WARNING SIGNS (DECEMBER 21, 2012)

We made it - the sun is still shining, the earth has not been shattered into million of pieces by an asteroid and you are still reading my little boring blog (thank you very much) - the real world did not end and most importantly, I am still part of the blogosphere (I always thought it was "blogsphere" without the second "o"), posting (or rather writing boring stories) when I should be doing something productive!  (All these images are from Yellowstone National Park - September 2011).

Just for the records, these were my activities on that "fateful" day - Friday, December 21, 2012.  I got up (this in itself is already a blessing), then got ready to be at an organization where I have been volunteering after the Fall semester ended a few weeks ago.  I've helped three mornings each week until the end of December.  Then I got to prepare for the Spring semester starting the 2nd week in January.  There was no traffic and the lights were green all the way (I am trying to count only nice things).  It was sunny, clear blue sky and in the mid-40s.  (I always thought of September 11, 2001 when the sky was beautiful, "good flying weather" the captains of those airplanes probably reported.  Who would have thought such terrible event could happen on such beautiful day?)  Ok, let's count only positive things.  

I finished my volunteer work at noon and decided to walk to the park.  (Being able to walk on my own two feet is another blessing.)  After a quick lunch (a fish sandwich and a banana), I walked to the library.  A visit to the library always makes me happy.  After picking up a book I have reserved, I selected a few from the open stack.  I planned to read the reserved book first since I have to return it in two weeks and won't be able to renew because other patrons are on the long waiting list.  But if the world ended today, it wouldn't matter, would it?  

After the library, I was safely back in my poor humble but proud home!  Nothing bad happened and we are all still here, walking around on the face of the earth (well, except for those who were arrested and jailed by the government in China for spreading rumors about the doomsday).  BTW, the Lunar New Year is February 10, 2013 and it is the year of the Snake.  Therefore, December 21st on the Lunar calendar actually will be February 1, 2013 on the Western calendar.  (For those who are not familiar with Lunar v. Western calendar, ask Qaptain Qwerty for help as he is better at explaining than I am).  That is really a bummer for someone who looks forward to celebrating her 52nd birthday on February 1, 2013!!!!!!! 

HELP - I NEED HELP, PLEASE

 Even Santa needs a hand - so we should not be bashful to ask for help and to gracefully accept a gesture of kindness.

I will remember to seek help when I feel overwhelmed and to allow others to lift me up when I fall down.  I don't have to be strong all the times.  Most of all, I will remember "to let go and let God".

THE ANGEL OF HARMONY

THURSDAY RAMBLINGS

We have warm sunny in the high 40s weather today.  I was able to do more walking by parking my car far away in the lot at the grocery store then walked to the post office in the next lot.  The gas price has been sort-of reasonable but I still combine all the errands in one trip and walk from one place to another as long as it is safe to do so. 

We saw a group of deer (about 8) when we were leaving Mammoth Cave in Cave City, Kentucky (top and above photo).  This particular deer (above) looks like it was starving because it was all bones.  Not sure what happened there whether it was sick or because it just gave birth.  We tried to take more photos but the babies all ran back into the wood.

We saw about half a dozen deer while driving along Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.  Thankfully the deer were either in the wood (above) or standing in the middle of the road but far enough that we were able to avoid hitting them.
OK, my adoring fans probably are saying, "TOTA, you are really losing your marbles here posting photos of deer while talking about walking."
Well, today is the 13th and parking lot might not be a safe place for walking anymore.  Why?  Because a few months ago, right here in my town, a woman was knocked down by a dear in a busy parking lot.  The woman was injured and hospitalized (she was in a coma for a few weeks) but has fully recovered.  Who would have thought that such incident could happen in a fully developed commercial area.
Just this week, there were three car-deer accidents on Highway 40.  Last month my husband was painting the nativity when we saw a 8-point buck jumping over the fence in our backyard chasing after a doe.  Last week, I saw another buck running across a 5-lane road (Alisa, that is across from Target store on Manchester Road).
So, if you see a short-chubby geezer looking around while walking in the parking lot, ready to take cover, that would be me just being caution!

HAPPY THE 12TH

 Did you do anything special on this 12th day of the 12th month in the year of 2012?  Since I am already married (23+ happy years), I could not be among the couples (9,000+ in the US) who had their weddings today.  I am (could) not pregnant so no baby of mine born today.  (And no boomer-rang kids coming back to live with us after college or grandkids either.)  I did buy lottery tickets.  Why not, we all have dreams and I hope my dream comes true!

I took an image of my cell phone at 10:11 while the battery was being charged.  I thought if I could not capture the time at 12:12 as I might miss it while running errands, then at least I still have the date 12.12.12.  I was able to get both images.  I am sure for most of us, it was just another day on the calendar.  I will admit that I thought something bad might happen so I was a bit nervous driving and being in the stores.  You never know where and when crazy things might take place.  Who would have thought that a movie theater, a shopping mall or even in the classroom could be a dangerous place to be!  
Happy the 12th - it is one in a lifetime event and I am sure glad to be here.

ORDER, ORDER, "DA QAPTAIN" SAYS ORDER!

DEZRAY OR DISARRAY - WHICHEVER THE ORDER SHOULD BE !!!!

HAPPY PENGUINS

One, Two, Three penguins
Jumping left, then to the right
Much fun at Wildlights

We did not see these happy jumping penguins last year.  It could be that the display was there but sort-of hidden, away from the main walking path.

This week the temperature is more like December weather.  Yesterday morning it was in the low 30s.  Today it gets up to mid 40s by the afternoon.  It is cold even when standing in the sun.  (I bookmark Gardiner, Montana on my iPad and it has been snowing there.)   My husband's workplace offers free blood test as part of the wellness program to employees and family members.  My appointment was this morning.  The nurse had a hard time trying to draw blood from my small veins.  She was surprised that I watched her moving the needle around.  "You are a brave woman," she said, "because most of the people look away."  I just smiled and did not tell her that I wanted to make sure she did not take more than needed ;>)

CLASSY

I read an article published in a "highly respected" community newspaper about a finding by a "highly respected" university researcher listing the best way to improve academic success to a particular group of students.  The Classy researcher wrote, "If states and higher education institutions want to maintain higher levels of retention and a diverse student body, they should do much more than simply provide scholarship funding."  One of the recommendations was for universities to take a more "holistic" approach to providing additional funding, not just free tuition, to ensure that students can focus on academic issues rather than working to make a living.  

Is "holistic" a new word for entitlement, handout or taking from one group, giving to another group and calling it fair?  How I wish I knew about this kind of "holistic" approach when I was working during the day and attending evening classes at Hunter College.  It took me five years from 83' to 88' to earn my undergraduate degree.  My job at an insurance agency did not pay much but enough that I was not qualified for financial aid so I funded my own education and did not demand the school to provide a "holistic" treatment.  I guess you could say that I provided my own boots, pulled myself up by my own boot-straps and I am proud of that.

There seems to be a lot of Classy talk about the fairness and what should be done to help the working poor.  It sure reminds me another vision of an ideal world where the poor people no longer subject to the rich and everyone in society will be free, happy, well fed and treated with dignity.  Beware of the man who promises the sky will always be blue!

That burro threatened and held us captive until we gave him a carrot.  It was the only road out of town so we had no choice but paid the ransom.

NOT IN ST. LOUIS

License plate is fine but we sure don't want any Hurricane Sandy here in St. Louis!!!!

HEY QAP, WE HAVE SWANS IN ST. LOUIS TOO

Well, not the real swans but rather part of the Light Displays of the Wildlights at St. Louis Zoo.  The annual winter event is scheduled nightly starting at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays thru Sundays, from November 23rd thru December 30th.  I don't remember seeing the swans last year so it might be a new display or the zoo just rotates among the sets to keep the events interesting.

Good thing we went to the Zoo last weekend because today (Saturday, December 8th) is a bit chilly, cloudy and under constant threat of rain.  The ground was wet when we went to Mass so it must be raining last night or early this morning.  After church, we went to a holiday craft show.  A local business sponsors "Photo with Santa" at no charge and a 4x6 complimentary copy.  There was no one in line and being cheapskates, we could not pass up such "freebies".  (No, I did not sit on Santa's lap - I wouldn't want to break his legs!)  Santa asked me what I wanted to Christmas.  I told him, "Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards Men, Women and Children too"! 

If you are planning to see the Wildlights, a tip from the parking attendance, the South Lot on Wells Drive is free after 4:00 p.m. (normally is $10 per car) and purchase your tickets on line or before 5:30 to avoid the long lines.  Visit www.stlzoo.org for more information.

ASPIRATION, EVOLUTION AND THAT WRENS MAKE PREY

Today is cloudy and a good chance of rain.  Yesterday I was comfortable in a long sleeve shirt as the weather was warm and sunny all day.  Walking to the store, I said hello and commented to a person, "Can't believe this is December" referring to the almost summer-like temperature.  She responded, "We are going to pay for it later."  I did not get a chance to ask her whether that was her prediction that we would have harsh and stormy winter as a surprise from Mother Nature or the worst drought coming next summer.  Perhaps we will not have to worry about the drought as rains will be coming the next few days.

Hey QQ, how about writing a Haiku poem for these sculptures?  I thought it was easy since there are many syllables in Aspiration, Evolution but it was rather difficult.

My husband continued to play golf on the weekend.  In fact he played both last Saturday and Sunday mornings.  We also went to the zoo to see the Wildlights display.  This weekend, we plan to go to historic downtown St. Charles or to Missouri History Museum if it rains, to see the exhibit about the life and legacy of president George Washington.  What are your plans for the weekend, the holidays and for 2013? 

THE WAY IT WAS

I thought of "Da Qaptain" and wonder if the artist created the above sculpture with QQ in mind.  Enlarge the image and you would see all the recycled materials representing modern society.  I did not count all the pieces but these are a few items that are easily recognized such as cell phone, golf club/balls, Kodak camera, fishing pole, empty soda can, etc. 

The above item of a runner (probably from a trophy) and the chain from a bicycle represent what QQ enjoys and his current frequent activities - running and riding bicycle (not motorcycle) haa haa

The temperature continues to be unusually warm for December.  I am not really looking forward to the freezing weather but it would not feel right listening to Christmas songs while the thermometer showing 70s.

There yesterday trash
Together one piece of art
The Way It Was last

SMILE AND STANDING STILL

The above sign says it all - Smile! It's a great day to be alive!  Especially when it is sunny and in the high 60s, almost mid 70s in the sun when I was taking pictures of the sculptures that are on display around the campus.

I registered and paid for the courses I will be taking in the Spring.  I could have gotten the tasks done online but the "geek" in me love the feeling of being on campus, talking to another human and watching students going to/from classrooms.  I will be taking Trial Procedures, Legal Research and Law Office Administration.  I decided to wait and get the textbook later because the cost might ruin the day and I probably will be crying instead of smiling! 

Just for these moments, I will be happy to be alive, to be able to see the world around me, to walk around in the sun, to be thankful for my family and those who are truly my friends over the years.  Just for today, I will forget about my fruitless job search, the "incident" that left a deep scar and at time feel like an open wound, the uncertainty of what will happen with the "cliff" and the possibility that the world will end on the 21st !!!!!!!!!

It always makes me feel good when I learn something new.  I learned that kore (plural korai) is the type of freestanding statue of a maiden that appeared with the beginning of Greek monumental sculpture in about 660 B.C. to 500 B.C.  Basically, the kore is a draped female figure carved from marble and originally painted, standing with feet together or with one foot slightly advanced and the arms are down at the sides (as below piece).

I am pretty sure this is not the ancient statue that the Greek police found in a goat pen near Athens.  The goat herder was arrested for illegally excavated when he tried to sell the 520 B.C. kore type marble statue of a young woman.  I learned another word, "pillaging" which comes from the verb "pillage" meaning looting, stealing, or plundering especially in war.

Smile, do not worry
Tomorrow a new story
You will be writing  

DOOR, FACES, HOUSE AND PARROT

One door, two faces

Unknown future later date

It might be too late

These images were painted on a building across from Lynn Paradise Cafe in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  I originally wanted to use the above image of the two faces (crying/smiling) for a post after the Presidential election.  I thought the hydraulic arm of the excavator on top of the smiling face represents a politician who has been digging a hole that is getting deeper and deeper with his many failures while the economy slides further into the recession.  After many hours of deep thoughts, I decided to use the image to write a Haiku poem instead.

There is an expression in Vietnamese that speaks of the importance of fathers being a constant presence in the family life.  "Con khong cha nhu nha khong cot" meaning "Children without father's guidance is like house without pillars", the house collapses as there is nothing to keep it from falling down.

 

Parrot on the roof

Repeat words from passerby

From morning to night

Perhaps I should get back to idioms and popular sayings which is much easier than writing Haiku poem.