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 Day to day stuff....a memoir without order. |
 Imagination is described by Webster as...The act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses in reality. Albert Einstein said "Logic will get you from A to B, but imagination will take you everywhere."  I never realized it until I read it somewhere but there are ways to boost one's imagination: Create a visual journal Draw whatever you see for 15 minutes a day. You don't need to be an artist. Think like an artist Cut out pictures from magazines & piece them together to create an original image. Listen to Bach Close your eyes while playing your favorite music. Or listen to the sounds of nature on a CD or in the great outdoors. Play word games Try thinking of as many words as you can that begin with MAR...or you pick. Daydream Let your mind wander, or focus on a single object & study its characteristics.     Everyone has a story....here's mine.....c ** Image ID #1701066 Unavailable **  |
| I am sitting here wondering whether to forego my walk this morning...maybe, although I hardly ever do not go walking. I have lots of things to do today. My book club meets at 1 and before that I want to stop by Jim's grave with some new flowers. And I need to do the banking for my writers' group since it is nearby. At 3 I have an appointment, an unscheduled appointment, with my eye doctor. Last Thursday morning I woke up at 5 a.m. with some eye pain and could not go back to sleep. I've developed some problems with my eyedrops. After some discussion back and forth with the nurse, I was told to stop using them (duh, no one needed to tell me that) and come in today at 3 for a looksee. At least I got all my grass cut yesterday just before our daily thunder-bumper. I think it rained about all night. The street out front is still wet this morning and I see one little limb down in the back yard. I need to edge the sidewalk, driveway and curb, but that can wait until tomorrow...or the next day. I am on a BBC binge on Amazon Prime, Middlemarch, Wives and Daughters, North and South, and probably some I've already forgotten. I think I may have lived back then in another life. I see things in these programs and know exactly what they are, and I cannot remember reading or hearing about them before...weird. And I have put myself on a sort of schedule with certain things to do at certain times everyday. A little depression creeps upon me if I am at loose ends so having things to do keeps it at bay. I have been very lax on my transcribing, and I am adding to my 'thoughts of Jim' item each day. A lot of "free time" is not really a good thing. I must do useful things to feel useful. Here are some interesting thoughts I have read lately and want to share...sorry I cannot remember and did not write down where they came from but rest assured, I did not think them up  ."Unless you can give up your secrets, you will always be at the mercy of them." "We may be done with the past, but the past is not done with us." "We journal because life deserves to be remembered." "We are all children trying to be adults." until next time...c |
| We had some wind yesterday that dislodged several dead or dying branches from the pines in my backyard. It took around an hour to pick them up, break them up, and put them in trash cans for the yard debris picker upper tomorrow. Today I'll work on the hundreds of pine cones lying about. And the grass needs cutting again. One more week in August. I have mixed thoughts, looking forward to cooler weather, but not necessarily fall. It's what follows fall that I don't like, the staying inside more, not much to do in the yard. If only yard work could come with cool weather, perfect. And fall always has the threat of hurricanes. I guess it's true, right now is the best time .I continue to watch Lark Rise to Cranford on Amazon Prime, enjoying it very very much. I'm sure I would enjoy Outlander (loved Gabaldon and her series), but tv and Starz are out of the question. I think I may have been a Brit or a Scot in another life. Have a happy and safe week... until next time...c |
| I went to Cedar Key http://www.cedarkey.org/ yesterday...first time in over two years. The ride is lonely, 53 miles of a two-lane highway, through a few very small, one-red-light towns and over a couple of waterways, the Waccasassa River and Otter Creek. Once, just past the Waccasassa bridge, Jim and I saw an overturned camper on the side of the road, rescue vehicles already there. Now, I always associate the two. Most of the drive is bounded by shallow ditches teeming with cattails or water hyacinth and, farther back, planted pines owned by paper companies and hunting clubs. Where the pines have been harvested, a few tall, stately palm trees remain, letting me know I am in Florida. Jim and I traveled this highway many times, usually with friends or relatives, sometimes to meet others at Cedar Key for a meal at one of the popular seafood restaurants, Frog's Landing, the Captain's Table, the Seabreeze, which is the only one remaining today. They are good, good memories and the water has always drawn me back. The restaurants have a specialty which I have never seen anywhere else. They call it palm salad and I suppose you could say it is a salad, but it is more like dessert because of the scoop of green ice cream on top that takes up most of the plate. The restaurants advertise the ice cream as dressing. This ice cream was supposed to be a secret recipe and to me, it actually tasted a little like peanut butter. I never found out the secret, but this special "salad" and the view kept bringing us back again and again. If it was getting dark on our ride back home, we could count on seeing deer beside the road, sometimes crossing, so we had to be very alert and careful and drive a little slower than normal. And, of course, there were possums and coons and armadillos on the roam at dusk, even a turtle or two. But back to my ride yesterday, I went with a purpose in mind, and it was not eating, although the hand-dipped ice cream niggled my memories. I was focused on a boat ride. I did some web research and found http://www.tidewatertours.com/. Since high tide seemed to be important for the length of the boat trip, I checked and high tide was at 1:00 p.m., perfect. I left home at 9:20 a.m. and arrived at the first bridge into Cedar Key at 10:35 a.m., hardly any traffic but getting hot. I was prepared with sunscreen and a hat and the boat, I saw, had a canopy. I pulled into a vacant spot at the city park area, which was already teeming with swimmers and sun bathers. It was a short walk to the tour boat dock, where several more people were waiting for the first departure at 11 o'clock. I paid my fee and chatted with a friendly couple who were taking their dog, an older female black lab named Shotsy. They had recently moved into a retirement community (Springhill, a little southeast) from California. The husband raved about our cheap prices. Finally, the boat pulled in and we all boarded. Our captain was a lady named Chris, originally from Montana where she had taught snowboarding and led snow mobile excursions. Warm weather is such a draw to many people. I think she said she had been in Cedar Key for six years. At any rate, she was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to listen to. Our first stop was just off Atsena Otie Key, the original site of Cedar Key (you can read about it here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atsena_Otie_Key). Of course, I had read all this history before, but there is nothing like hearing it while lightly rocking in a boat just off the shoreline. Since these waters are protected, birds (and other things) are in abundance. Chris pointed out ibis, egrets, osprey, herons, and the omnipresent pelicans, many young ones showing off. We even saw several frigates, who, Chris said, travel from the tropics to find a mate to take back home. Apparently, Cedar Key is their pick up spot. With a huge windspan and bright red throats, they were a sight to behold. Our next stop was off Snake Key (a sign on the island says 23 water moccasins per acre)...no thanks. Chris told us that long ago (hopefully, before the snakes), this island was the getting off point for visitors who needed quarantining for one thing or another. Sorry, but I don't remember much more because my brain stopped working when she mentioned the snakes. Less than two miles west of Snake Key is the highest point off Florida's Gulf coast (52 feet), Seahorse Key. There is a lighthouse here (actually called a light station, light removed), and the island is a marine laboratory for the University of Florida. Also, it is a bird nesting sanctuary, making a landing possible only at certain times of the year. It was off the shore of Seahorse Key that we had our most delightful experience. Several dolphins, young and mature, gave us a show I will long remember. All the tricks I had long ago paid to see at Sea World, I now watched for free. They entertained us for several minutes, swimming alongside, inches from our boat. Shotsy was in a trance .We made a big loop around the three islands and returned along the back side. Although it was very hot, the sea breeze was nature's fan. At one of the islands, we ventured into a small bay and Chris piloted us through a channel to the other side. It was narrow with mangroves on both sides, about three feet deep at high tide, three inches at low tide, thus, the importance of the tide for our trip. At the exit of this channel, Chris mentioned a new Cedar Key venture of oyster farming in these shallow waters. On the way back to the dock, we slowed as Chris pointed out some white posts sticking out of the water, the markers for clam farmers. Clam farming has been going on for quite a while, but the oyster farming is new in Cedar key at least. The areas are leased from the State of Florida. Unfortunately, I do not like clams  .I had thought that maybe I would stay and eat dinner somewhere, but after we docked and the gulf breeze stopped, it was just too hot to think about food and the lonely drive back home. So food was nixed and as it turned out, I left just in time to miss the daily afternoon thunderstorm. And a short nap was waiting for me at home along with Mopsy .until next time...c |
| I heard this just now on my local NPR station (that's what happens when you no longer have cable), and thought it was worth sharing with writers. It was rather enlightening. http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/16/a-snapshot-of-reading-in-america-in-2013/ |
| No adverse effects from no home phone and no tv so far. Silence is still golden. I am blogging again from my Chromebook. My pc is doing a security update and when that happens everything loads so slowly there is no point in working on it. I predict Google will soon rule the world :) I am waiting a little while to walk this morning since school has started. Walking in the midst of students is a little disconcerting to me, not sure why. And of course I don't pay any attention to the crossing guard :( I'll try to do some yard work today too, shrub trimming and picking up pinecones in preparations for mowing. Spelling is saying pinecones should be two words, but it just does not look right. I am letting my hair grow, albeit very slowly. I haven't had long hair since I was little (like 6). I've been on the verge of getting it cut several times. Who knew I have naturally curly hair...or does everyone when it gets longer? It always looks messy to me...but who cares? You can see my thoughts are scattered this morning and I have very little to write about. Mopsy is lying in the window in front of me, patiently waiting for a treat, such a good kitty. A hummingbird is visiting the feeder outside the window. Mopsy doesn't move a muscle. Some kind of leaf eating insect has gotten into my spider plant hanging nearby, I think cutworms. They may have been in the soil when I bought it. It is looking pretty pitiful but is growing millions of little baby spiders. I had an email yesterday from Amazon introducing their grocery shopping service...up to 45 pounds delivered for 5.50 (and I think it has to fit into a certain size box). Interesting for old people like me for when I cannot drive. Soon I won't have to go out at all. until next time...cm |
| I took the plunge today and cancelled my home phone. I had a few flutters at first, but now it feels so great. No more interruptions at dinnertime. No more 800 callers. No more survey takers. And, yes, I was on every doggone do not call list, federal and state, and still, I got so many calls! I looked at my phone record online with my provider and that did it. I was paying $38+ to get a month of stupid unwanted interruptions and phone messages. Even with caller id, it made me grit my teeth every time. I feel so much better now :) I figure with my little Chromebook I can made a google call FOR FREE anytime I need to and hopefully, people I do not want to will not get my cell number. Oh happy day! Why oh why was I continuing to pay for the home line? And, unbelievably, I cancelled my tv too. Yes, I am puzzled myself, but, then, I never watch it.... until next time...c |
| I took a break from walking this morning. After all, it is Saturday. I just finished sweeping the porch and now I am sitting here pondering what to write. I so love my little Chromebook which allows me to be portable. My only distraction is a lawn mower somewhere in the distance. Mopsy is up on the canopy of my porch swing, lying, licking, and surveying her domain. My neighbor just raised her garage door and brought out a bag of trash for the container. They are the ones who should be cutting their grass, unmowed since they moved in which I think was the middle of June. Yes, their yard looks terrible. Zach said they are having trouble with their mower...okay. The sun is to my back and I can see a shadow of a lizard on the porch floor. He (or she) is climbing up the screen behind me. This is very normal in Florida. I don't even flinch anymore...more power to him. I see on the weather that the northeast is having a nice coolwave. Not so here, still in the 90's and will be until late September, but I know fall is coming. Days are shortening and the grass is not quite so green. Oh oh, Mopsy sees the lizard and is focused on it. I don't think she is in the mood to move either. Just looking. Not much interesting is happening so until next time...c |
| I went to Museum Nights at the https://www.harn.ufl.edu yesterday evening, leaving home in thunder and lightening and returning in pouring rain. But it was an enjoyable evening, lots of good food, friends, and entertaining readings by fellow members of https://www.writersalliance.org. My morning walks are getting a little later each day because our daylight hours are becoming noticeably shorter. Mopsy knows this. She has a built-in sundial and wakes me right on time . I have taken to waving at all the cars I meet leaving my development as I walk toward the back. I have been surprised that everyone waves back, which maybe should not be a surprise...I would do that. Some even have coffee in their non-driving hand and lift it in the air anyway. It has to be a feel good gesture all around. Once though, I did have a little tremor go through. A white van went by, I waved, he waved, I could hear him pulling into a driveway, backing out and turning around. I thought, oh oh, he's going to pull up beside me and snatch me into the van, a kidnapping right here on 25th Place...gulp. Not to worry, he passed on by and in a few minutes was passing me again, going out of the development (sorry to say, I did not wave the second time). He must have forgotten something.I saw a bunch of dead frogs on my walk this morning...yuck. Does it really rain frogs? until next time...c |
| When I went out onto my back porch this morning after Mopsy rousted me out of bed, the sun was shining from the wrong direction. A huge bright spot was on the concrete floor from the west side. I looked out through the screen and yes, fluffy white clouds, sort of hazy looking, were shining from the western sky, strong enough to reflect on my porch floor. Where was that light coming from? Had the earth turned upside down during the night? Was the sun now rising in the west? What an eerie feeling. My brain was confused, astounded, afraid. I actually had to turn on the tv to find the news. It seemed that real. Of course, it was nothing. Just the sun from the east, rising and reflecting on some fog, I suppose. But it made me, me, who never wrote science fiction or fantasy, understand a little better how writers can do that. Impossible things are possible and can be written about. Yes, I know, I'm thinking too much too early in the morning.... until next time...c |
| On my walk this morning I was thinking about Robin Williams and how people feel (or define) happiness. Many say they are unhappy or not happy enough or deserve to be happy and why are they not happy. It made me reflect on my own happiness and how at certain times of my life I had the same thoughts. I realize now that happiness is not a linear thing. It's more like a heartbeat. When I started to measure the ups and downs is when I ran into trouble. Happiness is really a gift. You don't know when it's coming. It's a surprise and a feeling. It happens when you let it. It's a way of seeing things. A red sunrise can be beautiful to some, frightening to others. A tragedy is sad but can cement a relationship. I guess I'm talking about those silver linings. It's all in how we look at things. Someone on the news last evening, when talking about Robin Williams, said he was always "on". I don't think always being "on" allows for much happiness. I am happiest when I am "off", which nowadays is most of the time. It makes me sad that Robin Williams went to such an extreme, but I think that is how he lived his life. I am happy that he shared some of it with us.... until next time...c |
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