WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:
Men Are Just Happier People -- What do you expect from such simple
creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding
plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You
can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white
T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car
mechanics tell you the truth.. The world is your urinal. You never
have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is
just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never
stare at your chest when you're talking to them. New shoes don't cut,
blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about
tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open
all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of
thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still
be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You
are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face
stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe
decades. You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes
-- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your
legs look. You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. You have
freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25
minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
This is for all the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it.
Sylvia's world in thoughts and pictures
I miss you Sam!!
I miss you Sam!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sky Watch Friday!
Time to show our beautiful skies with us! Sky Watch is hosted each week by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. Click here to sign up and share your skies with us!
As usual, we've had a little of everything this week. We've had clear skies, colorful skies and clouds of all colors and shapes.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
Sounds of the wind or sounds of the sea
Make me happy just to be.
June Polis
Flowers are heaven's masterpiece.
Dorothy Parker
Stop every now and then. Just stop and enjoy. Take a deep breath.
Relax and take in the abundance of life.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~Minnie Aumonier
There is pleasure in the pathless woods . . . there is rapture
on the lonely shore.
A New Approach
“Amazing what happens when you cast aside the testosterone”, was the first line of Roger Cohen’s Op-Ed column in the NYT on Monday and I couldn’t agree more.
The masters of the testosterone movement over the past eight years – specifically “porcupine, prickly” Cheney and numerous other Republicans perceive “a weak president”, but according to Cohen, the truth is that foes of the United States have been disarmed by Barack Obama’s no-drama diplomacy. He calls it the mellow doctrine – neither idealistic nor classic realpolitik, it involves finding strength through unconventional means, such as the acknowledgment of the limits of American power; frankness about U.S. failings; careful listening; fear reduction; adroit deployment of the wide appeal of brand Barack Obama; and jujitsu engagement.
Even though more time is needed to see its results, the “mellow doctrine has already brought some remarkable shifts.
The Castro brothers in Cuba are squabbling over the meaning of Obama’s overtures. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has gone gooey-eyed over the Yanqui president. Turkey relented on a major NATO dispute, persuaded of the importance of Obama’s conciliatory message to Muslims.
From Damascus to Tehran, new debate rages over possible rapprochement with Washington. In Israel, it appears the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to drag his Likud party kicking and screaming to acceptance of the idea of a two-state solution because he knows the cost of an early confrontation with Obama.
Not bad for 105 days.
As Cohen says, the fact is the United States spent most of the eight years before last January making things easy for its enemies. It was in the ammunition-supply business.
Nothing comforted U.S. foes as much as Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, axis-of-evil moral certitude and the schoolyard politics of punishment. All you had to do, from Moscow to Caracas, was point a finger toward the White House and domestic woes paled. All you had to do, in the recruitment schools of Waziristan and Ramadi, was show video footage of Americans humiliating Muslims. Even among allies, nobody much wanted to help the former administration.
Of course, Fidel Castro is talking about “definite failure” for Obama and lambasting him for preserving a “blockade” (it’s in fact an outmoded partial trade embargo), while his brother Raul says Cuba’s ready and eager to discuss everything.
Obama and his administration still have a long way to go and it won’t be easy. And the likes of the aging Fidel will try to resist the mellow doctrine. But it will succeed if America’s foes understand that normal relations with Washington do not imply the loss of distinctive cultures and politics or the imposition of U.S. values, but rather the “mutual respect” which Obama has promised Iran.
The masters of the testosterone movement over the past eight years – specifically “porcupine, prickly” Cheney and numerous other Republicans perceive “a weak president”, but according to Cohen, the truth is that foes of the United States have been disarmed by Barack Obama’s no-drama diplomacy. He calls it the mellow doctrine – neither idealistic nor classic realpolitik, it involves finding strength through unconventional means, such as the acknowledgment of the limits of American power; frankness about U.S. failings; careful listening; fear reduction; adroit deployment of the wide appeal of brand Barack Obama; and jujitsu engagement.
Even though more time is needed to see its results, the “mellow doctrine has already brought some remarkable shifts.
The Castro brothers in Cuba are squabbling over the meaning of Obama’s overtures. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has gone gooey-eyed over the Yanqui president. Turkey relented on a major NATO dispute, persuaded of the importance of Obama’s conciliatory message to Muslims.
From Damascus to Tehran, new debate rages over possible rapprochement with Washington. In Israel, it appears the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to drag his Likud party kicking and screaming to acceptance of the idea of a two-state solution because he knows the cost of an early confrontation with Obama.
Not bad for 105 days.
As Cohen says, the fact is the United States spent most of the eight years before last January making things easy for its enemies. It was in the ammunition-supply business.
Nothing comforted U.S. foes as much as Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, axis-of-evil moral certitude and the schoolyard politics of punishment. All you had to do, from Moscow to Caracas, was point a finger toward the White House and domestic woes paled. All you had to do, in the recruitment schools of Waziristan and Ramadi, was show video footage of Americans humiliating Muslims. Even among allies, nobody much wanted to help the former administration.
Of course, Fidel Castro is talking about “definite failure” for Obama and lambasting him for preserving a “blockade” (it’s in fact an outmoded partial trade embargo), while his brother Raul says Cuba’s ready and eager to discuss everything.
Obama and his administration still have a long way to go and it won’t be easy. And the likes of the aging Fidel will try to resist the mellow doctrine. But it will succeed if America’s foes understand that normal relations with Washington do not imply the loss of distinctive cultures and politics or the imposition of U.S. values, but rather the “mutual respect” which Obama has promised Iran.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
Anais Nin
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
Anais Nin
All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness
within.
Horace Friess
Each season has its joys to treasure, to lift one's spirits and bring
us pleasure.
ABC Wednesday!
Guess what? It's time to play ABC Wednesday, hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt in Australia! Click here to sign up and play with the alphabet and the rest of us photo happy bloggers!
Today the letter is P as in the Partridge in a Pear tree!
Purple roses from Pike's Market! These are real, not fake. Dye is injected into the stem prior to blooming and this is what happens!
Peppers from Pike's Market and Pink and Purple Posies!
So, let's Party on!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
Old friends of mine from Portland came to Seattle and we spent the day together. It was a magnificent day -- we went to Snoqualmi Falls. Everytime I have an opportunity to visit one of the incredibly beautiful places here in the northwest I am reminded all over again of the magic in nature and in the beauty that is all around. It takes my breath away! I share some that beauty with you tonight along with some other people's words about nature and beauty.
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
Rachel Carson
It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.
Rachel Carson
That's My World -- Hell's Canyon and the Snake River
Time again to share your world! That's My World is hosted every Tuesday by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. Click here to sign up join the fun and show us what you love about your world!
The Snake River and Hell's Canyon can be found in Washington and Oregon, but also Idaho. They "snake" their way through a lot of the northwest.
The name "Snake" possibly derived from an S-shaped (snake) sign which the Shoshone Indians made with their hands to mimic swimming salmon.
Variant names of the river have included: Great Snake River, Lewis Fork, Lewis River, Mad River, Saptin River, Shoshone River, and Yam-pah-pa.
Early inhabitants
People have been living along the Snake River for at least 11,000 years.
The HELLS CANYON area was once home to the NEZ PERCE and the SHOSHONE tribes. There is still evidence today of the people of long ago all along the rivers edge.
Today boaters can explore the canyon's many archaeological sites and old homesteads.
The SNAKE RIVER is said to have gotten it's name from the first white explorers who misinterpreted the Shoshone people who identified themselves in sign language by moving their hands in a snake-like motion...But instead of referring to a snake, they were saying that they lived near the river.
Other cultures of the Snake River's basin's protohistoric and historic periods include the Nez Perce, Cayuse, Walla Walla, Palus, Bannock, and many others.
Exploration
The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 was the first major U.S. exploration of the lower portion of the Snake River, and the Snake was once known as the Lewis River. Later American exploratory expeditions, which explored much of the length of the Snake River, included the Astor Expedition of 1810-1812, John C. Frémont in 1832, and Benjamin Bonneville in 1833-1834. The British North West Company and, after 1821, Hudson's Bay Company sent large trapping and trading expeditions to the upper Snake River and its tributaries. These annual expeditions began in 1817 and continued for about 30 years. They ranged widely throughout today's southern Idaho, western Wyoming, and northern Utah, in the process exploring the region. Many of the rivers and mountains have French names, reflecting the employment of French-Canadian voyageur by the British companies. The policy of the Hudson's Bay Company's was to deplete the region of fur bearing animals as quickly as possible, so as to make it impossible for American traders to operate there. This goal was largely successful. American traders could not compete in the Snake River country. In contrast, the Hudson's Bay Company found the Snake River expeditions very profitable.
By the middle 19th century, the Oregon Trail had been established, generally following much of the Snake River.
The Snake River has become a favorite place for white water rafting as well as scenic canoe trips. Hell's Canyon is the deepest canyon in the US.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
Hallow the body as a temple to comeliness and sanctify the heart as a sacrifice to love; love recompenses the adorers.
Kahlil Gibran
Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
Kahlil Gibran
Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.
Kahlil Gibran
When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow.
Anais Nin
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin
Click on the photo to better see the buds.
Devote This Day to Laughter!
I learned of this from Indrani on her blog, I Share
Isn't this a wonderful idea? Here are just a few of the benefits from an article by
Elvie Punzalan-Estavillo
Laughter yoga: No laughing matter
Message sent: Participants do the mobile laughter.
MANILA, Philippines – A Laughter Yoga session was held recently at the Golds’ Gym in Glorietta 3, Makati City. About 50 persons attended the event to quench their curiosity as to what it was all about. Among them were Medicard EVP Luis Montoya, his wife, and staff members; Dr. Winnie Pernia and two colleagues from the Philippine Society of Pathologists.
At the start, some participants worried they may not be able to laugh, so I told them to just open their minds, drop their inhibitions, relax, and be ready to laugh, as there are warm-up exercises to make them laugh like they had never laughed before.
Unlike watching a comic movie or reading a funny story where the mind still has to process what it is watching or reading before a person can laugh (or sometimes the person is simply not in the mood to laugh), in laughter yoga, laughter serves as a body exercise that can therefore be done regardless of the person’s mood. In fact, it sets the person the right, positive, happy mood. A person need not be happy to be able to laugh — for basically, laughter yoga is to laugh for no reason at all.
A person can, with regular practice, train the body and mind to laugh at will and make laughter second nature.
In this hi-tech, fast-paced, dizzying world, most people are so busy that they almost have no time to exercise. Stanford University’s Dr. William Fry has proven that 10 minutes of laughing heartily is equivalent to 30 minutes of cardio-pulmonary endurance workout on a rowing machine.
Laughter yoga is a unique well-being workout that combines fun and easy-to-do aerobic exercise with physiological and emotional benefits and stress reduction such as:
• No postures, no skills to learn, or special clothes or equipment required.
• Provides a fast, powerful, no-sweat cardiovascular workout
• Reduces stress level quickly by as much as 75 percent or more.
• Blood pressure and pulse rate drop as blood circulation improves.
• The lungs are well exercised and cleansed of stale residual air.
• Healthier deep breathing is learned and adopted.
• The blood and major organs get fully oxygenated, leaving one bursting with energy.
• Hearty laughter improves mood within minutes by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, and mood enhancer.
• Lifts depression — even chronic depression may be cured.
• Boosts self-confidence, creativity, and improves a person’s communication skills.
Made fully aware of the multi-dimensional healthful benefits that laughter yoga brings about, the highly motivated and challenged participants gave their all. Everyone gamely and actively participated.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
Kahlil Gibran
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
Kahlil Gibran
How wrong it is for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself.
Anais Nin
I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.
Anais Nin
Shadow Shot Sunday!
It's Saturday and time to play with the shadows! Check out Hey Harriet here and join us for the fun!
We've had lots of sun the past few days and have I had fun! And the LILACS are finally showing some color -- as well as shadows!
The back of this chair in the kitchen just got taller and taller.
My mug of tea while I enjoyed the sun on our front porch!
And me -- caught in the strawberry patch! Too early for the berries, but I'm keeping an eye on them!
Men's Classes for the Summer
ADULT LEARNING CENTER
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Saturday, April 26 , 2009
Classes Starts May 4 4 , Ending June 13, 2009
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS
MAXIMUM
Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide
Presentation..
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and
Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The
Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM
Class 6
Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places
And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. Location to be determined
Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Anniversaries and Other
Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14
The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to
the survivors.
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Saturday, April 26 , 2009
Classes Starts May 4 4 , Ending June 13, 2009
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS
MAXIMUM
Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide
Presentation..
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and
Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The
Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM
Class 6
Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places
And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. Location to be determined
Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Anniversaries and Other
Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14
The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to
the survivors.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Evening Words, Wisdom and Beauty
Spring - an experience in immortality.
Henry D. Thoreau
A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King."
Emily Dickinson
Sweet May hath come to love us,
Flowers, trees, their blossoms don;
And through the blue heavens above us
The very clouds move on.
Heinrich Heine, Book of Songs
Love... It surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be.
Kahlil Gibran
I'm Not That Old!
Have you ever said that, or been guilty of looking at others your own age
and thinking, surely I can't look that old.
well....
you'll love this woman's story.
I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist.
I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name and suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 30-odd years ago.
Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?
Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.
After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.
'Yes. yes, I did. I"m a mustang,' he gleamed with pride.
'When did you graduate?' I asked.
'In 1975. why do you ask?'
'You were in my class!', I exclaimed.
He looked at me closely.
Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat ass, gray-haired, decrepit
son-of-a-bitch asked,
'What did you teach ???'
and thinking, surely I can't look that old.
well....
you'll love this woman's story.
I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist.
I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name and suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 30-odd years ago.
Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?
Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.
After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.
'Yes. yes, I did. I"m a mustang,' he gleamed with pride.
'When did you graduate?' I asked.
'In 1975. why do you ask?'
'You were in my class!', I exclaimed.
He looked at me closely.
Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat ass, gray-haired, decrepit
son-of-a-bitch asked,
'What did you teach ???'
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What Can I Say?
I'm interested in almost everything. Use to like to travel, but it's too expensive now. I take Tai Chi classes, swim, volunteer in a Jump-start program for pre-schoolers. I'm an avid reader and like nearly everyone these days I follow politics avidly. I'm a former teacher and Special Projects Coordinator for a Telecommunications company, Assistant to the President of a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturing company. Am now enjoying retirement -- most of the time. I have two daughters, one son-in-law and two sons scattered all over the country. No grandchildren.