Read This And Puke.

'Hi there, yes it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star.  Gary, or klahanie, is sitting staring at the computer.  I've seen that look before.  Something tells me that he's going to write one of his cringe-worthy, vomit-inducing, puke-fest postings.  Oh well, let him get on with it.  Maybe he wont notice I've typed this part out on his 'saved to draft' posting.  Hee hee...Note my enthusiasm.  I'm going back to sleep.'

Ah, tis been such a lovely day.  A winter's day of glorious splendour that touched the very depths of my pure and joyous heart.  And the birds they doth sing.  'Tweet, tweet...tweet, tweet....tweet, tweet...'  The sun,  the beautiful setting sun, casts rays of hope on a glowing pink horizon.  What a wondrous day it's been and like the pretty little birds, my thoughts, my hopes, my dreams, float upwards and soar free, free to find the gifts of magic, beyond the milky way.

 
Behold, cast thine eyes upon the reminders of an autumn past, a summer long forgot and the gleeful anticipation of a spring yet to arrive.  Do not worry, my magical little friends, for soon, very soon, the promise of spring and the buds of tranquillity, will burst forth in radiant beauty.
My garden, created for the love of nature.  What an enchanting place, my garden is.  A world where sorrows are set aside and dreams of better realities, fill my mind with happy thoughts.  My garden, my sanctuary, an oasis in my desert of despair.

And what of the wayward garden gnome?  Perhaps he has ended up on my bedroom ledge to marvel at the beauty of the soon to flourish, fuschia  plant.  Maybe, just maybe, his heart is pounding with playful thoughts, of those playful times, with the other 'wee folks', in the garden that beckons, beyond my front door.

And my clock.  Ah yes, my clock.  It ticks and it tocks, my very large clock.  My clock says it's time to end this tale and look for the mouse that ran up my clock and down my clock.

In closing, I, shy, modest and oh so humble ME, has received the 'Stylish Blogger Award' from a gentleman whose informative and fascinating pictorial wildlife blog is a must read.  John over at Hedgeland Tales  I thank you kindly, good sir, for bestowing this award to me.
The terms of which I accept this prestigious award is to tell you about five of my favourite things.  (Oh no, suddenly the soundtrack to the 'Sound of Music' came into my head).  So, 'these are a few of my favourite things', well five of them.
1.  I love to go for nice peaceful walks with Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star.
2.  I love ice hockey and having lived in Canada, it's the 'law' to love ice hockey.
3.  I enjoy the wonderful interaction between us all in the great blogging community.
4.  I love our precious planet and all the wildlife we must remember to share with it.
5.  I love my friends and family.

And now, I pass on the Stylish Blogger Award on to the following five, highly regarded, bloggers.  Here I go, 'opens envelope' and the winners are......

1.  Joylene over at  One Moment At A Time On Cluculz Lake.  A gifted published author and a darned nice lady.  And she's Canadian eh.
2.  TheraScribbles   This remarkable blog is written with such honesty and candour.  I would highly recommend you check out this new blogger and say 'hello'.
3.  There is Something about Maria   Maria writes poignant, positive and uplifting stories.  Beautiful and powerful stuff.
4.  The Curious Quest Questioning Questions Of The Inquisitive  Sy, the writer of this intriguing blog, is definitely one to check out.    
5.  Soundoff   This writer and a very dear friend of mine, writes inspirational, positive and powerful stories of turning negatives into positives.  I would urge you to kindly check out Heather's thoughtful and deeply profound site.

Thank you and may you have a most peaceful and positive day.

Beyond The Shadows Of Doubt.

I walk the streets alone.  To those I walk by, I make them smile, I make them laugh, yet inside cries the heart of lost and lonely child.
The ominous shadows of doubt, cast the darkness of despair, of dejection, of nagging futility.  Depression robbed me of my dreams, stifled my aspirations, clouded my hopes.  What was the point?   I was destined to fail in anything I tried.  From a very early age, I was grasped in the clutches of relentless stupidity.  Stupidity confirmed by others and compounded by me.  
And the fear set in.  Too scared to be really involved, too scared of being caught out.  So I hid in the shadows of doubt, away from the outside world.  Depression told me to underachieve, give up on any hopeless dreams and live a miserable, mundane life.  Everything in my world was choked with a sense of impending negative inevitability.
When I was a little boy, all I ever wanted to do was be a writer.  Then, as I grew older,  convinced that I was a stupid man, that dream of being a writer, that magical thought....just  faded away.   All I had left was those flickering remnants of a passion I held so dear.
You have your dreams.  My friend, within your heart beats the enchantment and the wonder of the written word.  Never let your dreams be shattered.  You have the gifts of inspiration and that inspiration shall set you free.
Now the time has arrived.  The flickering remnants of motivation, of creativity, are starting to glow again.  No more living in my uncomfortable 'comfort zone'.  The spirit, the affection, the love of writing, is making a triumphant return.  No more fear of failure or fear of success.  I will dare to dream again and give it my very best, to make my dream, a beautiful reality.  Today I move on beyond the shadows of doubt and breath in the fresh air of a new dawn, a new beginning.

Tag, You're It.

Oh dear, I've been 'tagged'.  I knew I should of hidden a bit better than that.  Hiding behind Penny, the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, just didn't work.
Fair enough and seriously, I've been tagged in a survey by Kamila over at her lovely site, 
Basket of Dreams  
Thank you for tagging me, Kamila, and I have answered all nineteen, yes nineteen questions.  At the end of this survey, as requested, I have tagged in four, no doubt thrilled bloggers.    It's hoped they will also do this survey and forward said survey onto another four thrilled bloggers and so on and so on....


1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
We have a 'pet'.  Her name is Penny and she is a Jack Russell.  Penny occasionally guest blogs on my site.  Penny is a very much loved family member.
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
That stigma and labels on our fellow man became destined for the history books.
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
Indifference to the plight of the vulnerable.
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
Help get the homeless and the 'rough sleepers' off the streets.
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Focusing on a positive distraction such as writing or spending peaceful times in the great outdoors.   Also, remembering how much I have to be grateful for.
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
Surely it's more blessed to have two people love each other, unconditionally.
7. what is your bedtime routine?
I've forgot what a bedtime routine is.  I seem to be in every time zone, other than my own.
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
I'm not in a relationship.  My confidence has taken quite the battering.
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
It would be to admire the expertise of a First Nations person carving a totem pole.
10. what kinds of books do you read?
I read a variety of books in many different genres.  Although, I haven't been reading books much, lately.  Too busy reading all those wonderful blogs.
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
Ummm..ten years older?  Okay, I see myself finally having the determination to write a book and maybe even getting it published.  
12. what’s your fear?
That I will never be embraced by the power and the magic of true love.
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
I hardly ever eat junk food.  However, I would be willing to give up junk food for the chance to visit outer space.
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
I would rather be married and poor in a loving relationship.
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Do you really want to know that?   Okay, after that, I think about trying to maintain a positive focus for the day ahead.   Then I stand in front of the full-length mirror and state, 'wow, what an awesome dude!' :-) 
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
I wish my former spouse would have realised that leaving to go somewhere, at the last possible second, caused me loads of anxiety.  When they say 'final boarding', they mean final boarding.
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
'Household'.  That's right, I always wanted to be a 'household name'.  Or 'Exit', because I always wanted to see my name up in lights.
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
I would try to forget and hopefully move on.  However, something truly disgraceful would be hard to forgive.
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
Well it sure as heck wouldn't be a 'Happy Meal'.  I ate one of those and didn't feel any happier.  Can I sue them?   I suppose I would eat grilled cheese sandwiches for the next six months.  


And now I forward this survey onto these following four bloggers.  Please do not feel any pressure or obligation to do this.   It's entirely up to you.   So, here we go.


1:  Rantings of the Reckmonster  
2:  A Day in the Life
3:   Psycho Carnival
4:   Soundoff

If you are going to do this survey, you might find it easier to copy and paste the nineteen questions from just below here.

1. if you have pets, do you see them as merely animals, or are they members of your family?
2. if you can have a dream to come true, what would it be?
3. what is the one thing most hated by you?
4. what would you do with a billion dollars?
5. what helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
6. which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?
7. what is your bedtime routine?
8. if you are currently in a relationship, how did you meet your partner?
9. if you could watch a creative person in the act of the creative process, who would it be?
10. what kinds of books do you read?
11. how would you see yourself in ten years time?
12. what’s your fear?
13. would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to visit outer space?
14. would you rather be single and rich or married, but poor?
15. what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
16. if you could change one thing about your spouse/partner what would it be?
17. if you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
18. would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing that special someone has done?
19. if you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?


Have fun.  I'm outta' here.....................

Nobody Told Me There'd Be Daze Like These.

'Oh fantastic!' says Penny the Jack Russell and modest internet star.  'I don't want to hear you ramble on with yet another one of your boring stories.  Just type it out and I'll read it later.'

Have you ever had one of those days?  A day where your 'make up kit' decides it would rather argue with you.  A day when your 'fountain' pen decides to drench you with a blue spray that makes you look very much like a 'Smurf', or even worse, a Na'vi from the film, 'Avatar'.  Maybe your day is so bad that you end up being 'strapped for cash'.  Sadly, the person who straps you, refuses to pay and laughs at the ink on your skin.
Apparently, the following is a true story that happened several years ago.  This dude was at Los Angeles Airport and was heading just up the coast to Oakland, California.  The flight would have taken just under an hour.  About an hour into the flight, this chap became quite concerned.  He wondered why all he could see below him was the Pacific Ocean.  Finally, he summoned over a flight attendant.  'Excuse me?  Why is it taking so long to get to Oakland?'   The bewildered flight attendant replied, 'Sir, this plane is not going to Oakland, it's going to Auckland, New Zealand.'  Now you might be thinking he was having a bad day.  Then again, talk about getting your money's worth and visiting another country.  Heck, he may have stopped long enough at Auckland International Airport, to purchase some knitted sheepskin boots or traditional Maori design bone carvings.
The following story definitely happened.  I should know.  My former wife and I were over in Belgium and we needed to use their rail system.  At Brussels train station, we asked for two tickets to 'Saint-Nicolas', which is located in the French speaking, southern part of Belgium.  We purchased our tickets, got on the train and after about half an hour, arrived at our destination.  Then we noticed the name of the place we arrived at.  The name was 'Sint-Niklaas', which is a small town in the northern, Flemish speaking part of Belgium.  At this point, we went over to the ticket counter, bought tickets for 'Saint-Nicolas' and two hours later, arrived at our proper destination.  Thank goodness Belgium is a small country.
Anyhow, I have absolutely no idea why I posted this.  Some folks say they are having a 'bad hair day'.  Sometimes, I think it's more life a 'bad hair life'.  Seriously, you've got to laugh at life's quirky moments.  Anyway, I just finished eating a Chinese meal and I'm about to open the fortune cookie....'Hmmm let's see what great words of wisdom are written on the piece of paper.'   'Help!  I'm being held hostage in a Chinese fortune cookie factory.'  Hey, whatever.  Shit happens.....

A Question Of Space.

And man reached out to the heavens.  Outer space, a wondrous place of countless stars, countless galaxies and countless questions.
And man, gazed deeply into outer space and forgot about his inner space.  For man's heart beat with a brutal savagery.   He shed the blood of his brother's and sister's in the name of greed, of hatred, of betrayal, of deception. He invaded the space, the personal space of the scared, the innocent, the vulnerable.  Yes, in his pursuit to progress, to advance, mankind lost touch with that precious gift.  The gift of the inner child.
And man's lust to conquer, to destroy, to steal from his fellow man, lived on.   Then one day, one momentous day, it happened.  One man looked around, saw the rivers of blood and heard a gentle whisper.  The whisper was the voice of his inner child and it said, 'This has to stop.  I want to play, to sing, to dance, to smile, laugh and love.  Please, we must make this stop.'  The man looked over at his blood-soaked enemy and asked, 'Can you hear it?  Listen carefully, for your inner child has a message for you, for all of us.'  And his blood-soaked enemy listened and he smiled.  The word spread.  The voice of the inner child, the inner space, spread far and wide.  The bells rang out with the chimes of peace.  Enemies embraced and enemies became friends.
That was a long, long time ago, on that blue and fragile planet.  Mankind reached out and explored the beauty of outer space.  And the message he brought was of acceptance, understanding, hope and peace.  And it all began that day when that one man realised that inner space was the final frontier.

The Little Red Wagon Parade.

I was over reading a wonderful posting at the site of  a blogger friend whose story sparked a distant childhood memory.  Her story, Heads or tales, mentioned of a 'little red wagon' and I was instantly transported to a magical and bittersweet day, from so many years ago.  Dixie, at dcrelief , thank you for this inspiration.

I remember that day so clearly.  For it was the day of  'The Little Red Wagon Parade'.  Little children and their parents, lovingly adorned their wagons, to delight the onlooking crowd.   One by one, the wagons rolled by.  Little wagons covered in flowers.  Little wagons draped in streamers.  Little wagons with brilliant balloons.  The crowd cheered, the crowd applauded, as each little wagon, went by.
Then arrived this one little boy.  All alone.  A solitary figure.  No smiling proud parent, to pull him along, in his little red wagon.  I recognised him.  A quiet and shy little lad.  His little red wagon was not like the others.  No flowers, no streamers, no brilliant balloons.  Just a bit of wrapping paper flung over a rusty wagon.  We all looked on in hushed silence.  And then it began.  A gentle wave of clapping became a crescendo of deeply moving applause.  We cheered, oh how we cheered that little boy.
I looked around and noted the tears streaming down the faces of children and adults alike.  And as I look back at that childhood memory, I smile and I cry.  For that brave little boy and his determination, is forever etched in my heart.

Welcome To The Future?

Well, here we are.  Yes indeed, we have arrived into the future.  You remember the future they told us about?  The big predictions?  We would all have a robot to clean the house, cook the food and satisfy our sexual fantasies.  Forget the last part of the previous sentence.  We would be dressed like the folks in 'Star Trek', or, at the very least, be wearing clothes made out of tin foil.  They predicted a manned landing on Mars by 1977. Some even claimed we'd have a man on the Moon by the end of the 1960's!....or compromise and attempt to land a man on the Nevada desert.  Yet, the biggest prediction was that we'd now being hovering about in flying cars.
I was really looking forward to having a flying car.  No more worries about worn tyres (tires) or paying, as they have here in Britain, 'road tax'.  Then again, when that day does arrive, and we fly up there in the skies, no doubt, we will have to pay 'air tax'.   Yes, I know, insurance rates will be 'sky high'.
I've always blamed this promise of flying cars on 'The Jetsons'.  A close second would be seeing that darned DeLorean car in, 'Back to the Future'.  And please, don't get me started on 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

Of course, some of the predicted inventions have come to fruition.  Who could resist the 'affection' of a 'robot dog'?

And who wouldn't be charmed by this invention?  Ah yes, the blue robot cat.  Safe bet that a robot cat wouldn't be straying in my garden and crapping on my cabbages.

'Robot dog?' says Penny.  Don't worry Penny.  That's one invention that doesn't interest me.
Now, if only they could finally invent the 'Dick Tracy' watch.  They have?  Of course, the mobile phone.  That would be that really fun invention that lets you delight in overhearing those fascinating conversations of total strangers.  Welcome to the future?  Must go now and see if they have invented a non-stick frying pan that actually works.