"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." Saint Francis De Sales

Friday, January 27, 2017

Birthdays, Dow & My Hobby



1. This week I reached my 70th year on earth. Thank you Lord!

2. On Saturday evening our group got together to celebrate four birthdays. Dinner at La Cucina's and cake and ice cream at our home. I'm the youngest one. 😃

Maureen, Roger, Tony & Me

3. God has blessed me with a birth date of January 25th. The day before this is the birth date of St. Francis de Sales, my patron saint. The day after is the birth date of Monsignor Shreeve. This provides me a "heavenly connection" to God on one side and an "earthly connection" to God on the other side. I’m sure He knew that I needed the help.

4. The Dow hit 20,000 for the first time. It happened to be on my birthday.


From CNN

5. My historical figure painting has slowed since I've been going to PT. Not because of pain or discomfort, just time. Yes, it appears that PT it is cutting into my hobby time. I'm not complaining, just looking for an excuse for lack of production. 😏

6. Winter is here and snow is on the way to the Great Lakes Region

7. Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard. A fun song.





Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Snow, The Magi and Blake



1. The snow came on Saturday and it's still here. We had no issues, stayed inside and kept warm. Everything closed for the weekend. On Monday morning we were at -2 degrees Fahrenheit. VDOT did an excellent job of clearing the roads and things will be back to normal buy Tuesday. Our first winter storm for 2017.
Looking out from our family room.
2. The Magi didn't have snow when they arrived in Bethlehem. 

"And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.4."
MT 2:9-11


3This was posted by Anthony DeCristofaro at Your Daily Tripod for January 8, 2017.

"A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."  (James Joyce, “The Dead” in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man).

4. This week I had two sessions of PT. Still working on completing the stretches in a more efficient manner. I'm new at this .....

5. "The older you are, I think you realize what you enjoy and what you don't need, what wears you out and what's important."  Alan Jackson


6. Blake Shelton, "Honey Bee."




7. I watched the first episode of the new series "Taboo." It is a dark, intriguing story that takes place in 1814 England. The "hero," well at least the one that appears to be, is a character names James Delaney. He is played by Tom Hardy. It's worth looking at the second episode.



Go over to "This Ain't the Lyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.


Friday, January 6, 2017

Karaoke, Winter And Jim


1. Our New Year celebration was enjoyable. Dee put together a Karaoke contest using our two granddaughters Eryn and Hailey as MC’s. They entertained and worked the crowd like pros.
My brother and I started off the contest singing Jim Croce’s, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. No, we can’t sing. But we had others who could and a few whose talents matched my brother and me.

Tom & Me
Dee & Me


2. I went to the ‘Y” for my workout on Monday and noticed that the number of people attending had increased. This is not unusual as many start the year with the intent of “stickin’ to it,” but drop off after the the first month.

3. Winter is here and our first snow is due here Friday and/or Saturday depending on which weather model you want to follow. I'm choosing the one with the least snow but I have concerns. The squirrels in our yard have been foraging acorns all week long. Perhaps they know something that I don't.

4. "I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.""
     Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass.

5. Visit #2 to the Physical Therapist went well, although I received a B+ in stretches that I'm to complete at home. My "doorway subscapularis stretch," was not quite "up-to-par." Corrections have been made.


6. Just received a birthday gift from my Brother Tom and his wife Karen. It's the ultimate gift for the brother that has everything ....... a pistachio dish. Tom's favorite snack food happens to be pistachios. I get the impression that there should always be a supply "on hand" when he visits.  
7. Jim Croce, Bad Bad Leroy Brown. A better rendition than my brother and me.    







Go over to "This Ain't the Kyceum," where Kelly is hosting more takes.