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Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’

Olde Time Fun Times

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on February 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Yes, our part of Ontario is expecting freezing rain (thanks climate change!), but there’s still enough snow for that purest of winter joys, a snowball fight!

Snowball fight captured in film for first time 1897 | AccuWeather
The 50-second clip captures a group of people in Lyons, France, playing in snow and the chaos ensuing as a snowball fight between two sides turns into a surprise attack on a bypassing cyclist.
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Like in the current day and age, there were many things the Lumière brothers could have filmed as world events brewed and boiled, but instead, they chose to make one of their many short films about people playing in the snow…

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Here it is again in a version has been upscaled and colorized, making it even more relatable.

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“A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.”

― Markus Zusak

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Photo by Anika Huizinga on Unsplash

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Shiver Me Timbers!

Posted in Funny, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on February 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »

I may have mentioned that I am entertained by maps, clever science jokes, and not-too-scary pirates. This xkcd comic ticks all the boxes.

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Comic and explainer.

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Photo by Hatice Yardım on Unsplash

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You’re Creative, Interesting, Smart, Capable and Fun

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on February 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Some days I wake up and the world is my oyster. The sun is shining, work is good and my to do list glows with possibility.

Other days not so much.

It’s usually not that anything is wrong, per se. The sun is just as bright, work is on schedule, the world continues to turn. All good things, but there are never just good things. I like to at least try to look on the bright side but of course, not everything is awesome all of the time. And some days the not so good carries a little more weight.

Inevitably, you will miss the bus, your loved ones will not always be healthy, dogs (and software glitches) do eat homework, and the good guys don’t win every round. 

Fair enough. But what is the antidote to this not awesome?*

Action.

Make something. Do what you can. Help someone, even if it is yourself. 

Life isn’t always positive but you’re creative, interesting, smart, capable and fun. When you can, be an island of hope in a not-always uplifting world.

Answer not good with great.

“This is the world as it is. This is where you start.”

― Saul Alinsky

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Photo by Vincent Ledvina on Unsplash

* Regular readers may have guessed what I’m going to say but that’s ok, reinforcement strengthens habit and action is a habit I appreciate.

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Because It’s Monday

Posted in Other, tagged , , , on January 31, 2022| Leave a Comment »

I’m pretty sure someone out there needs flowers today. Is it you?

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It can’t just be me. Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

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How to Get Where I’m Going

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on January 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Today’s debate: Do I push ahead on the story idea upon which I am currently stumped, update the family cookbook, or head to the workshop for the first time in ages?

The good news is that no matter what I decide, I’m likely to make progress on at least some of these fronts (or on something else entirely, but whatever, progress is progress).

Productive procrastination for the win!

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Photo by Mario Dobelmann on Unsplash

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Useful Advice on Art, or Anything Really

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on January 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

It’s cold here today and I mentioned to my mother that we had condensation on the windows.

Now, you should know that my mother is very artistic and has an arts and languages background. She’s been to the creativity wars, you know?

Here’s what she said:

Great advice, right? And while I didn’t have enough condensation to draw anything real (and oh right, I can’t draw anyway, see above lopsided grimace for proof), the important thing is that I didn’t stop there. 

I woke up thinking about Impressionist art (as one does) so I decided to try my hand at computer aided pointillism using this tutorial.* Here’s the result.

Original photo by Pietro De Grandi on Unsplash

Thanks, Mom!

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* I also learned that Mary Cassatt, one of the “three great ladies” of Impressionism and an artist who focused much of her work on the social and domestic lives of women (subjects often ignored by male artists), was from Pennsylvania.

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The Wonderful World of Waffles

Posted in Food and..., tagged , , , , on January 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »

After a long hiatus, I have returned to the world of waffle making. They really are delicious.

My father used to make us the best weekend waffles. Even the batter tasted great. The leavening made little bubbles that popped on the tongue.

For whatever reason, this week I got it in my head to make waffles. We had a cream-based seafood stew and as I pulled it out of the fridge I thought, “Chicken and waffles!”

For the uninitiated among you, chicken and waffles is a thing. A delicious, savory, creamy Pennsylvania Dutch dish that etched itself in my culinary memory from childhood.

The traditional Pennsylvania Dutch version consists of a plain waffle with pulled, stewed chicken on top, covered in gravy.

— Chicken and waffles – Wikipedia

Obviously, seafood is not chicken, but hey, I thought, close enough. I want waffles! Crispy outside, fluffy inside, what’s not to love? After a deep dive into the long-term storage situation I excavated the waffle maker from the bottom shelf of the basement cupboard. A not-so-quick cleaning* and dinner was served.

I made extra because waffles freeze well and if you want a quick dessert, say, don’t need more than visit to the toaster and a healthy dose of maple syrup.

Have we taken advantage of that fact?

Maybe!*

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Photo by Slashio Photography on Unsplash

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* Sadly, in my experience waffle makers tend to be plagued by poor design and are difficult to maintain. Our current version is no exception. 

* * Um, yeah. Hundred percent yes.

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To Be a Light in Darkness

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on January 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

I’m working on a bouquet of smaller projects today, so I’ll leave you with this thought:

“I don’t care what you do in life, but challenge people with greater power than you and defend those with less power.”

— Nick Clooney, to son George

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Original photo by SUNBEAM PHOTOGRAPHY on Unsplash

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Wisdom, with Bear

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , on January 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »

“Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.”

― Lorraine Hansberry

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Photo by billow926 on Unsplash

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Everything It Is, Then

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on January 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »

“What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications.”

― Nora Ephron

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Photo by Hasan Almasi on Unsplash

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