAAAAAACdw/QHYqLg2H0oUCl6h5E_L0lqD_40uzR2TIwCLcB/s1600/cheeze%2Bboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hiiJq86HmkA/V3ZbkTsBbTI/AAAAAAAACdw/QHYqLg2H0oUCl6h5E_L0lqD_40uzR2TIwCLcB/s200/cheeze%2Bboard.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 13.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Came
home the end of a long day, tired, hungry and could not be bothered
cooking...but I craved cheese!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
the question came to me, "If I were cheeze, what sort would I be?"<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Really
earth shattering save-the-world stuff I know!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But,
I have a few thoughts on what kind of cheese I am.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">AM
I...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blue
vein? No...not many blue veins showing through my skin<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Stilton? No...I am not that stinky<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gruyer? Nope...I am not really subtle<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Rockfort,
rocqueaut, rocqfuart, wrockfaurt, rockfaught, rock...oh darn it...I can't be
rockfrourt..I can't even spell it!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 36pt;">If I
can't spell it...I am not rockfraught.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9v5rFQsKg4U/V3ZcLk8SlTI/AAAAAAAACd4/h-JPsk9k1T8XVr-2YAwsOiIgyD11CFsLQCLcB/s1600/rockfort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9v5rFQsKg4U/V3ZcLk8SlTI/AAAAAAAACd4/h-JPsk9k1T8XVr-2YAwsOiIgyD11CFsLQCLcB/s1600/rockfort.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Edam? Well...I am rather round, but I am not shaped like a ball</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Fruit
cheese Hey yes...I
am a bit fruity...and a bit nuts..perhaps I am a fruit cheeze?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Brie? Again, I am roudish...but not that round and subtle, but I am not crusty<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Camembert? Well...again, I may be just a tad crusty...soft, pliable and a bit squishy.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gorgonzola? Have no idea what it looks or tastes like stinky..so..nup..not me<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cheddar? Yes...I am yellow sometimes and crumble and have a bit of tang.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then
again...maybe I am the 'Big Cheeze'? Well...no.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
seems a few of the above cheezes seem to fit moderately well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
wonder if I am more of a fruit?</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Banana
Well...I am not the right shape<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Orange
No...I am not thick skinned<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melon
Um...some bits of me are melon shaped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Passionfruit
I am passionate...but not seedy</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Grape I am white, juicy and have been known to hang off vines on the odd occasion.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Peach I am pink, sometimes fuzzy....mmm...reminds me...must shave my legs soon</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pear
Yes, that is me. I am pear shaped, sweet, juicy and rather pleasing to
the eye, </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">at least, that is what some of
the boys say</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Nectarine
No fuzz (though I still have to shave my legs) smooth skin, feels good...a bit
heavy<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Strawberry
No, I am more pear shaped</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blueberry
I am bigger than a blueberry and not blue<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Raspberry Have been known to give people raspberries, but I am not one</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cumquat
Have no idea what it looks like</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Lemon
Yes, on a bad day I can be a sour lemon. But because I can be sour this
does not make me a lemon<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><u>So,
what does all this mean?</u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I AM:<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Fruit
cheeze I am fruity and a bit
nuts</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Camembert
Have a crust, soft,
pliable and squishy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cheddar
I sometimes crumble and have a bit of tang</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melon
Some bits of me are melon shaped...you can work
that out!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Grape
I am white and juicy<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Peach
I am pink, sometimes fuzzy<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pear Shaped like one and am sweet, and pleasant looking, at
least I think so.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">TO
SUM IT UP</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It really seems I am a combination of Fruit Cheeze, Camembert, Cheddar, Melon, Grape, Peach and
a Pear.<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
KNOW I KNOW I KNOW!!!!!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I am
not any one of these things because (drum roll)...<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I AM
A CHEEZE AND FRUIT PLATTER!!!<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;">It is obvious to me now. I am a mixture of everything!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;">Cheers,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;">VERDE</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>Photo Credits</u>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mouse 1.; gluten-freeprincess.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheeze Board; publin.ie</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Roquefort cheese; 123rf.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mouse 2.; Unknown</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fruit and Cheeze Platter; Betty Crocker.com</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-82182859171251133802016-04-09T09:22:00.001-07:002016-04-09T10:17:01.563-07:00THE SARDINE'S TAIL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Swim in the wrong direction and you may end up in the can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Such is the life of this little sardine and the tale of his tail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two little sardines, in their afterlife were observing a family of humans enjoying a meal.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The large sardine was named Tom and the smaller one was Timmy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom and Timmy had been best friends since they were small...well...except that Tom has always been bigger and older.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom and Timmy were not that interested in anything that happens because a poet, in her wisdom wrote and sang: ‘Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, Tom and Timmy were simply waiting for nothing to ever happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom, being the most life experienced sardine was simply observing the family when he realised something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom turned to Timmy...looking at his mate’s tail noticed that there was a piece missing from the fin area. Not wanting to bother Timmy or upset him, because Timmy was always conscious about his appearance, Tom said nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After all, if Tom said something perhaps Timmy might become upset.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Timmy...not interested in anything not happening, was watching Tom watching him...Timmy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So...?” says Timmy to Tom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So...?” replies to Tom to Timmy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They both looked down at the family enjoying their repast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The two sardines were looking down at their worldly bodies resting on a green salad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Like...how did that happen???” asked Timmy of Tom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom, not wanting to upset Timmy, feigned ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What?” asked Tom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Like... us being here...somewhere...a place where nothing ever happens and look...look Tom! Our lovely shiney bodies down there! How did that happen! Tom?” Timmy was quite aghast trying to look down but was horrified because the both of them had no heads and one had half a tail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom replied, “I don't know, I remember being in a big net kind of thing and then pulled from the water and dumped on some kind of human clanking thing in the dark.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It pushed me on and on, and on, around and around and next thing I knew, my head and tail was chopped off. Then, here I am with you Timmy, looking down at ourselves after being pushed out of that metal thing...a tin. We do look nice on top of that green stuff though.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Timmy began to panic and carry on like a chook...or something with a head chopped off...but then again....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Timmy was really beginning to panic and become very upset.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What about me! No head, with only part of my tail...what happened to the rest of my tail, I loved my tail...it was the best bit of me. I loved my tail...it swished and swashed and looked rather handsome...or so I thought! Look at it now!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom answered...”Timmy, get real...I can't look at you...I've got no head!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom reverted to being the wise old fatherly figure to Timmy and quietly explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Timmy...it is like this. We have been very lucky, our lives may be finished earlier than we would have liked but look at us, although we are dead and our bodies no longer of use to us, we have benefited others. We are food to humans, while other smaller things in the ocean were our food. Our appearance now is of little importance, but what is important is that we can benefit other creatures.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“See Timmy that's how it is, we have no heads, tails scales or bodies but we know we are here together. You know you can see me but it is not a seeing things with our eyes, it is a feeling kind of way of seeing. It is different, we may not have a physical presence...but we have presence in a different way...we can still see things...but differently with our feelings.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom continued. “I see us being formless beings...we are here...we know we are here...and just because we can't see each other...we feel and communicate through our presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah right.” Timmy replied sullenly with cynicism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So what now? We hang around here in heaven where nothing ever happens waiting for nothing to ever happen?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yes Tommy, but something will happen. See, we are formless beings or energies simply waiting until we move on to become other living things and become useful again. Just because we see ourselves on that green salad below...no heads...tail or half a tail...it does not matter. What does matter is that we still continue to exist in some form or other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our appearance does not matter anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah...right ok...but I still want my tail back.” Timmy complained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom kindly and patiently answered:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Timmy, get over it, it ain’t gunna happen. Forget it and move on. We can't go back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is like all life, once things happen...good or bad...we just have to accept things and move on.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At that juncture, something in heaven did happen. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom and Timmy began to move onto a new life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Verde.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*1 Image © futuristfarmgirl.com</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-48414803824159170372016-02-11T09:22:00.000-08:002016-04-09T08:56:00.664-07:00WAITING...WAITING...FOR WHAT?<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nP4xb1Jqqy8/VrzA8wGgOzI/AAAAAAAACUg/R6CKlgx6CT8/s1600/Cadiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nP4xb1Jqqy8/VrzA8wGgOzI/AAAAAAAACUg/R6CKlgx6CT8/s400/Cadiz.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Waiting...waiting...for what?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Godot?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This post, as all
my articles, is aimed at all of humanity because we, the collective ‘we’, all of
us, spend a substantial amount of time waiting.
It seems we are all the time...waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But, what do we
wait for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">In my life, I wait
for the sun to come up so I can eat breakfast and wait for the computer to load. I wait for payday, cabs, someone to arrive on
time, for the love of my life to cross my threshold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I wait for payday,
lunch, a report to land on my desk, a lottery win, birthdays, anniversaries,
parties, weddings, funerals, dinner out with friends, traffic lights, traffic
to move, trains to arrive, coffee to be ready at the cafe, for the ferry
to arrive at my wharf, grandma to get into the car, mum to iron my clothes, my
son to buy groceries, the news to come on tv at 6pm, the ad breaks so I can go
to the loo, the pizza delivery guy, the newspapers to appear over the fence in
the mornings, my turn in the supermarket queue, the ATM to produce my money, the
lady in the store to be interested in me as a customer, the cold water in the
shower to become warm, the bacon to cook, the Easter Bunny and Santa to come,
snow, summer, the tide to come in, the car to be fixed, dry cleaning to be done, the washing machine
to finish, the dryer cycle to end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We wait for the big
lottery win, someone to leave us lots of money, the new job, promotion, new
office, new car, house or apartment, holidays and so it goes on seemingly waiting until the cows come home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PHEW!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">When we think about
it, we spend a heck of a long time simply, waiting. Waiting for something
in particular or anything at all to happen in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But what do we do
while waiting?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Do we simply wish
or wait for things to happen or are we being proactive in helping things along?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">There seems little point in saying things
like...'I'm going to be skinny', I’m going ‘there’ one day.' ‘Sometime it will be my turn to be rich’, ‘My
ship will come in’ etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Saying things is one thing, doing things to make
things happen is another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Very few things
happen unless we do something to get things started or push them along a
little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Of course the pizza
will not arrive unless it is first phoned for, that is a no-brainer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">But there are other
things that definitely will not happen unless they are edged or encouraged
along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Want to have a very
comfortable lifestyle? Come up with an idea (ethical and legal) that can lead
to your own business. Very few people become rich whilst working for
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">§</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">While writing the above list, I emailed a very dear
fellow philosopher who I refer to as:</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">‘The Girl from Cadiz</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">’.</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Girl from Cadiz,</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">was
previously quoted in ‘Natural Elements – Fire’. </span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="http://verdeword.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/natural-elements-fire.html">http://verdeword.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/natural-elements-fire.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I asked her for what she waits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The answer was: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘</span><i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Peace of mind and wisdom. Still Waiting.’</span></i><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Now friends, this is far more important than my
first thoughts on waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Girl from Cadiz</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> is much deeper and more philosophically advanced than I.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Think
about T</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">he
Girl from Cadiz</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">’s
words; ‘<i>Peace of mind and wisdom</i>.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I
ask the question, how do we wait for peace of mind and wisdom?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It
is a case of simply meditating on one’s navel?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Instead
of waiting for something to happen, why not simply enjoy the moment we are
in. Sure we wait for the echoing ring of
the school bell, but while waiting, why not simply let go and enjoy the warm
fresh spring air coming in through the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Listen
to the quiet, listen to our heart beat, feel our skin as the breeze wafts over
our arm, feel our chest rising and falling as we breathe. Absorb everything around us in those moments
of peace and quietness. Because it is in
these moments of quietness when the mind relaxes, we have thoughts of nothing at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It
is in these moments when the mind becomes empty and feelings of peace embrace
our being that the inner quiet voice is accepting and being aware of things
around us that had not previously been noticed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It
is a form of tranquillity that will firstly bring peace of mind. And from that peaceful state of mind, the
brain is allowing us to simply be empty and allow thoughts to come that may at
first be foreign to us. With the mind
being empty of all diversionary thoughts and accepting of other thoughts, this
is where wisdom can arise.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It is the
time whilst feeling calm and at peace that we have the most wonderful thoughts
that can lead us on the path to wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Besides,
ridding our mind of the superfluous clutter and instead, live in the moment, is
sure better than simply waiting for things to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Clear
the mind, allow it to breathe and allow it to generate creative and positive
thoughts whilst enjoying your surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">This
is one way of generating T</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">he Girl from Cadiz's</span><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> ‘Peace of Mind and Wisdom’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Verde.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-39420044510000515852016-01-10T03:26:00.001-08:002016-01-20T20:12:08.607-08:00TILL THE SOIL<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ULmmwSwek/VpJJ1X-by3I/AAAAAAAACTM/I8eGHKDXtog/s1600/Windamere%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F8ULmmwSwek/VpJJ1X-by3I/AAAAAAAACTM/I8eGHKDXtog/s400/Windamere%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Love, like all things, </span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">has to be nurtured. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Without nurture, love can die.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">What is preferred,
love that is dry and wilted or love that produce fruits at their very best?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> In the mountains, there are two farms, both on opposite sides of the highway. </span><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">One appears to be on higher ground and the other lower. However, they are level.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The farms are owned and run by two families and for
a laugh they agreed to name their farms thus: The farm on the Western side
of the highway is called 'Upson' and the farm on the Eastern side of the
highway is called 'Downs'.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Now, this may seem humorous and many family jokes made
but in reality, the names of the properties reflect the nature and mental
attitude of their individual owners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Generally, in small towns everyone is well known but
because these two related families have very long and difficult to say names they
came to be known and called the Upson or Downs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Upsons are a happy family. Mr and Mrs Upson are generally rather ‘up’
and rarely ‘down’. Their farm produces rapidly
growing crops and the quality of their produce is excellent. The soil is rich and dark teeming with
organic life, holding much nutriment and is well irrigated. Every morning Mr Upson rises early has
breakfast, reads a bit of the newspaper with his coffee and he is ready for his
day of ‘soil toil’ as he calls it. He kisses
and hugs his wife regularly and plays many games with the kids. They are a very amenable and happy family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Downs are rather different. The Downs are generally ‘down’ and rarely ‘up’. Their farm has slow growing meagre crops and
the quality is very poor. The soil is
mainly heavy almost rock hard clay with little nutriment for growing anything
and the soil is not well irrigated.
Every morning Mr Downs rises early, grumbles to his breakfast, eats it sullenly
and growls to anyone nearby but to no one in particular. He does not give hugs
but does condescend to patting the kids on the head. Mr Downs is not a happy chappie; his wife is
miserable and a bit scared of Mr Downs.
In fact, Mrs Downs has tried everything.
At appropriate times, to gain some attention, she has even dressed in stockings,
suspenders and brief see through panties and bra, to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The Downs family are a miserable bunch with both
husband and wife often having heated and argumentative ‘discussions’ which end
in much yelling and abuse. As for the
kids, they are a bunch of whiners who whinge and carry on about anything. Not a very happy household.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">One day, Mrs Downs was in the local Italian bakery
buying fresh bread. As she entered the
store she could not help but feel warm and wonderful inside her being. It was the fresh baked bread yeasty smell of
her childhood, the sweet smell of icing on her wedding cake. It was the look of Mario lightly dusted with flour
as he wafted through the store whistling ‘O Solo Mio’ that reminded her of
early days when she would bake delicious cakes, buns, biscuits and bread for
her family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It made Mrs Downs wonder. When did her luscious fruit loaf turn into
sour dough? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘<i>Mario?’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘Yes Signora?’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘Mario, why so things in life change and we don’t
notice?’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘Because Signora, life moves so quickly sometimes
we stop taking notice. And
when we stop taking notice, not paying attention, that is when life can go
astray.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>Look at my loaves of bread, my beautiful Vienna
loaf. I have to take care of
the yeast, the sugars, use quality flour, mix and knead in my own particular
way, have the oven at the correct temperature and cook for the right time and
remove before things go wrong. In short,
I have to pay attention to what I am doing.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>But most importantly Signora, if I did not look after my oven and trays and show the flour and yeast I love them, you would not enjoy my bread so much. Me and my flour Misses,
we are a team.’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Now although Mrs Downs had heard all this before she
never thought it related to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">§<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Co-incidentally, that day, Mr Downs was in the local
pub. He ran into his brother, Mr Upson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘George...’ Mr Downs began.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘George...how come your crops and ground is so good
and you have so much money?’ he asked.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘Mate, in quiet times I often think that of you. Why is your soil, crops, happiness and life
so poor. It bothers me.'</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Mr Downs was quietly becoming upset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘It really does bother me. I hate to see you folks across the road
suffering. But you know what mate? It is all very easy to fix. With a bit of effort, in no time at
all you can have a life like mine.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘How so George?’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">'Your beautiful wife and
the kids, they are all too miserable because you are too busy thinking about
how rotten your life is instead of seeing the positives and getting on with it.</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>Mate, learn to love what you are doing. Get
off your bum and till the soil. Unless the soil is tilled, fertilised and
watered like you care, you will always have nothing'.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He continued....</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">'<i>You know, they say the
man who has everything loves what he does and does what he loves. Unless
you learn to love and nurture that love, you will continue to live in a world
that is barren.</i></span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>We all enjoy eating fresh luscious juicy fruit.
We we can’t enjoy the fruit unless we nurture the buds and blossoms
and put in the labour.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However,
if the fruits are not cared for, they wither and dry on the vine, fall off the
tree or become rotten before they are either fully grown or harvested.'</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>‘Simple, you are in a rut. You are a sour bastard who is too lazy to get
off your backside and do the work. Instead, you blame and make everyone else suffer. Your beautiful wife and the kids, they are unhappy because you are spreading your self-induced misery.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>Mate, learn to love what you are doing. Get
off your bum and till the soil. Unless the soil is tilled, fertilised and
watered like you care, you will always have nothing'.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He continued....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i>'You know, they say the man who has everything loves
what he does and does what he loves.
Unless you learn to love and nurture that love, you will continue to
live in a world that is barren.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><i>We all enjoy eating fresh luscious juicy fruit.
We can’t enjoy the fruit unless we first nurture the buds and blossoms
and put in the labour.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">However, if the fruits are not cared for, they
wither and dry on the vine, fall off the tree or become rotten before they are
either fully grown or harvested'.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<i><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Show that you care.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Till the Soil </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">VERDE</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-76916728217509723522015-12-14T02:43:00.002-08:002015-12-14T03:29:00.645-08:00THE CHRISTMAS CHOOK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVtws8x_9Qk/Vl2OT11UbHI/AAAAAAAACO0/D7WTpIhQyqg/s1600/christmas-coffee-drinks-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVtws8x_9Qk/Vl2OT11UbHI/AAAAAAAACO0/D7WTpIhQyqg/s320/christmas-coffee-drinks-1024x576.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Dear Readers, </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> My Christmas gift for you...</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: red;"><b>'THE CHRISTMAS CHOOK'</b></span><span style="color: #002060;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> Enjoy.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Christmas is egg nog...but I still need coffee.*</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">A
few years ago, an old lady lost her husband…well…it is not that he went out
somewhere and she lost him, the old chap passed away.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
old lady was very sad as her husband was not only the only man she had ever
loved but, he was also her best friend, mate, confident and life partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To be loving and cheeky,
she called him ‘The Old Fuddy Duddy’ and, as he felt the same way, he called
her ‘The Old Chook’ and so…that was what they were named thereafter. The Old Chook and her husband had a wonderful
relationship and put up with each other yelling all the time. It was fine because they were both very hard
of hearing, but not deaf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Fuddy Duddy
and the Old Chook had an only child, a son. The son knew his mother loved
animals and because he wanted to help his mother feel less alone, he gave her a
tiny fluffy yellow chicken. He figured
it was an animal easy to look after and although his mother was poor she could
afford chicken feed and water. Besides,
the chicken could keep her company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook loved
the little chick and being very small, she would carry it around all day with
her. To help the chicken feel a part of
the household she called the chicken ‘Little Chook’. So now there were two of
them, the Old Chook and the other, newer and younger Little Chook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook was
very good at looking after Little Chook who was provided with a nice bed in a
box and cage with the door always left open.
Little Chook always had fresh water and seed and, a special cushion to
sit on the lounge and watch television. Not
only that, Little Chook was often taken for walks. It was
pretty easy, although the Old Chook was deaf, she had excellent eyesight and daily
took Little Chook with her on a ribboned leash.
They would perambulate regardless of the weather. Though naturally, if it was too hot or cold
they would stay at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">However there was
one issue, Little Chook was skittish about walking on the same side of the
pavement as the curb and would often make a small kerfuffle. Fortunately, the Old Chook was aware of this
and mainly walked Little Chook on the side away from traffic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTPt-2bNSrI/Vm6co8TXzvI/AAAAAAAACQQ/3QL9d7WcZXQ/s1600/science_snowflakes_04_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTPt-2bNSrI/Vm6co8TXzvI/AAAAAAAACQQ/3QL9d7WcZXQ/s200/science_snowflakes_04_02.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">**</span></div>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Days, weeks and
months passed as the seasons and the snows of winter began to drift silently to
the ground and they walked less. During
this time the Old Chook noticed that with less walks and exercise Little Chook
was becoming rather plump, soft and for a chicken, rather tender looking. The Old Chook only realized this when she
began to think about her coming Christmas Dinner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook had
to be careful with her personal finances and would sometimes see Little Chook differently
as she considered her next Christmas dinner.
The Old Chook, in her mind, saw a plump, featherless, browned and stuffed
chicken surrounded by baked potatoes and peas, whilst being covered in rich but
lightly seasoned dark gravy and, the panic stricken kerfuffles during street
walks would be silenced forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Poor poor Little
Chook. What was to become of her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What WAS to become
of her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were a few
days break in the frigid cold and constant snowfall and the Old Chook felt it
was time for a short walk with her companion.
Although the Old Chook did not feel particularly well or mentally ‘with
it’ she felt a degree of cabin fever. After
all, they had been housebound for two weeks now and the Old Chook knew she would
feel better by being outdoors. Little
Chook did not want to go outdoors but when she realized there was no point in
complaining and putting up a fuss, she obligingly complied with the Old Chook’s
insistence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They were both rugged
up in their woollies to keep the insidious iced hands of frigidity at bay; even
Little Chook had a vest as they strolled the sidewalk. Unfortunately, Little Chook, who was hopping
along the side near the curb was feeling rather unsettled, if not frightened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suddenly in the
flash of a few moments...Little Chook became extremely agitated, going crazy squawking,
jumping, flying doing anything she could to escape from her lead but as she
tried to fly away she kept on bumping and crashing into the Old Chook. Little Chook was indeed in a real panic that was
very far past the stage of being simply kerfuffled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5doT9LN0Btk/Vm6YMrxC7sI/AAAAAAAACPg/NTav31Orp9E/s1600/Kerfuffled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5doT9LN0Btk/Vm6YMrxC7sI/AAAAAAAACPg/NTav31Orp9E/s320/Kerfuffled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Kerfuffled Little Chook</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just as Old Chook
herself was flustered, without warning, a crazy driver in a beat-up car came
from behind, mounted the curb and crashed into a pole! Right in front of the two hapless pedestrians
being Little Chook and Old Chook! They
could not believe it! They were not only
flustered but now they were flabbergasted, stunned, mortified, horrified,
aghast and, very very frightened. They
could have been killed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook,
composing herself a little, tenderly picked up her hapless shaking, trembling,
shivering, very frightened friend, bundled her underneath her cloak and together carefully made their way home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The next hour,
inside the warmth and refuge of her cage, Little Chook slowly recovered as she realized
the Old Chook was preparing something in the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook came
to the cage and carefully lifted her friend from her warm bed, carried her to
the lounge and settled her into her favourite cushion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although Christmas was
a week away, and...after all Little Chook and Old Chook had been through this
afternoon, it was time for something stronger than tea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the Old Chook
sat there thinking whilst enjoying her egg nog, she picked up the phone and
dialled her son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The phone answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Hello dear…just
wondering…instead of having my regular chicken dinner this Christmas, what
say I buy a nice fat turkey, stuff it and come over to your place instead?” </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Her son was thrilled and they both excitedly looked forward to
Christmas dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Old Chook sipped
her egg nog, winked at Little Chook and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Merry Christmas,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy holidays all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Take care,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Verde.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdWlNxkCVXg/VmLPTvyhw9I/AAAAAAAACPU/nzdYkgK_ZdM/s1600/coffee3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdWlNxkCVXg/VmLPTvyhw9I/AAAAAAAACPU/nzdYkgK_ZdM/s400/coffee3.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* Image courtesy of Coffee Drinker Cafe http://coffeedrinker.net/<br />
** Image courtesy of livescience.com<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">This blog <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">© 2013-2015 Val Verde</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-34026902180437978152015-11-14T02:42:00.000-08:002015-11-14T07:27:50.971-08:00CHANGES OF LATITUDE<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiK2e1Uwr2Q/VkClg57rGoI/AAAAAAAACLc/EOgm8KGIj4k/s1600/new%2Bexplorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiK2e1Uwr2Q/VkClg57rGoI/AAAAAAAACLc/EOgm8KGIj4k/s320/new%2Bexplorations.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.3333px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.3333px;">CHANGES OF LATITUDE ----</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.3333px;">----CHANGES OF ATTITUDE</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Changes of Latitude and Attitude are Constants in our Life</span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The above image depicts one who steps beyond personal time trod boundaries and
dares to reach into the unknowable world to experience entertainment, pastimes,
practices and new ways of thinking that are beyond the same old tired path of
seeing the same kind of movies, theatre, music, art and books and, thinking the
same old tired way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #002060; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you open enough
to venture forth to seek and experience the unknowable?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">What is ‘latitude’?
A dictionary or thesaurus may define or provide clarity on ‘latitude’ as
being related to freedom, on the same line, i.e. parallel, or a longitude
location either vertical or horizontal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As you know, geographically, maps or diagrams of Earth
are lined with latitude and longitude which when interacting, are able to
provide global locations.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Latitude is
horizontal and longitude is vertical.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">For example, Nice in Italy shares the same latitude of 39°
North with Toronto Canada.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The location of the Mason Dixon line in the USA is 39.7167°N by 75.7833°W.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This was determined following
a dispute to determine the official geographic/geometric location of the Pennsylvania,
Maryland border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The tropic of Capricorn is located at approx 23.26’14.0°”N
and the Tropic of Cancer is approx 23.26’14.0°”S and the Equator is 90°N.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As mentioned above, latitude is also related to
freedoms and those freedoms are not limited to the freedom of people physically
moving around from place to place, from various latitude and longitudes and making their
own decisions in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We all know that our lives can be transient. We may be born in once house, the family moving to another house, city, state
or country. Many of us are not able to
count on one hand where we have lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">However, the mind is the same. Our minds are able to change our latitudes
and longitudes in the way we think about things such as holding the same faith,
religions, political or life opinions from the beginning of our life to the
end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I believe that people tend to favour
the same thoughts and practices continually through life whilst not moving very
far from their standard latitude or longitudes of the mind. In other words, they often fail to change their experiences or the way they think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Consider the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Below is a pictured example of our mind's latitude. Following the same lines, we live, eat, dress
and follow sports and recreational activities according to our experiences which are used after being garnered through years of adaptation from cultural and childhood practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKwJuftiEwI/VkbWnzBSYGI/AAAAAAAACME/IWKh_IchDqY/s1600/Thoughts0552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EKwJuftiEwI/VkbWnzBSYGI/AAAAAAAACME/IWKh_IchDqY/s320/Thoughts0552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As you can see, the latitudes are wavy as we remain on
the same path but holding slight variation. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The things that affect our latitudes are the various events and elements
that cause us to alter our mindset and attitudes, these are the round elements
that appear to be blobs. Notice one
prominent factor; the lines and round elements are fuzzy. Why are they fuzzy? The fuzziness represents the confusion, disillusion
or unsurity of our minds at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This is the representation of our subconscious
lateral thoughts driven or being influenced by external stimulus.
The external stimulus may be others opinion, things we read and see and
experience in our normal sphere. This is a </span><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">display of the lateral mind in action,
degrees of latitude. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Degrees of latitude all in the same place, going on and
on…rarely diverting from our mental self or cultural programmed route. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This is demonstrated by the lyrics from the song ‘Windmills of Your Mind’. from the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Lyrics
by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, music by Michel Legrand and sung perfectly
by Noel Harrison. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Noel Harrison</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22425%22%20height=%22355%22%20src=%22https://www.youtube.com/embed/WEhS9Y9HYjU%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="199" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOAn_Yuyo3M/VkbWUHThBOI/AAAAAAAACL8/plTZ0_vdGXw/s320/Noel%2BHarrison.jpg" title="Windmills of Your Mind" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU" target="_blank">WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND</a></div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/WEhS9Y9HYjU" target="_blank">Video - Noel Harrison</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(28, 28, 28, 0.8); color: #bbbbbb; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14.3px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEhS9Y9HYjU</a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Albeit the forgoing may have been a lengthy introduction
to Changes of Latitude however it was necessary to make these highlights to
emphasise the importance of Changes of Attitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As discussed, our minds tend to follow a continual and
never-ending latitudinal path only altering to the external stimulus of others
thoughts, opinions and of course, our experiences. This can be limiting. Consider what happens when we step away from
the ‘…never-ending spinning wheel’ and adventure into the realms of a 3D ‘esque’ mind picture or journey through our mind as a sphere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Allow your mind to step away from the flat plane latitude and take
a different tangent and cut through the centre of the sphere to the other side
and make varying curves, circles, twisting and turning, drive or drill deeper to the core and emerge
elsewhere with a vastly more experienced and knowledgeable viewpoint of the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">By stepping away from the confines of longitude and latitudinal
paths of thinking, the making changes of attitude to one’s mind will allow one
to mentally and spiritually grow much fuller and faster than sticking to the
norm, you will grow, become more worldly and appreciate what alternatives of
enjoyment are on offer in this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">For example, when thinking about planet Earth, try
seeing not only the shape and the continents as a whole, try and focus your
mind on what is below the soil, what makes the soil, what are the clouds doing, trees, grass, cats, dogs, buildings, cars, traffic, people i.e. wherever and, whatever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Try going to a different cinema, perhaps an Art House
cinema, or attend a pop concert, attend an amateur play, go somewhere different on your holiday, eat food you have
never tried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Imagine what it would be like living on another planet
in which case, how would you decorate the living room? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Go the ballet, opera or go and see a crappy B grade
movie it does not matter, just step from limiting confines that deter you from growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Life is not only about excellence, because for
excellence to exist there must be the opposite i.e. in-excellence or sub-standard. These are examples of thinking differently and freeing up the mind to other opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Changes of Latitude – Changes of Attitude leads to
deeper thinking, understanding, knowledge and, widening of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-48241562422330095322015-10-31T09:09:00.001-07:002018-01-19T19:43:46.936-08:00RAJAH AND THE SNAKE<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnQJqFwojZE/VjTmITO9iKI/AAAAAAAACJc/GmHQ7_jk_sU/s1600/Snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UnQJqFwojZE/VjTmITO9iKI/AAAAAAAACJc/GmHQ7_jk_sU/s320/Snake.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah and his journey of wisdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Once upon a time, long ago in
a far away kingdom, a very wise old Rajah lived in his palace with his family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As
the old Rajah knew his life in this time was drawing to a close. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">He summoned his son who would become the next Rajah of the Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">When
the son, the future Rajah was summoned, the young man knew it was time for his father to ensure safe passage and pass his kindness, compassion and understanding but
most of all, his wisdom gained over many years, to his son, the future head of the Kingdom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah looked
forward to gaining the deeper wisdom of age and sharing compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Time passed and young
Rajah had learned much from his father.
The old man shared his life lessons and stated that in
order to learn wisdom, it is of great benefit if it is experienced, it must be lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The old Rajah asserted that it was time for young Rajah to journey into the larger and wilder areas of his kingdom, from
the coast to mountains all consisting of villages and forests populated with
people, animals and nature. Young Rajah had to learn by listening, observing and to offer assistance
to those in need. However, to ensure he
heard the true and honest messages being offered, the young Rajah had to go in
disguise as a poor man of little means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah journeyed north
from the city, through villages, farms, lowlands, mountains, plains and jungle
forests. It took him a very long time,
months in fact and although he was learning how people live, their struggles,
achievements, worries, fears and things that made them happy, Young Rajah felt he was missing
something. He pondered to the extent
that he was not only agitated by not knowing what was missing but he was worried
that time was wasting as he felt in his bones that his father’s strength and
health was fading. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah did not want to
go home until he had learnt the most important lesson but, what is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Early one evening in the
forest as the sun was about to set, Young Rajah was settling down into his blanket for
the night. His thoughts on the unknown lesson through each day and night,
constantly plagued him. Certainly, he had
learnt much from people from all walks of life in the Kingdom yet he still knew the most important lesson was missing. He still did not understand or even begin to understand what the lesson was, but he knew it was missing. He could not return home until he discovered and learnt the extremely important lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">As he rolled over to rest
before he welcomed sleep he heard, and saw something move across leaf litter. Normally Young Rajah would remain very still and quiet waiting for the threat to
pass but this time he was not fearful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Are you a snake?’ he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Yessss... I am,’ hissed the
snake as it continued on towards Rajah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Snake... what am I
missing... what it is my father wants me to learn?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘I don’t know... why learn
things anyways?’ the snake asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Rajah replied; ‘Because in
learning things we can understand and improve our lives.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The snake stopped moving,
looked at Rajah and asked;</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> ‘And if I know how I can improve my life, what good
will it do me if I can’t change things?'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Well snake, how do you think
your life can be improved?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Legs would be good.’ Snake quickly
and hiss-pissedly, crossly, replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Rajah was surprised, a snake
wanting legs... this is a new one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Snake continued... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Yes, legs! Do you know how it feels to slide along on
your belly all the time? Look at it from
my lowly point of view. Us snakes spend all our time on our bellies, eating slow
moving stuff on the ground, sneaking around for a feed, sometimes down holes in
the ground. To see any distance we have
to slowly slither up trees. The worse
thing is that we look creepy. A lot of
us are safe creatures yet, humans and other animals are terrified of us. We need legs.
If we had legs we could walk and get places faster. Besides we could walk
over the tops of rocks and twigs and things.
I reckon it would be a vast improvement and make life much easier if us snakes
had very long legs. Besides, it would make us look less sneaky’. Snake had obviously thought it through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Both Young Rajah and Snake said
nothing else as the snake slithered away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘This could be it,’ thought Young Rajah. ‘My lesson could be to learn the difficulties that animals and
plants experience, and understand how I may help them.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Dear reader, what is unknown to others, is that both the old and Young Rajah have supernatural powers. Before Young Rajah went to sleep that night, he performed his magical powerful deed and gave the snake long legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">§<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">In the morning, Young Rajah
packed up his meagre belongings and continued his journey through the jungle
and up into the mountains far beyond the tree line until the only thing that
was present was snow, rock and moss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah spent much time in the
mountains sitting in the open at the top, the pinnacle, enjoying the solitude
and contemplation. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The seasons changed from winter to spring and Young Rajah knew that with the passing of seasons our lives shorten and some lives pass. He knew the time for the
passing of his father was closer and it was imperative he return to the palace
as quickly as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah moved very
quickly on the most direct southerly route and did not waste any time. It was only a matter of days when he reached
the place where he met the snake that wanted long legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">On the way back, Rajah placed his pack at the
base of a rock and sat down. ‘Snake,
snake... you here? Hey snake... are you
here?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The response came very
quickly with anger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Yes.. I’m bloody here... did
you do this to me?’ Snake was continually pissedly, hissedly and sissedly as he revealed himself from behind a
tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Rajah laughed and laughed and
laughed so hard he fell off the rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Well... did you do this to
me?’ as Snake angrily hissed asking in a very threatening manner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Look at these... things...’ He
hissed and sissed with disgust indicating his legs as he struggled and kept falling off
and over logs and rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah was trying to be serious. It was difficult because snake had four of the longest legs he had ever
seen on a forest creature. Hilarious, a
snake four feet long had six feet long articulated legs. No wonder he was angry!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Snake tried to calm himself
down and explained the situation to Young Rajah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘I don’t know who you are but
I reckon you are the one who gave me legs!' Snake began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">'I know I said having legs
would help us snakes but you have no idea of the difficulty! No longer can I slither up trees, go down
animal holes, slide through logs or even sneak up on prey. I can no longer slither!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Snake continued.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘To make matters worse, as people
see me they attack me with sticks because I can’t slide or run away... because
legs are impossible to use! </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I have no shoulders or hips and no muscles
to support them. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">All I seem to do is
wobble around and fall over all the time! </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">I thought having legs would be good,
but I can’t hunt and have been starving all winter! </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Do you have any idea how hard it is to back out of a rabbit hole with these darned long things?' He said indicating the long skinny ungainly legs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">'Can you please return me to how I was, long
and skinny... with NO legs please.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It was at that moment that
young Rajah realised he was on the path of his father’s wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">§<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">It was only a matter of days
when young Rajah returned to the palace and was holding his frail father’s
hand at his bedside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘So my son, before I go, what
wisdom have you learnt about people, nature and the kingdom?’ Old Rajah asked.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah shared his experiences with the wise old Rajah.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">‘Father, thank you for
encouraging me to tour our kingdom and learn.
I journeyed much, saw many people and experienced many things.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">To answer your question, there
is much to wisdom; the first is there is never a limit to becoming wise,
it takes many lifetimes and experiences.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The second is that regardless
of who people are or their status they all have opinions on what would improve
things, but improvements need to be tested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The third is that it is folly
to improve on nature, snakes are happier and exist better without legs.'<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The old Rajah's laughing eyes lit up.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Young Rajah continued; </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">'The fourth is to recognise
that just because we have power it can be used unwisely with poor results.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The sixth and biggest lesson
of all father, is to accept yourself as the being you are... oh... and be careful what you wish for.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">The old Rajah smiled,
chuckled and kissed his son’s hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Verde</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">© Val Verde (2015)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Note: All works and intellectual property in this blog are under copyright.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-65909389518782452982015-09-30T06:56:00.001-07:002015-09-30T20:29:50.219-07:00THE 8 BALL<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp5IJIS-Mjg/VgavS8O6_5I/AAAAAAAACHI/sHiBdXkPXD8/s1600/BALLS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp5IJIS-Mjg/VgavS8O6_5I/AAAAAAAACHI/sHiBdXkPXD8/s200/BALLS.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">CAUSE AND EFFECT - BILLIARDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The
aim in the game of billiards...pool is to be the first person to pocket the 8 Ball after
sinking all your other balls first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This is like life, we know
what we are trying to achieve and set about doing just that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Like pool, there are rules
that must be followed in order to achieve our life goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">However, in achieving
pocketing the 8 Ball, or being what we individually think of as being
successful, it is not always straight forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This article draws an analogy
between billiards and life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Billiards,
snooker and pool is a game of cause and effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Life is also dominated by
cause and effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We cause things to happen and it has an effect.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMF2K6IaC7M/Vgvlxl3uAVI/AAAAAAAACIU/dQR_rvzvV6o/s1600/pool%2Btable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMF2K6IaC7M/Vgvlxl3uAVI/AAAAAAAACIU/dQR_rvzvV6o/s320/pool%2Btable.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I demonstrate:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">In Billiard games,
because we want to win the game we have to follow the process and rules of
play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As mentioned above, in order
to win one must be the first to pot the 8 Ball after all your other balls. However, in doing this one has to avoid
accidentally sinking the white ball (cue ball) and/or the 8 Ball as well as your
opponent’s balls. This in itself is a challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">However, during the game it
is a matter of course that other balls are hit and ricochet off others. The balls roll around the table and may or
may not roll into difficult positions.
Such as touching other players balls or end up against the table cushions. Therefore, you can be placed in a difficult
position which may not be easy to recover. Following, you have to adjust your game strategy and use differing techniques to accommodate the new ball layout. That is, with each shot both you
and your opponent make, the game alters.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Billiards is a game of cause and effect. Because balls move around the
table, either intentionally or otherwise this has an effect on the game. Cause and effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">This is like all life challenges...nothing stays regular and constant and one is constantly adjusting
to get the advantage and win the game. Meaning, to sink the metaphorical 8 Ball
of life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTpPWTOwAwo/VgvmDQHqaTI/AAAAAAAACIc/gIvti3NWNdE/s1600/8%2Bball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OTpPWTOwAwo/VgvmDQHqaTI/AAAAAAAACIc/gIvti3NWNdE/s400/8%2Bball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As
you may have gathered, I have recently taken up the sport of Billiards...pool,
so much so that I have bought my own cue etc. I am very lucky that I have
ready access to a billiard table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Being rather new to the game I am still very much a novice at technique and strategy but I am learning.</span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I enjoy thinking about billiards and pool, what is involved and strategies one may use in order to be the first in the
game to pot the 8 ball and win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">During the quiet hours between midnight and dawn I think a lot about billiards. This is when I came to realise that the game
of billiards is a graphic metaphor for life and all the challenges and
obstacles we encounter in order to overcome challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">So to explain it better, below are the corresponding elements that are needed for Billiards and Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>BILLIARDS =</b></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>LIFE<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Billiard Table =<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>One’s Life<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Long skinny stick (Cue) =<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Intention<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Billiard...Pool Balls =<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Skills<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Table Pockets =<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Target<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Potting the 8 Ball =<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt;" valign="top" width="308"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Goal (Achievement)</b></span><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The game of billiards, pool
is an analogy for life and the above table shows the parallels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It does not matter if one is
playing against another person or against oneself, is not the potting of balls
into pockets the same as achieving things in life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I
see this wonderful sport of billiards, pool or snooker that involves no
running, jumping, pulling, pushing or lifting heavy weights to be a wonderful
visual and physical exercise in understanding the process of living. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Life, as billiards...pool, does not have to be
struggle, both are a game in which we all are trying to achieve a happy and
positive outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We
make life what it is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Everyone can play pool. Everyone has a different physical stature,
mental attitude, health and experience.
Take the cue from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">A
player with a positive attitude regardless of their inexperience can win a game
over a very good player. As a beginner I
learnt this lesson the other night when I beat a very experienced and excellent
player. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">During my life I have only played
pool about five or six times and that was over a period of 15-40 years ago.
Yet, there I was the other night playing about the fourth game since that
time. I have never had lessons, I was mis-hitting balls, had one or two air shots but
at least the way I was playing, I won the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">How
did I win?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">In
all honesty I think it was because I was taking my time and properly lining up
my shots, covered (blocked) two pockets...not really deliberately...but almost
and most importantly, I made sure that I took my time approaching the table and
was careful that my stance and bridge (hand aiming the cue) was correct.
(I have lots more to learn about and practice this). But the thing
is, this is what we do in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Life,
as a game of billiards, have obstacles such as rules, penalties and
challenges, that is the way things are.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As
you can see, achieving goals or becoming successful is not necessarily
determined by who or what one is up against. It is more about our
personal attitudes and other attributes in which we play the game of life and living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Well...that
is what I have learnt about the game of Billiards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Verde<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-84908003813699811042015-08-19T07:31:00.000-07:002015-08-19T08:20:17.294-07:00THE TABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVUs-26RqDA/VdSRl9qJd3I/AAAAAAAAB7c/_WlhPduzkcA/s1600/table%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVUs-26RqDA/VdSRl9qJd3I/AAAAAAAAB7c/_WlhPduzkcA/s400/table%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Dear People,</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I am writing this letter to
tell you about myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I am a table, not just any
table...I am ‘the’ table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Well, in my home I am commonly
known as ‘the table’. I don’t understand
why all tables are called ‘table’. It is
like my friends around me, there are generally six and they all have the same name too, ‘chair’. They are all called the same. The people in my home have different names
and they all look different, but not the chairs around me. Maybe I am special because I am the only one
with the name ‘table’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I live in a house, not too big,
not too small. I am the exact size to
match the family that surround me often throughout the day, the evening and sometimes;
through the night (this all depends on events in my home). I see, experience and feel lots of things happening
in the kitchen. Oh yes, that is where I live, in the kitchen, with my mates
chair, chair, chair, chair, chair and of course, chair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I am pretty normal and an ordinary
looking kitchen table. Being of timber
construction with my top of four planks stained a sandy-greenish-gray hew I
think I look good. I have modestly strong shapely legs that manage to support
not only my weight but also the weight of much food. There are times when I feel other weight of
the emotional kind upon me. Humans have
weighty problems and issues sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It is lucky that I am also able
to support the limbs and heads of many people when their life becomes
tough. I have felt human tears upon me,
so I hope the smell of my wood helps them as their head is resting on me.
My owners describe me as being timbered, rustic, knobbly legs and of a
rectangular shape. It sounds ok to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">People seem to talk a lot,
especially when they are happy, sad or angry.
Don’t misunderstand me, I have no way of hearing things other than
though vibration echoing through the room and through my timber but I know what
is going on though, from my perspective that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Tables and other wooden things
are often seen as objects that are made from dead trees but the reality is that
although the tree that forms my presence has gone, the timber remains
alive. It is cellular and still
alive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Perhaps you have seen timber
that has been bumped, dented and damaged.
Over time the dents and damage seems to recover to a degree...well, this
is why. Mind you, I still have chips out of my leg that will be there forever, that is until my leg falls of and I
am thrown away I suppose. Perhaps I will
be recycled and live a renewed life as something else. Or even become a part of the earth like
fertiliser and help flowers grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As I become older and relive my
past experiences I become more grateful for being a table. I have seen many things and, I have been of
service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">There is honour of having lived
a life of service. Although I am an old
wooden table, in my own way I have helped to support people and this is my way
of being of service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">People, the family in my house,
have sat around me many thousands of times and I have enjoyed their company
whether it was for good times or not so good times. I can’t talk for the chairs, they don’t
express themselves but that is possibly good because that means that the chairs
can’t complain.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LeR5D8pqI7g/VdSXP1pGR1I/AAAAAAAAB8k/DdVN7bEezX0/s1600/table%2Bflowers%2Bimages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LeR5D8pqI7g/VdSXP1pGR1I/AAAAAAAAB8k/DdVN7bEezX0/s1600/table%2Bflowers%2Bimages.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Back to the family, they were
two big and two small people and then there were another two small ones. When these two very small people arrived the
big people were very happy. There was
music, dancing, singing and lots and lots of food. I think it is called a ‘party’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Then two others that were
really, really old came and lived in our home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">One day a small one was not
around anymore and later one of the old ones went...somewhere. When these people went, the others, the two
big ones and the last little one, who had become bigger, were very sad. They ate lots of food then and I could feel
great sadness. There was no music and dancing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I don’t understand, what happened to the one old one and the young one, perhaps
they went and became fertiliser like I might one day and help flowers grow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">There was sometimes a lot of
thinking, writing and discussion upon me, the table. At times there were really loud vibrations
accompanied by thumping on me, shouting even.
I later heard that these were called homework, the boyfriend and ‘why on
earth did I let her have the car keys.’ I
don’t understand though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It is not really my place to
understand. But it is my place to stand
in the kitchen and be supportive, regardless of things placed upon me or simply
to be a resting place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I am proud of being a
table. I have been a good utility and
have been of service.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Yours sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Verde.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-70220228943404303222015-08-01T22:35:00.000-07:002015-08-02T20:10:02.673-07:00ONE'S OWN COUNSEL<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9p5BpSiyrvw/VbyyQFn42ZI/AAAAAAAAB6E/C5on8m6A5aI/s1600/FOR%2BBLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9p5BpSiyrvw/VbyyQFn42ZI/AAAAAAAAB6E/C5on8m6A5aI/s400/FOR%2BBLOG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">A sheep, alpaca and kangaroo lesson.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I have enjoyed the luxury of being surrounded by open space, peace and tranquillity on a country
property for a while now. Living on top of a very large hill with the muted sounds and silence of the bush, I never realised what it
really means to be surrounded by wild and domestic animals and how they communicate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">From various distant trees the birds call to each other, the kangaroos tend to communicate more by body
language than grunting and the sheep, alpacas, cattle and horses communicate
vocally but generally, if they feel uncomfortable,
they walk off. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It is quite normal for wild
kangaroos and the domestic sheep and alpacas to hang around
peacefully together in the same paddock. They are different species, at
the one time, feeding at the same dinner table or simply resting. I have
never seen any show of disharmony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The animals live and let
live. They don’t meddle, interfere, argue or attack other animals. There is room for all at the dinner table.
Besides eating they often follow each other around (especially the sheep and
alpacas). But if feeling uncomfortable they simply wander off or hop away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Then there is the human
animal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Some human animals object to
others being at the same dinner table, or the same function as those of a
different colour such as white, black, yellow, brown etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Some humans may object to
sharing with those of a different culture, from a different social group or
have a different accent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">People are interesting, we learn from their behaviour. There are those in our
society who ensure they know everybody’s business and meddle where it is
not warranted and their efforts are unwanted. Following, they seem to think it
is their right to spread everyone’s' business around with anyone who will
listen. Thus, the listener very often has little interest but pays
attention to be polite. I am unsure whether the offender does it to demonstrate their knowledge of others or, to display their
willingness to help others or, to make themselves feel good or lastly, they
have nothing better to do or talk about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">There are people who continually
use subversive questioning techniques to dig for personal or business information
about individuals and then spread the word to numerous others.
There are times when they do not realise it is wrong, if not immoral. It may
be considered a component of sharing, however if it is done without
permission, it is breach of confidentially, privacy. They think they are smart and undetected. But this
deluded thinking is erroneous as perhaps others have always known but chose to
say nothing. What happens? Once it is realised, people who have
been transgressed and their personal and/or business information compromised,
trust in the offender has been lost and consequently, will not tolerate this
behaviour and walk away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Why can't some people just
sit quietly and enjoy being with others and talk normal social things instead
of talking about others and trying to subvert and sneakily gain
information? Like, WTFC? (Who The Stuff Cares).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">§<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Throughout my life, there
have only been three or four people close to me who never talk about other
people and their business or personal lives. Those people were my mother,
father, sister and my very best friend of over 20 years. All of these
folk are intelligent humans. For hours we would sit quietly and discuss
food, music, philosophy, the arts, politics, travel and cars etc. It was never
boring, was consistently interesting and thought provoking and never crossed
others' boundaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Sometimes we could also sit
together in our own thoughts and never speak at all. Nearly all of them
are gone now and I very much miss them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">In the animal kingdom, I am
sure kangaroos never feel they have to show one-upmanship, (except in breeding
season to show the ladies they are the alpha male), nor how much they know
about others and gossip. The same is for the sheep and alpacas. They
simply live their life as a farm or wild animal does, with survival and
enjoyment of their circumstances. They do not have to prove anything to
anyone. No point scoring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Why can’t the human animal
have this acceptance and grace for what they have been given and simply live
life without having to prove they know more about people than the average Joe
and point score.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">If it is a matter of point
scoring, there is only one score board, one scorer and one competitor.
With only one competitor, the score is null and void and it cancels itself out
with the sore of nil and therefore the sole competitor has nothing, zilch, zero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Does this happen in the
non-human animal world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Does our human intelligence
facilitate this, or are the non-human animals smarter?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Let us all share the same
dinner table and respect privacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Verde.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;">
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-7640983242242942212015-07-22T06:40:00.001-07:002015-07-22T20:54:56.530-07:00HEAR THE VOICE<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuW-YEiIxQM/Va-NNaKSQnI/AAAAAAAAB3o/XPfWM2xnrE4/s1600/The%2BMilky%2BBar%2BKid%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuW-YEiIxQM/Va-NNaKSQnI/AAAAAAAAB3o/XPfWM2xnrE4/s320/The%2BMilky%2BBar%2BKid%25282%2529.jpg" width="236" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The Voice of the Child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Who is she?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">What is her story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">'The Milky Bar Kid' - (Oil
on Canvas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><a href="http://www.artbygerlinde.com.au/"><span style="color: blue;">Art by Gerlinde</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">What is the story of 'The Milky Bar Kid' in the above
picture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">If she could tell us her story, if we could hear her
voice, what would she say?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Where we came from, what our forebears were like
and, are our behaviour and decisions influenced by them and where and how we were
brought up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"> Do we really understand why we act and live the
way we do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Sure, whilst researching our family history we may have
collected birth, death, divorce certificates, wills, school reports, letters,
certificates, awards, property documents, bills, publications where our family
names are mentioned. Of course, we have also collected various family
mementoes such as grandfather’s pipe or cigarette box, grandmas watch, her
glasses doileys, assorted plates, cups and various other things such as jugs,
statues and pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We have collected and saved all these things because
they mean something to us and portray a life lived of someone we have loved but
passed on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">By keeping things, it helps us to continue the love and
remember people from our past. In fact, although they are in the past,
they remain present in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Indeed, we have very fond memories which we all
treasure and refuse to let go. This is
love. We must never forget because it is our memories of past family members
that remind us of whom we are and where we belong. It is a way of feeling
at home and we are at home wherever we are and remember and feel where we belong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: accent3;">§</span><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Throughout the world Indigenous people not only pass
down their native language to children but also tribal and family stories to
ensure the history, legends, beliefs and language are continued on throughout
the ages. If this is not done, once the stories, legends and language is gone,
they are gone forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">If little care is taken, history and all that is
attached to the tribe and family are so easily lost. Once lost, it is
almost impossible to revive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Thus it is with families in the modern world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We have paper and sometimes digital records of family
history as well as the mementoes and family treasures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">However, the thing that is often missing are the
stories from grandma and grandpa, mum and dad, siblings, uncles and aunts, cousins etc.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Although we may have documented and written the family
stories which are evidence based via papers and other family members memories, there is so much more we can collect to gain a better knowledge of our
family history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Take a deliberate action, make time with the family and
use what is needed to listen to mum, dad, grandma, grandpa, brothers and
sisters and even long time family friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The memories need to be audio or video recorded for
prosperity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Sure mum and dad may have told their stories over and
over and over again, seemingly ad nauseum at times, but there is also so much
more to be told and so much more to be discovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: accent3;">§</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">My parents passed on many years ago yet here I am
older, perhaps wiser, but now I have been thinking about things I would like to
ask mum and dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Like, why did they do this, that or whatever, how come
they ended up in so and so and the biggie...what on earth was that big argument
about and why was mum so upset at something dad said while out on a special occasion
dinner at a really fancy restaurant? I
have the photo, mum still looks absolutely furious!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Then, there is the question, why was my dad and his
brother not talking for so many years?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Can I find out? No, they are all deceased., and
whatever these things were all about...is gone. The truth of the stories are gone forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">There is so much more to learn by taking time and care
to sit down with the older generation, encourage them to talk and verbally record
their stories. You will be very surprised what you will find out. You may even gain a new understanding and
clear some unknown misconceptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: accent3;">§</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Perhaps have a monthly special supper with one family
member and after dinner, sit, talk and listen. Not only hear their story, but listen, really listen. Oh, and don't forget to press the
'record' button.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Sure continue collecting all the family history
documents and articles, but one of the most valuable things in your collection
is recorded memories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Don't wait til the oldies and their memories fade,
think about the next family gathering, a birthday celebration, wedding anniversary,
public holiday, barbecue, picnic or whatever, ask grandma what life was like
when she was a kid. Did she have many play mates, what was school like,
who was her best friend? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<u><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Hint</span></u><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">: Ask open questions such as ‘why’, ‘how come’, 'what did you feel’? etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Folks, by doing it sooner rather than later, you may be
at grandma's final gathering and she may never again be able to tell you about
her life fully lived and experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">VERDE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-81776125338351739862015-07-13T07:52:00.002-07:002015-07-13T07:59:10.735-07:00FAMILY ARCHIVES<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNkTBw2CVVQ/VXPXtYFeQeI/AAAAAAAABv8/URPLNZ5r5Ew/s1600/Twilight%2BMan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNkTBw2CVVQ/VXPXtYFeQeI/AAAAAAAABv8/URPLNZ5r5Ew/s200/Twilight%2BMan.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Family
history can be as mysterious as the 'Twilight Man'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">In
shadow, hidden or fading and perhaps waning into obscurity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">'Twilight Man' - Oil on
paper <a href="http://www.gerlinde.com.au/#Home"><span style="color: #c32d2e; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Art by Gerlinde</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Since a young gal, I have wanted my own museum. With
that in mind, I have been collecting personal things that represent my life
throughout the decades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">We
all know that our personal history of our family and our lives are
not only of interest to others, but our personal history will help descendants
form a picture of where they came from and what life was like ‘back in the day’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">There
are many of us who research and document our family history using online
databases, historic records, newspapers, books, journals, personal diaries and
videos on mobile devices, Youtube, Facebook and other similar tools. Naturally, these are all saved in both paper
and digital format.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As
much as we investigate our families and document how we live, there are
generally a number of other relatives in the same family who research and
collect similar information and artefacts. Although much of the research is duplicated,
there is always other information and evidence found that was not previously
known. However, all the records and
artefacts are often held at separate locations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The crucial
fact to realise is that with different members of the same family collecting similar
things, it is extremely important that all the data and artefacts are both
maintained as securely as possible whilst being conserved for posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Naturally, the holding place for conservation has to be protected from insects and climatic elements of which the most dangerous is dust, heat, water and damp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Now,
as much as we love being the holder of artefacts such as medals, photos,
diaries, books and perhaps clothing and jewellery, it seems a shame for us all
to separately save what we as individuals have been passed down to us or
collected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It may
be more beneficial to house the whole family collection in the one place. However I stress, the collection must be held
in a secure location.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">That
secure place does not have to be a bank vault that is not easily accessible, although a home safe is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Instead
I am advocating the use of a particular shelf in a cabinet or cupboard. But if you are really lucky and have enough
that can be displayed in a small spare room that is no longer being used, that
would be excellent! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Realistically though, the easiest idea is to allocate space in a book or display case or somewhere similiar but make sure it is secure but still accessable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The
displaying or maintaining of a special place for ‘The Family Archives’ provides
a place where we, the children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles or other family
members can gain understanding and perhaps explain why we as individuals and
family members ‘are’ as we ‘are’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdBKd4wgKww/VaPN_tJiGZI/AAAAAAAABzM/UnC5qQguAQ4/s1600/bygone-era.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fdBKd4wgKww/VaPN_tJiGZI/AAAAAAAABzM/UnC5qQguAQ4/s320/bygone-era.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">By
setting up a room or area as a holding area for our family history, where we
came from and what life has been like for our previous familial generations, it provides
an opportunity to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Educate the grandchildren<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Show others how far the family have come</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">3. Show </span><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">how
much the family have achieved</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">4. Reveal that under extreme
circumstances anything can be achieved<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Think you have it tough?
have a look at great-grandpa's life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It also demonstrates and
encourages:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Pride
in the family</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;">Continuance
of the family history</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> The
importance of family in society</span><!--[if !supportLists]--></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Family is the essence of
society and continuation of social mores and ways of being.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Every now and then it is great fun for
everyone to gather around the Family Archives, tell stories add things to it. It helps build and cement sometimes family-strained
relationships and have a laugh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Cheers,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Verde.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-38790347213502447112015-06-20T00:50:00.001-07:002015-07-10T20:55:07.040-07:00THE OLD TIN DRUM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ZQdQEB0R0/VYTt9eYQ2CI/AAAAAAAABw4/KFJIIQL9dic/s1600/old%2Btin%2Bdrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ZQdQEB0R0/VYTt9eYQ2CI/AAAAAAAABw4/KFJIIQL9dic/s320/old%2Btin%2Bdrum.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">An old tin drum washes up on a
beach. The old tin drum may be all
washed up but does it matter? What of that viewpoint? The viewpoint is even less consequential than
the fact that the drum has washed and rolled upon the beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The beach may be sandy, which
is more pleasant for the drum, or the beach may be rocky and uncomfortable especially whilst being wedged between a rock and a hard place.
It does not matter what is on the beach, nor the location. The drum is comfortable wherever and with
whatever. The drum has completed its utilitarian
purpose and achieved what it was meant to, but a question remains. Is the drum fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As the old tin drum lay on the
beach, the soft gentle waves rock the tired, rusted, dented and battered
drum. The paint is peeling and flaking but
the drum still enjoys lying in the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">The end is never near for the old tin drum as life continues regardless of time
and tides, storms and impacts with assorted flotsam and jetsam. Floating,
constantly moving as the ocean, seemingly languid.</span></div>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"> </span><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">§<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The old tin drum has experienced being handled
as a drum would. Rolled around, jostled, shoved, pushed and felt hands
caressing the once smooth surface which is now pitted. The drum
enjoyed being rested upon and also held great pleasure as hands beat out happy, joyful rhythms as the drum found comfort of the pulsing resonation within.</span></div>
</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">To the drum, all sounds inside
and out, no matter what their form, was music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The old tin drum is very
familiar many sounds, wind, wave, the clap of thunder, ships, machinery and so
on. The sound of the human voice is
comforting. Mainly calm, peaceful, rational and loving voices, it was the resonation
that is most soothing to the drum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Sometimes the drum felt the
sound of anger and it bothered the drum as that type of resonation was
uncomfortable, not quite music but, that’s life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The drum was once attached to
another, united, and although time and tide separated them, they remain connected by an invisable silver thread and the old tin drum will forever enjoy the resounding love of love’s resonance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The drum knows it will soon be of
little use and have less utilitarian purpose but to simply rest on a beach
listening to past drumming, resonating love, and memories.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Now, the only sound that old tin drum hears is the resonating echo of the
heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The sound of an old tin drum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">The echo of a heart remains the
most pleasurable resonance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><b>Verde</b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-9376377286434210132015-06-06T22:01:00.000-07:002015-06-18T05:44:09.972-07:00TOEING THE LINE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPV3iSIKc6M/VXKL2BWoGEI/AAAAAAAABuY/1A2Bgtl8FcM/s1600/On%2Bthe%2BBeach%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPV3iSIKc6M/VXKL2BWoGEI/AAAAAAAABuY/1A2Bgtl8FcM/s320/On%2Bthe%2BBeach%25281%2529.jpg" width="268" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">
Winning or toeing the finish line is not everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">To
win is to enjoy muscles, tendons, body and mind working fluidly in synch and
harmony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
'On The Beach' - oil on paper<br />
<a href="http://www.gerlinde.com.au/#Home">Art by Gerlinde</a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As some people, I have an interest in sport although I do not participate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I occasionally follow
football, cricket and more recently cycling such as the Tour de France and, Formula 1 motor racing. I do
not see Formula 1 as a sport per sae because the device (the car), plays a
greater role in victory than the athleticism and talents of the driver in
comparison to a bat, ball, javelin or hurdles of other athletes. However, winning is determined by the first past the post or, the first toe over the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Albeit, in all sports or
activities there requires some form of bodily physical activity because simply,
we could not move nor have any form of mobility if it were not for blood, acids
(such as lactic), bone, muscle, tendons and sinews, not to mention our organs
of brain, heart and lungs etc. Naturally
it follows that high, middle, low or recreational level athletes all use the
same fluids, organs, tissues etc. in their chosen sport or activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Everyone at some stage in their
lives has walked, run, jumped, swam, thrown, tossed, lifted or punched (in a
nice way) not only in sport but as a part of normal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Athletes at all levels
concentrate on the performance of themselves as a whole but also at
the micro levels of their bodies. In practice, all sports people
whilst performing, think about what their muscles are doing, how they feel and
also, how the overall body reacts in unison with tendons and muscles. Take for instance a swimmer who is training
for a marathon. That swimmer
concentrates on the arms making smooth long strokes with not only the legs and
feet assisting the propulsion but also the economy of effort to maximise the
momentum with the least effort in order to sustain momentum over a long distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;">§</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">I was a swimmer and my
personal ‘thing’ was to mentally make my body as light as possible whilst
trying to swim on top of the water instead of swimming through it, thereby
creating less drag. Whilst swimming I would concentrate not only on trying to
lift my body higher out of the water but also on the action of my shoulders,
upper and lower arms, belly, hips, upper and lower legs, feet and ankles. <i> </i>I especially love my hips feeling loose
and limber. When I had it all together
it felt absolutely fabulous...if not euphoric!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">It is not that one is
constantly thinking about these things but rather, I found I gained much
pleasure from not only feeling the muscles alternatively becoming taught and
relaxing but I loved the feeling of the tightening and relaxation of my tendons
in my ankles and feet.</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Without thinking we all walk,
run, stretch or simply mobilise ourselves when driving, cooking, cleaning and even
watching television or reading. No matter how stagnant
we feel, our muscles are moving, sometimes minutely yet, in these times (besides
others) we do not fully appreciate not only our mobility, but the seemingly magic
of it and how it feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">When I am swimming I see and
feel like a seal. It is my automatic
mind set or ‘way of being’ in water. I have a very stong affinity for water. Like
k.d. lang who was a crow in a former life, I was a seal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Animals and other creatures demonstrate
moods and emotions like us humans but also, when you see a seal swimming, you
can see the joy. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">As the crow flies with
wings outstretched does it not look like that crow feels good? Even in the tree, singing or voicing to other
birds...can you hear what I hear, the sound of pride and pleasure in being a
crow but also communicating with bird song? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Consider the freedom both the
seal and crow have, the freedom to soar and sing and enjoy what and how they
are. Consider what we have, the same as
the seal and crow however, we perhaps have the intellect to enjoy our muscle
and tendon movement more than the seal and crow and like other creatures, we
enjoy feelings of movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Just for a moment, look at
your index finger, bend it over one joint at a time, see how it bends, picture
the inside anatomy and working mechanics, experience the feeling and enjoy the wonder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Take your shoes and socks off
and stand up. Now, yes now!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Look down at your feet. Feel
the air on and around your feet and the ankle. Feel
the flooring as your foot flattens. Feel
the air on your skin. Press your toes
into the carpet or flooring and feel the textures, feel your toes as they press
down on the floor, bend one foot up and feel how wonderful it is as the muscle
in your calf tightens. Roll your foot around
in a circle and concentrate on the feelings generated by muscles, tendons and sinews. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Do it again and be mindful of
how both your foot and mind feels in conjunction and you will then begin to
think differently about your body and begin to be mindful on the enjoyment of
simple body movement and how wonderful your body is as a whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">In sport or recreation, we
tend to think and focus more on becoming, faster, better and ‘doing it right’. However in exclusively focusing on the game
we sometimes lose sight of the simple pleasure.
And that simple pleasure is not only the game but it is also on the
incredibly simplicity of the mechanics of our body. More importantly is the joy and wonder as we
feel the individual pieces move both as single entities and
as a whole unit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">That is the joy. Admittedly a personal joy, but it is ours to
gain pleasure from in the simplest of movements. </span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">§</span></div>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;"><br /></span>
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Pay attention to every single body movement and you will be in awe. It this awe that will provide you with many surprises and pleasure. In turn, you will learn to love and appreciate what your body does for you and, reap the beneficial rewards.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">When next at the seaside,
stand by the edge of the waves, your toes and feet past the waterline and enjoy your feet digging into the wet gritty sand as
the cold, perhaps crisp icy water washes around your ankles...pure enjoyment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Now, for me, back to the
pool...the pool room that is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333339691162px;">Verde.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #c32d2e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333339691162px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-73995377660774969892015-05-30T00:53:00.000-07:002015-05-30T05:49:23.945-07:00OVER THE HILL, RE-TYRED<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gerlinde.com.au/#Home" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" Art by Gerlinde" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-seb1mY6R4/VTXYJeMcM-I/AAAAAAAABt0/OPAtd-0kplc/s320/The%2BHero%2BShot3.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: right;">
'The Hero Shot' - art on canvas </div>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: right;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-size: small; text-align: right;"> <a href="http://www.gerlinde.com.au/#Home">Art by Gerlinde</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Upon reflection, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
I thought I would extend the series On Over the Hill and relate my life in
retirement. Well, up to now.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thus, because my current journey is aligned to riding a bicycle, for me, my
retirement is a renewal and newness, I have re-tyred my bicycle.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #415519; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #415519; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A number of years ago I stopped working in the university environment and
started my own business because I wanted to do my own 'thing', work my own
hours and only be dictated by my own conscience.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
There are two things I never realised, firstly, how busy I would be and
secondly, how it would set me up for retirement. I wasted more money than I
thought but gosh...the rewards of seeing the world, meeting some wonderful
people and experiencing and being involved in world events (to a small degree)
was mind enriching.<br />
<br />
However, because I am in the habit of doing whatever, whenever I am inclined, although I am 'properly' retired, I still live my life simply doing pretty much
the same things, including staying up late and getting out of bed even later.
However, I can't stop working because I am driven.<br />
</span></div>
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I have arrived at the plateau of life. I aim to live to age 105. I figure by
peddling slowly doing things that give myself and others pleasure and continue
loving those both present and absent in life, with myself and my vehicular
device (my bike) being re-tyred, life is good. I believe it is important that
we realise the rough tracks we followed or adventured through as tough as they
may have been at times, they are still to be cherished. Like love, once we love
it stays for us forever, cherish all events encountered on your journey and
continue to love.<br />
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Then there is the love we have for doing things whether it is work or
recreation.<br />
<br />
It is not so much in doing things we love, but I find there is immense pleasure
in the physical and mental feelings of moving muscles and enjoying the thought
processes involved. I enjoy the feeling generated by the thought processes
itself as much as the thoughts. I see thought processes and the thoughts as
separate entity. Although they may be one, they are separate things and are
detached from each other. This gives me enjoyment. I hope you know what I mean.<br />
<br />
<br />
When I refer to working, to me it refers to pleasures in my life such as
reading, writing doing research for another book, after I have finished the two
I am working on and one that is in the pipeline that is.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, although I am still winding down my business, I have realised that it
will continue in a small way and I will never stop working. Whether good or
bad, I am not sure but science and the medical sector say that when one becomes
older, it is best to keep active both physically and mentally. So, I figure
that a little work, reading, writing and pottering around in the garden is a
pretty good.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am what is now termed an 'Older Australian' which
is a phrase I chuckle over. No longer are retirees referred to as 'pensioners'
or 'senior citizens'. I have no idea why, perhaps because the word 'older' is
not able to be quantified because to be referred as 'older' the question may be
asked 'older than what?' 'Older' than age five perhaps? Therefore, it is not
clear what 'older' means. Political correctness speak perhaps?<br />
<br />
Anyway, this Older Australian is enjoying a wonderful life in my 'older-ness'.<br />
<br />
I may be seen to be a member of the 'approaching the hill brigade' but as I
said in my last post Over the Hill - Enjoy the Ride, there is no hill to get
over anyway it is a plateau with no end on the horizon, a picture I enjoy,
relish in fact. Do what I want, when I want and only if I want to...sure is
good for me!<br />
<br />
Peace to you all,<br />
<br />
<br />
VERDE</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-74182583660684351312015-04-19T00:23:00.001-07:002017-08-30T20:49:22.051-07:00HUMAN AGEING - THE THRILL OF THE RIDE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X31RNu46Z8g/VQlpRQXQ4cI/AAAAAAAABr8/O80Oz13skKg/s1600/silver%2Bcoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X31RNu46Z8g/VQlpRQXQ4cI/AAAAAAAABr8/O80Oz13skKg/s1600/silver%2Bcoffee.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">The Thrill of The Ride is the second instalment of my posts on Human Ageing.</span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Man Oh Man!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Am I on a roll!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">And boy...is life different once you get to the top of the hill or what!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Life is strange, and strange is life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">In fact, the trail we follow through life, and the rough off-course tracks or routes we take and where we end up is somewhere we could not have imagined in pre-life, childhood, youth, adult and even later.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">My bike is old with wonky wheels, threadbare tires, brakes that work...occasionally and, the handle bars are bent and loose. The seat? Well...with all the miles my bike has travelled under my bottom, both are sagging however, we are comfortable with each other.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Gosh..what a journey I have taken to make it thus far. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">After many years pushing pedals as the hill seems to become steeper and harder, ever upward and now, here I am, cresting the hill.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Know what folks? It is all very different than I, or maybe you imagine.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">After spending many years with the feet sure and steady on the pedals, the wheels going round I had many thoughts on what happens not only after I reach the top but also what the ride down the other side would be like. Would I be going flat out struggling to stay on board and finally be tossed off?</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">This was a question of which the answer was unknown.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I am not sure if we all ride the same metaphoric hill, or whether after cresting, a different picture is revealed, but I will tell you one thing, the outlook, scenery and experience is very different than can be imagined.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I have no need to peddle my bike any longer, I am over the crest and what I see ahead is absolutely fabulous! But although my bike is now an oldie but goodie and still has one wheel at the front, one and the back, two pedals, handlebars and a very old battered leather seat. My bike has done it's job...or has it?</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">As I pushed over the top of the hill I expected to see a very steep decline ahead which would be traversed rapidly and perhaps with danger. I was expecting my bike to fall apart on the fast descent with such speed that I would fall off, hurt myself badly and to use the bird analogy, 'fall off my perch'.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Man, I have never been so wrong!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">My final push on the pedal of the struggle side of life revealed for me, the most unexpected thing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">It may have been a long and arduous uphill struggle all my life, but instead of a rapid decline on the other side, a plateau was revealed. There is no downhill!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">The reality over the hill is that we are on a plateau. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">The ground is flat, relatively unbroken, smooth riding and there is no downhill nor falling over the edge.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">The world is round and is a continuum.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We can do what we want, stop and sit by the roadside enjoying the grass, rain, sunshine or shadow or we can keep on riding and continue being able to experience and enjoy everything around us regardless.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Sure there will be occasional pebbles, ruts, rain and wind, not to mention perhaps a sore bottom from your tired old seat but, the thing is, there is no such thing as 'over the hill', 'going down hill' or other such euphemisms that reflect the ageing process. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Certainly, we will wear out and need to rest, but it is folly to think that when we reach a certain age, we are over the hill. This is silly. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">One of the keys to maintaining mental and physical health when chronologically older is to cease looking at a future of doom and gloom. If we think life will be negative and be a downhill slide after we crest the hill, it will indeed be negative and this is because of attitude.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">If we think our life will be a easier at the top of the hill, it will be easier because we have a positive attitude that reflects cruising the plateau.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">With a high standard of living in most places on our planet, we are able to eat well and maintain our health far better than our forebears. As for exercise, well, we are riding a bike after all.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">The human lifespan has increased and the 'baby boomer' and later generations will simply continue doing whatever whenever they want and live far longer than our antecedents however, the time to look after ourselves is now.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">So, don't have an 'over the hill and down the other side' attitude.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">At the top, rest and enjoy the scenery and plateau out, it is much more fun than going down hill.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Cheers,</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: lime;"><b>Verde</b></span>.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-21761125477392198232015-03-09T06:30:00.000-07:002017-08-30T20:53:50.127-07:00HUMAN AGING - OVER THE HILL?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdbzIV1qT8U/VP2XpOJw70I/AAAAAAAABrg/Ze5nDVAts_A/s1600/silver%2Bcoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdbzIV1qT8U/VP2XpOJw70I/AAAAAAAABrg/Ze5nDVAts_A/s1600/silver%2Bcoffee.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">This article is 'Human Ageing - Over the Hill?' and this will be followed up next month by 'Human Ageing - The Thrill of The Ride!'</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The rationale of continuing the topic over two parts is to allow the first part to provide a sociological reflection on ageing of our parents and grandparents. The second part is to reflect how different ageing has become in 2015 and how different it will be in fifty years time i.e. circa 2065.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">These two united articles were driven by my personal experiences which is very different from my parents.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Recent research authoritatively shows that over 33% of the current Australian population who are baby boomers will have an extended lifetime of 105 years.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Following generations have the possibility of living to 110-120 years. I would imagine this would be similar to others living in the North Americas and Europe.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #990000;">____________________________</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">OVER THE HILL?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Time and Tide passes slowly yet quickly. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">When waiting for things to happen, waiting for life to become abundant with health, money or happiness in our relationships or work, time may pass slowly. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">If we are not waiting for things to happen and am cruising through our time in this life and fully embrace and enjoy what we have, life can pass rather quickly.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">However, there can be a time when we feel chronologically and biologically older. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">We realise that all those kids you thought were kids, are running businesses, companies and the government. Those same kids also seem to be popping up on television being authorities on almost anything.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">The time has come that we realise that those former kids, yours and everyone else's, are fully grown, mature, productive and fully functioning adults who are looking after our national interests and making a darn good job of it!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">When out and about, when before we never noticed, now we begin to feel a degree of deference from the 'youngsters'.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">The realisation occurs to us, that if these former kids are now in their thirties and fourties then our life is suddenly passing much faster. Like...where on earth did those last twenty years go? Do we feel the challenge of riding our bike up the hill is getting just a little too tough? </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">What is over the other side of that darned hill anyway?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">It is just more of the continuing struggle of pushing a bike uphill over the last sixty years?</span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3542131057536890570" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc26o3jqMkg/VP2Dltan39I/AAAAAAAABrA/antsTg8rS1E/s1600/Overthehill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc26o3jqMkg/VP2Dltan39I/AAAAAAAABrA/antsTg8rS1E/s1600/Overthehill.jpg" width="199" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;">_________</span></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">With time and experience comes knowledge and wisdom.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">But great knowledge and wisdom often does not present itself until about two thirds of our life has passed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">The wisdom and great awareness of ageing taking place within us and the concept of our life time running out can become a confronting reality. We realise we have only about 30-50 years to go before we physically permanently depart the 'mortal coil'.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">The kids are grown up, have their own children, the house, car, kids, cat and a dog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">We have stopped working and spend time doing what we want, when we want and how we want.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">If we don't want to do anything, we don't. What a wonderful luxury!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Well, my life is anyways.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">How we handle retirement or ageing is very much attitudinal within ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">So, how do we live the rest of our life?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Do we live as our parents lived?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Are our attitudes and behaviours of mum and dad or perhaps grandma and grandpa and other forebears how we are now?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Over the past 50, 40 and even the last twenty years much has changed in the civilised world and capitalist nations.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Perhaps you remember when the family entertainment was the radio or wireless taking pride of place in the living room. We sat in our comfy chairs facing the radio and watched as we listened...no pictures, just sound. Wow...high tech stuff!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Then along came television. The TV again held pride of place in the living room, that pride of place often being the corner. Now, the box not only had sound, but moving pictures as well, almost cinemaesque. Do you remember that about sixty years ago? I do, but gosh, as the oldies say, 'it seems like only yesterday' and it is then that I realise I am now one of those oldies, or am I?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">How about telephones? The only folks who had telephones were those who were rich and 'well to do'.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">How about refrigerators? When I was a small kid we, as many of our neighbours, had an ice-box. Again, when electric refrigerators were invented, it was only the wealthy folks who could afford them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Motor cars is another thing, when I was a kid we had a little second hand Singer (yes, the car not the sewing machine). </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Over the past 50 or 60 years, after the invention of transistors there was a resurgence of technology and innovation and it is these technologies and innovations that have driven the world and society to develop much faster than in the past 100 years. That is my opinion anyway.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Regards our parents and grandparents, we seem to remember them as being conservative, mostly accepting what politicians said as gospel, and felt the same about the clergy. Folks in those days dressed modestly, rarely cussed or swore and in fact, sadly, only the wealthy had a university education and few rose above the class to which they were born. The society into which one was born dictated which circular track one would be stuck running around until death. There were the supposed intellectual elite, generally born of university education, who were often liberal in their thought and behaviour.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Older citizens of those days had a far different life than we do today in 2015.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">'In the day' older citizens, of whom the mother was the house keeper and kid looker-after-er did not work. Looking after home and family was her job, and the father went to work to pay the bills and feed the family.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">So, when the mum and dad retired, all they did was sit on the porch or in the parlour and read, knitted or similar and generally did nothing because in those days, not much existed except socialisation and all were happy with that. Additionally our parents and grandparents seem much older than we are now although we are now similiar in age. It must be born in mind that also in those days; the average length of life was about 60-75 years of age, or thereabouts.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Time has changed, our life and ways of living have altered or morphed from those of our parents and grandparents because today we have so many things to get on with. We are far more healthy because of higher living standards and consequently, live longer.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">If we look at our parents and grandparents and see how they coped in older life, their declining years, it really can't be compared to us oldies today. This is because we are not old. We are biologically much younger than the chronology dictates.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">It is no longer necessary to think of ourselves as being almost 'over the hill' like our antecedents, but in reality, because of our higher ldegree of health and standard of living, that hill is becoming lower and much more fun.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">So, if we have a mental attitude of being almost 'over the hill' and our bloody bike has flat tyres, the road has rocks, and it is all a struggle, get off and walk the bike up the hill. After all, that is what the Tour de France riders do when their hills become too tough, and, they get over the hills and humps, so we can too.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I'll tell you what folks, with all the advances of technology, medicine and our high standard of living, there is far more over the hill that will be really great. We may not yet be able to see over the hill, but I reckon from the top it will look fantastic!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Stop thinking of the age thing, adopt a different attitude and see the reality, 40 is the new thirty and 60 is the new 50!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Hop on your bike, head for the hills, there is a wonderful view ahead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Experience the world and peddle just over the little hill in front of you, you will be surprised what is ahead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Enjoy the Ride!</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Verde</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-uzS1iRVORuM%2FVGGCppbYbYI%2FAAAAAAAABnM%2Fmwu2CiM5d5U%2Fs1600%2FOverthehill.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzS1iRVORuM/VGGCppbYbYI/AAAAAAAABnM/mwu2CiM5d5U/s1600/Overthehill.jpg" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-79077511170447740242015-01-03T22:50:00.002-08:002017-08-30T20:55:16.473-07:00THE WITNESS OF HISTORY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0YGqMLqGxg/VKgBl6iVRlI/AAAAAAAABo8/uWuIziZIaBA/s1600/bike%2Bcoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0YGqMLqGxg/VKgBl6iVRlI/AAAAAAAABo8/uWuIziZIaBA/s1600/bike%2Bcoffee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>THE WITNESS OF HISTORY</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Academics, researchers and those who document
history hold the first person account of an event to be of most value. The most
authentic is the first person story. It is truth and factual from a one
person account. Naturally, we all experience, see and live through things
differently.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Apart from us, although there are records
held of television and newsprint reports, they are compiled and written from
the viewpoint of a journalist. Although this is often excellent as far as
historical records are concerned, nothing can beat the story of feelings and
emotions of human observers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">§</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">During the latter six months of 2014 citizens
of our world have seen, experienced and lived through some horrific events.
These events affect all of mankind in some form or other and because of the
tools we have such as television, radio, computers, mobile phones and
newspapers, these are the tools we use to see, interpret and understand city,
state, national and world events. We often feel drawn to them and
sometimes we may feel much news and happening world events, some good, some not
so good are thrust upon us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Sometimes we become sick of being bombarded
with news on warfare, terrorism, children being hurt etc and we turn the TV off
or close the newspaper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">However, I feel
we often become hooked on all the broadcasts as we feel driven 'to
know'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">There are some events that I personally need to watch all the
broadcasts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Consequently, on the odd occasion, I feel I am a bit of a
voyeur and intruding on people’s lives and their privacy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">This can be
exampled in a number of events such as the shooting down of a Malaysian
Airlines Flight MH17 aircraft in the Ukraine (298 lives) and another lost
aircraft MH370 in the South Indian Ocean (226 lives) and the recent loss of Air
Asia QZ850 aircraft in the Sea of Java (162 lives).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">These three aircraft
had a total loss of 686 lives. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">I felt compelled to watch the news reports,
especially the Ukraine incident because Australia was heavily involved in the
form of international politics and our humanitarian involvement. Many
Australians died and many more were affected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I was driven, compelled and interested to see
how it all ends, what of the people, who survived and what of the families and
what our leaders were doing to ensure the deceased were respected, brought home
and the perpetrators brought to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">None of these events affected me more than
the terrorist siege and holding of hostages at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place,
Sydney where two innocent people lost their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">The siege commenced at the start of the
business day and continued until 2.30am. During those hours I, and a great
number of my fellow Australians, were continually watching the news broadcast
hoping our police would get the hostages out alive. At midnight I had to
go to bed but because I was continually thinking of what the hostages and their
families were going through, I could not sleep. I arose again at 2.45am to
see how things were going.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">During the next few days talking with people
and seeing some Sydneysiders and other members of the public being interviewed
by the media, we enmasse were either up all night or grabbing an hours or so
sleep and then going back to the television broadcast again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Australian outpouring of grief in Sydney's
Martin Place following the Lindt Cafe siege was remarkable. A young couple
placed a small bunch of flowers on the pavement, and then they were accompanied
by another, then another and another. People who did not know the victims
felt compelled to show they care. In a matter of five days, it was estimated
that over 1.5 million people had laid flowers in memory of Tori Johnson and
Katrina Dawson who died at the siege. Many drove or
flew long distances to place flowers at the impromptu memorial to people they
had never previously heard of. International visitors and tourists in Sydney at
the time did the same thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">This is the URL to a photo of about half to -
three quarters of the flowers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/9/t/s/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.12az08.png/1418970939185.jpg"><span style="color: #990000;">http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/9/t/s/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.12az08.png/1418970939185.jpg</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">As Australians, we were all surprised to see how strongly we
stand up together for each other. We do not buckle under pressure, especially terrorism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">About a week following the Lindt Cafe Siege,
a young Aussie cricketer by the name of Phillip Hughes died very shortly after
being hit by a cricket ball during a game. Again, the public outpouring of grief
from Australians was incredible. The public openly grieved for a young man they
had probably never met, rearly seen play and had little knowledge of him. Yet,
many Aussies were placing their cricket bats and caps at the front of their doors, on the fence, of houses, businesses and schools as a memorial to Phil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: purple;">§</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Like everyone else on our wonderful planet
Earth, I am trying to understand why these things happen, what are those
involved experiencing, will there be any survivors and, how they will and their
loved ones cope. As well, how do we prevent it happening again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">We are all the same. As a part of the
'human condition' we love people, have kind hearts and sympathetic souls and we
like to see people survive their difficulties and troubles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">Seeing the reactions of my fellow Australians
to MH17, the Lindt Cafe Siege and the death of Phil Hughes by a cricket ball, I
have never before seen a public reaction and outpouring of grief as these three
events. I can see that we are becoming a kinder and more caring society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">We have all been the Witness of History<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">We in this 21st Century are lucky to have
wonderful technology and communications as well as journalists willing to go
into the fray to find the truth and tell the stories and whether we are
physically in place to observe history happening or standing on the sideline,
we all are in some form or other in our lives, witnessing history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #990000;">We all live through history and endure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Verde</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-76521133568378929032014-10-22T06:50:00.000-07:002017-08-30T20:56:47.496-07:00NEVER THE LAST WORD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ_jhu8LEDU/VEeTkE5eIqI/AAAAAAAABOA/cZIcClieNqA/s1600/real%2Bfancymug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ_jhu8LEDU/VEeTkE5eIqI/AAAAAAAABOA/cZIcClieNqA/s1600/real%2Bfancymug.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The last word, the second last word or never having the last word, how are important are these?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">The last word in an argument, which in hindsight has little importance, and never having the last word may be equally unimportant. Perhaps we should consider the last word before we pass on to another life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Realistically, if we die from illness, or old age we rarely have a last word. What would it be like if we wanted to utter our last words to loved ones and they were not able to be present. Perhaps no one is there. This means that your final last words may not be heard.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Although we would like to tell our loved ones how much we love them, who can have the ancient family jewellery, make sure you drink all the wine in the cellar (especially the Grange) and eat all the chocolate left in the cupboards. Oh, and don't forget to feed Mowser the cat, Woof the dog and Whinny the horse.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Our final words are important but of equal importance is to share and communicate how we have lived our lives.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Not only how we have lived our lives but also ,our experiences, adventures and personal history we have lived. All simply because we are human beings on this wonderful planet Earth.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">It does not matter if we have lived in capitalist or non-capitalist countries whether they be rich or poor, in the East or West or of various cultures or faiths. How we lived or are living our lives can teach those who follow us on their path. As individuals and as a collective we all live wonderful and interesting lives. Moreover, we have all lived through history of our planet, nation, cities and, family. It all has a place in the future.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Yesterday a former Prime Minister of Australia, died. The Right Honourable Gough Whitlam. Love or hate him, he, as all of us, played a significent role in many other lives.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">During my time I have seen 14 Australian Prime Ministers as head of our nation. For a while I lived in Australia's capital, Canberra, and have three times met Julia Gillard, the first Female Australian Prime Minister. I have also met high court judges, politicians, writers, artists and performers. But most of all, I have met many of my fellow Australians simply in the street. As them, I am a part of the mob, simply another Aussie.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I have seen my city, nation and other countries pass through both wonderful and horrific events. I have seen those I love pass through distressing and very difficult times. I have seen people pass on to new lives and I have seen the wonderful newness of babies and children being educated and become productive adults.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">But you know what folks?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I have never documented, written down or passed on not so much the story of my life, but rather, how my life was lived. I have never had the last word that tells my story. I will...soon.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Documenting our stories about how we lived our lives and the people who passed by us, simply on the street or at a party, the meaningfulness, the lessons that may be taught must be passed on. Not only that, but what is also important, if not valuable, is to leave pictorial images of where we lived.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">As some of you may know, I tend to move around a little looking for the perfect place and I am now living in the Australian bush, on a country property. I went for a walk this afternoon and below, is one of the ponds at the bottom of the garden. It is very beautiful and it says so much about me (peace, tranquility and open space). The thing is, if I do not include some photos in the story of my life, my great great great grand kids may not have any idea where I lived actually looked like! Mind you in 100 - 200 years, this pond could become a shopping mall. An example, the pyramids in Egypt used to be a long bus ride from the city of Cairo, and now those same pyramids are on the outer suburbs.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNkwd028auQ/VEeiRmZYicI/AAAAAAAABOc/U_CC3jR-t5M/s1600/Pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wNkwd028auQ/VEeiRmZYicI/AAAAAAAABOc/U_CC3jR-t5M/s1600/Pond.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I not only say that our stories must be passed on, but they must be passed on in both digital and paper format.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Sure, write it using a computer or some other digital device, but by printing it out is is there. Digital technologies and software become upgraded and new versions made available however in 40 years time I would be very surprised if your story written and placed exclusively in the digital format will not survive as long as paper records.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">So, how do I start practising what I preach?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Rather, how do WE start?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I bought an inexpensive large spiral bound notebook the other day and in my notebook I am going to begin by writing down things from my childhood, what my mother and father was like and what I remember of my childhood. Writing things down help us to remember.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">The things I am writing down are simply random thoughts about my mother, what she was like, what she said, how she did things, how she cooked..what she cooked...I remember those wonderful Sunday roast dinners. On Sunday mornings my sister and myself had to dress up in our pretty lace dresses (mine was lemon) and ribbons and go to Sunday school that was held in church hall. While I was in the littlies class my sister was in the bigger class...and mum and dad were in the church. I remember when I graduated to the big kids class I was given a celebration bible...still have it...and it has a bookplate that is fancy and dated. I love my bible, just because it is.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">After church, we came home, us kids changed into our play clothes and mum cooked a lamb roast for midday dinner. This was our routine every Sunday. Thinking now, mum had long hair that was platted across her head.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">See what I mean? As I am writing things about my Sunday as a kid, I have remembered the colour of my best dress and the ribbons, my bible and, the fact that mum had platted hair across her head.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Now folks, if you start writing things down like this...in any order, you will be amazed what you remember. Documenting things can help you in difficult times. For example, when a loved one passes on, by writing what you remember will be healing and ease the pain in your heart. Besides, by the time you are 80, think of the wonderful book you can read! All about your life that may have been forgotten!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">By remembering and documenting some previously unforgotten things, your future descendants will find it interesting and may even help them see their place and how they belong in the family. It will also provide a sense of how society and your city and country was 'back in the day'.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">All of this is absolutely invaluable to your family history and, you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #990000;">Once we leave our life with our stories and family histories untold, they are gone forever!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Don't Pass With Your Last Words Unspoken</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">YOUR BOOK - YOUR LIFE</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">BOTH ARE OF IMMENSE VALUE</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">Verde</span></b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-58326383468352126532014-09-21T00:55:00.001-07:002017-08-30T20:57:47.343-07:00FAT INTO THIN DON'T GO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">Since the 1950's and the invention of pantyhose, those spidery fine, stretchy coloured leggings that need no sexy suspenders and very little support garments such as girdles has not only made an addition to fashion but also has changed the way we look at things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I contended that pantyhose was not only the forerunner of 'one size fits all' but also the reality of 'one size fits most.' How true is this? We all know the 'one size fits most' paradigm whether it be hats that swing on our heads, belts that we run out of holes or length of belt and, pantyhose. No matter how fat the belly and bum it is quite often the chubby lady or lad when purchasing extra tall or extra large pantyhose know their adipose tissue will not compact enough to fit the pantyhose without the feet dangling or the waist will end up above the abdomen or stretch to the breast or chest.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">The same is the way we think about things.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Being individuals of various intellectual strengths, we all think differently. We think our favourite foods, colours, music, books, art and ways of doing things is the best. However it is only the best to us because our personal preferences are often influenced by the way we are brought up accompanied by our socio-cultural background.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">In other words, 'one size fits all' is very much a case of not only being 'one size fits most' but more like 'one size fits some'. It is like pantyhose, we may plan for and hope the item will fit but the reality can be very different.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">So it is with varying religious and modes of belief. There are many religions and beliefs in our world and naturally, 'one size does not fit all'. We are human individuals with many and varied differences and this is why there are indeed so many religious and belief systems.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">It follows that it is rather stupid and narrow minded expecting others to follow one particular religion. Those that force others into a particular religion or belief are after power and control because they feel it is lacking in their individual lives. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">It is extremely stupid threatening others who do not follow 'the one size fits all' religion. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Making horrendous threats and carrying them out against others not only puts individuals offside but also a vast number of others.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Those others are much smarter than those of the 'one size fits all religion' who appear to lack any form of humanity nor any particular form of higher intelligence at all. Most of them are all bleating sheep following others. In fact, they appear to be the disenfranchised of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Humans who are smart band together for the sake of humanity and defend all. Those who are disenfranchised in society band together to enforce their particular brand of 'one size fits all'. These disenfranchised people are not strong enough to stand on their own as individuals.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">So, next time you buy a pair of pantyhose that does not fit, toss them out or use them to tie up the roses because if the size does not fit, they are useless for the reason they were intended.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Be vary careful of accepting the 'one size fits all' paradigm, use your individual intelligence to examine the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Verde</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-34687181844504599112014-07-14T07:53:00.002-07:002017-08-30T20:58:31.428-07:00VIVA SIMPLICITY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x_GS25yMoQ/U7KzRj67WXI/AAAAAAAAAt0/CeObJJnFwyc/s1600/swirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x_GS25yMoQ/U7KzRj67WXI/AAAAAAAAAt0/CeObJJnFwyc/s1600/swirl.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">THE VERDE WORD </span> </div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Some of us who remonstrate at the use of mobile/cell phones may at heart be of the Renaissance period or, more attuned to the currency of mobile communications. However the renaissance period is not classically aligned with this months image above. Both are dichotomies, or at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Thus it is with modern life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Having being involved in communication and technologies for many years I regularly bought the latest mobile (cell) phone. In fact, I was one of the uptakers of the second models of mobile phones ever invented. It was the 80s and I owned a 'brick'. Still have it, and it still works and does what it was designed to do.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">That is, it rings like a normal phone sounding 'ring ring' and it is answered the same way that is, 'Hello?'</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Quickly the design of mobile/cell phones became smaller, faster and with more facilities and every few years I upgraded.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I tend to be a futurist and on the topic of cell/mobile phones I see the future being of more simplicity further practicality and far less of the extra features that add to the extra cost. The future of communication technologies is not more, bigger, brighter. The future is simplicity in communications.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I find there is no need for me to play games, use the calculator, the diary, the calendar and check the news, weather or football scores on my phone, I can use my laptop or television for this.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Why do things on a phone that cost a fortune, have expensive downloads, the keys or screen icons are small, and if one wants to easily view articles in a similar size to books or the home computer, one has to purchase an e-pad or something similar and carry this lump of technology around in a bag much larger than the pockets of our jeans. I say, the perfect phone size is one that fits easily in our jeans front pocket. Perfect.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">All I want to do is to talk on my phone. The fancy stuff is a waste of my time.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I spend between 2 to 5 hours a day on my laptop on my desk with my Dell Studio 17 inch with zillions of pixel resolution, huge memory, multi drives, fab operating system, a machine I have had since 2009. It still runs extremely fast whilst being remarkably reliable.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Why the heck do I need a mobile/cell phone to do all these wonderful things that a simple 'ring ring...hello' mobile phone does.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">While out and about I do not need to spend an enormous amount of time while having my eyes and mind narrowly focused on a 5 x 3 inch screen. I can do that at home and not miss out on so much more to observe in our wonderful world.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">In short, all I need is a plain and simple bloody phone!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">I have rebelled! Done, finished, over! My current Nokia E71 is still good, but getting faults and is a bit tired.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Know what I am going to do? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">I am going to dig out my old Samsung flip or 'shell' phone as it has the most wonderful basic functions I will ever need. It goes 'ring ring' and then I say 'hello'.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Why does life seem to be so darned complex!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">My collection of old phones are brilliant. The all still go 'ring ring'...'Hello?'</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">What can be more simple!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Viva Simplicity!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">VERDE</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542131057536890570.post-58170290619520498492014-06-21T08:05:00.000-07:002017-08-30T20:59:24.464-07:00A HORSES ARSE<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jceySzRqvA/U6WMU915UBI/AAAAAAAAAtU/vHVVa4sYVxE/s1600/indian+horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7jceySzRqvA/U6WMU915UBI/AAAAAAAAAtU/vHVVa4sYVxE/s1600/indian+horse.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">THE VERDE WORD</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Early morn has broken. The sun looms over the horizon beckoning you to do your favourite thing.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Go out to the barn on this wonderful fresh sunny day and partake of your favourite day starter. The smell of horse manure. Diligently, as every other day you put your horse Ned in the yard and muck out the stable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Having finished, you grab a cup of coffee, sit on the rails talking to Ned and you contemplate on how wonderful it is to have a horse. After a while Ned wanders off and you find yourself watching Ned's generous backside walking away.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Think about it, Ned and his forbears have been used for galloping into battle, hunting, tilling the soil and also as a means of transport. But is that all?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">A while ago now, I read a report on the effect horses have on our modern civilisation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">The width of two horse arses is why farm machinery, cars, railroads, motor vehicles, roads, boats and space rockets are a similiar width.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Yes all you wonderful horsey folk, the width of all if not most modern transport is all because of the width of a horses arse.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Based on my understandings, the following facts are true.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Once upon a time in the ancient Greek era their military training included horse racing. Soldiers wanted to be the fastest galloper. Their military decided it would be an advantage to attach a cart and call the combination a 'chariot'. Following, their military figured that if they had a bigger chariot with two horses and two soldiers, one could steer and the other could battle the enemy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Chariot racing then became a very popular sport. However, they needed a race arena that had to be wide enough to allow either six or eight teams of horses next to each other.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">The public, and those who could afford them, realised that a horse is a darned wonderful thing for transport.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Most folks could only afford one and eventually, there were many people on horseback taking rough tracks to their destination and return. This means on one track, people were going in both directions, which again means, the tracks became the same width of two horse arses plus a little bit more. Then people started using wagons with two horses pulling. And yes, the tracks stayed the same size.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Consequently, it was accepted that all roads were to become the same width, i.e. the aforementioned witdth of two horse arses. Then trains were invented so as a matter of convenience, the kept the railway tracks the same size as was accepted for the horse and wagon roads. Besides, the military thought using trains to transport horses was a good idea and this again was another reason for the railway guages to match the width of horse arses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">The same with cars. Because cars were seen as an alternative to horse and wagons and used on the same roads, the axles on cars were again made the width to fit on the roads.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">In other words, the width of roads, cars and railways are generally based on the width of?</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Yep, two horse arses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Now, here where it really gets even more interesting.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">NASA and the US Federal Government were planning and designing space rockets for the US space program. And apparently, the company that was building the rockets was located on the west coast of the USA. Because of the optimal conditions of the weather in Florida, the rockets were to be launched from what was then named Cape Canaveral which was later renamed Cape Kennedy on the east coast.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">The question then remains, how did they plan to get the rockets from the West Coast to the East Coast?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Because of the height, weight and length of the rockets it was not possible to transport them by road, shipping was out of the question nor obviously, could they be flown.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">They decided the rockets would be transported all the way across the US by railway.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">However, this means the rockets had to be designed and built to fit the width of a railway line.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">So, even today, although road, cars and train widths are dictated by the width of two horse arses so were the rockets for the US space program.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">So, the next time you see your horse from the back, or you refer to someone as being a 'horses arse', reflect on what a wonderful compliment it is!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">To have an arse that dictated and helped modern civilisation to produce such wonderful advances in science and technology should be applauded.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">So folks, go and give your horse an extra apple today and value every bit of manure you step in.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">The horse arse is a wonderful thing that also provides wonderful nourishment for your roses.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Oh, and take pride when someone calls you a horses arse!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Verde.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><b><br /></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001325400165495245noreply@blogger.com0