Monday, 16 April 2018

Baby Boomer's Bucket Lists!

A few days ago I noticed on Twitter a link to a New York Times article ominously titled  "Baby Boomers Reach the End of Their To Do List."

"Oh no!" I thought. "This does not sound good!"

If we are at the end of our to-do list there can only be one reason! One I am not ready to think about yet.

When my heart started beating again, I actually read the article and breathed a sigh of relief.  The author is not suggesting that we all just pack it in. Just that perhaps it is time to rethink the need for a list.

Now don't get me wrong. I am all for having a Bucket List. I have already checked off a number of items on my list. But I am getting pretty satisfied with just doing nothing much at all. Or at least nothing that could be thought of as exciting or wild, like bungee jumping, or a trip around the world. And even the 'take up Yoga' item is not looking like it will ever get checked off.

I am pretty sure I would not have admitted out loud that I am quite happy being without much of a list before reading the article. But now I am feeling quite a bit better about the whole thing!

The author, Patricia Hampl, talks about "...the sheer value of looking out the window, letting the world float along." I must admit that sounds pretty good- at least now and then!

Mike figured out this whole list thing long before I have... he wakes up each morning and decides what he feels like doing. 



I would love to hear what you think. Do you have a Bucket List? If you do, can you share some of the items on the list?  I am always happy to travel along vicariously in someone else's list. Or are you ready to just let the world float along? Maybe a little bit of both, eh? Seems that there is no one way to go about getting older. And isn't that great!



Sunday, 15 April 2018

This photo

This very beautiful photo was taken by a friend in France. Brian Frith used to be a newspaper photographer, now retired, but he’s still busy remodeling his house, eating the good food, drinking the good wine, and photographing his peaceful village. Le Lonzac is about 7 miles from Treignac, where we used to live. The weather seems a bit menacing over there, but what a photo!






Saturday, 14 April 2018

Learn something new every day !

                                    Trivia can be so much fun. Here are a few facts you may enjoy !
                                                                     





                                               1.   All swans in England belong to the Queen.

                                       
                                               
                                    


                                           2. There is a town in Canada called "Dildo ".






3. Fredric Bauer invented the "Pringles " can.
  When he died, his ashes were buried in one.








4. There is enough sperm in one single man to impregnate every woman on earth.







5. Minnie Mouse full name is Minerva Mouse.







6. King Henry VIII slept with a giant axe beside him.  







7. Cap'n Crunch's full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch.






8. What is called a " french  kiss " in the English speaking world
is known as an " English kiss " in France.

Regina, can you verify that statement ?  






9. In 1907, an ad for Kellog's Corn flakes offered a free box of 
cereal to any woman who would wink at her grocer.






10. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21 inch tongue.




Friday, 13 April 2018

Something to Ponder

Received this email from a friend.... 
Giggles are always welcome!


1. How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?        

Unique Up On It. 

2. How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?       

Tame Way. 

3. How Do  Crazy  People  Go Through The Forest ? 

They Take The Psycho Path 

4. How Do You Get Holy Water? 

You Boil The Hell Out Of It 

5. What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall? 

Dam! 

6. What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long? 

Polaroid's 

7. What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work? 

A Stick 

8. What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours? 

Nacho Cheese. 

9. What Do You Call Santa's Helpers? 

Subordinate Clauses. (I love this one!)

10. What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand? 

Quattro Sinko. 

11. What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow? 

Spoiled Milk. 


12. What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire? 

Frostbite. 

13. What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches? 

A Nervous Wreck.

14. What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup? 

Anyone Can Roast Beef. 

15. Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs? 

Right Where You Left Him.

                     16. Why Do Gorillas Have Big  Nostrils? 
Because They Have Big Fingers . 

17. Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive? 

Because It Scares The Dog. 

18. What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic? 

Sanka. 

19. Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down? 

Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their Hat. 

21. What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver? 

A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang! 
A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack
 . 
Enjoy your day. ; ))

Thursday, 12 April 2018

Confusing buttons

These hotel elevators are a challenge!







The last one gets first prize, it has the most creative layout of all three...

Wednesday, 11 April 2018

Friendly dispute

Both Canada and Denmark claim Hans Island. Periodically, each country will send an expedition, replace the other country's flag with their own, and leave a bottle of alcohol for the next visitors.  Canada favours Canadian Club, Denmark schnapps.


(photo by Toubletap)


(Photo by Tórfinnur Nielsen)



Cheers!

Tuesday, 10 April 2018

Smiles

                      Hopefully these will give you a chuckle, or maybe make you groan !!













Monday, 9 April 2018

Random Acts of Kindness

Sometimes someone does something so unexpected and so kind that it takes your breath away.

A couple of weeks ago we found out that Mike needs to have surgery to remove his prostate. The prognosis is very good and we are very optimistic. But cancer is cancer. So there is always some worry.

Last Friday, at bridge, a lovely woman handed me a bag to give to Mike. She is someone who is very friendly, but I do not really know her very well yet. In the bag was a beautiful hand-made comfort quilt that she had bought from the Cancer Society for Mike. I cannot find the words to tell you how I felt. I gave her a big hug and wiped a couple of tears from my eyes.

Then I brought it home to Mike.  It is absolutely beautiful. With warm felt on the back to keep him warm.


You should have seen his reaction. He could not believe that someone he had only met a couple of times would do this for him. Talking about his feelings does not come easy for him but he told me she had to be a guardian angel. He was so touched.

My sister told me that at her church when you do something kind and unexpected for someone, you give them a green marble with the gift and tell them to pass it on.

I think that is a lovely idea. How great is it that a random act of kindness can make someone else's entire day? Especially these days when it is often so hard to stay positive.

I think Mike and I have both been given a little green marble that we need to pass along.

Any other feel good stories to share?









Sunday, 8 April 2018

Oops! Bad design, bad installation, bad ideas...

Bad choice of carpet for stairs


Nice view


Elegant and disgusting at the same time


Stretch...


Have a nice bath


Open any drawer, what you're looking for is in one of them


As long as your car is very very very small


How?




Saturday, 7 April 2018

Militant art

The pollution of our oceans is a very serious problem. There are many movements and campaigns that try to address the issue. Artists also make a contribution.



Image created by Jorge Gamboa of a plastic bag in the shape of an iceberg to make awareness of all the plastic that's found in the ocean.


Friday, 6 April 2018

National Tartan Day

Who ever heard of a National Tartan Day?

Of course- as soon as I read about it, I thought of our own TW. Upon further research, I discovered that it had nothing at all to do with TW! 

National Tartan Day originated in New York City when the mayor, Ed Koch, declared July 1, 1982 as Tartan day, a one-time celebration of the 200th anniversary of repealing the Act of Proscription (August 12, 1747), which had forbidden Scots to wear tartan.  Then in 2004, the National Capital Tartan Day Committee lobbied US House Representatives to designate April 6 as National Tartan Day, a day which was adopted on March 9, 2005.

SCOTS FORBIDDEN TO WEAR TARTAN! OH NOES!!
I think TW would agree that repealing the Act of Proscription is indeed something to celebrate!

So here we go...! Please concentrate on the tartans... nothing else. ; ))



Q- perhaps we can invite this guy to the next party? He looks like fun.

This one is for TW.  (Credit: Tantalizing Tuesdays)
From TW's private collection.



Can you guess which one is the TRUE SCOT? Watch the video to find out.



                                                       
Fun Fact!
  • Rachel Walker holds the Guinness World Record for wearing the most Tartans within 60 seconds.  Walker managed to put on 4 kilts within 60 seconds.

As I was looking for photos, I started to think about my own history. 
I have one Irish grandmother, and 3 Scottish grandparents. 

My mother was a Campbell. Historically one of the most powerful of the Highland clans. The Campbells were known for their brutality and cruelty. Apparently to this day in many Highland villages, there are signs in restaurants, inns, and pubs that state: "We don't serve Campbells." Luckily only one of my grandparents was a Campbell. 



My father was a MacClennan.  We had a large stained glass window in our house with the following motto. While I breathe, I hope.  I like that.  I think my MacClennan genes are winning out over the Campbell genes. 



Happy National Tartan Day Everyone!  GO PLAID!


Thursday, 5 April 2018

Spring, we are waiting...

I know many of us have been dealing with a cold , rainy, and yes , snowy spring so far.  The temperatures in my area look to be nasty for the next week.  As I cook yet another pot of veggie soup to ward off the chill, I keep thinking of the things I enjoyed last spring and summer. Sunny days, gardening, and of course grilling out.  Cheers to spring arriving soon !