They're back!!!!

Once again a group of people will gather at a Masonic Lodge in Burien on Dec 24 and 25 to cook and deliver lovely meals to small local homeless shelters. This year they will also cook for needy people coming right to the Lodge dining room for a Holiday meal. Shouldn't people be acting like that all the time not just on dec 24 and 25? Yup, but I'm glad they do what they do. Yay, Christmas People!

Slow down, be quiet and listen

How's that for some holiday advice? That was wonderful Father Ward's sermon on the first Sunday of Advent. Father Ward included trying to ignore Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday as part of the slowing down part of his suggestion. By being quiet he was referring to us listening to our God. I would also extend that to mean listening to ourselves and those people around us (both loved ones and strangers). Father Ward is awesome. His advice rocks even though he admitted to hitting the Bartell's sale on Friday!!!!

A Cup of Tea

In the midst of a crazy day, before the cold commute home, my co-worker brought me a cup of Earl Grey tea. Amazing how nurturing a simple gesture can be. Joked about Jean Luc Picard ordering Earl Grey - hot from the replicator on Star Trek. Love Patrick Stewart. Anyway, what a difference Theresa made in my day. Remembered how another co-worker made me hot tea with honey months ago when I was feeling rotten and could hardly talk. I need to develop the tea-nurturing side of myself I think. Speaking of nurturing, how about coming home to a warm house with hot homemade chili after a 2 1/2 hour commute? Thanks to my wonderful hubby. I need to develop the chili making-nurturing side of myself I think.

A new take on Obamacare

Have to either laugh or cry about lots in the new lately. Let's try laughing ------

The American Medical Association has weighed in on Obama's new health care package. The Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thou...ght the Administration had a lot of nerve. Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!" The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Internists claimed it would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow. The Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter". The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and those lofty Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no. In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

Stole this from a friend on facebook who stole it from a friend's relative's friend (or something like that)

In the Dark Street Shineth by David McCullough

Missed club, the special guest appearances by sons Ian and Jonathan, and the Roosevelt talk.  This book was about Churchill and the Roosevelts on  Christmas Eve 1941.  I especially loved Churchill's speech - - -

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, Churchill went to Washington with his chiefs of staff to meet President Roosevelt and the American military leaders and coordinate plans for the defeat of the common enemy.  On Christmas Eve Churchill broadcast to the world from the White House on the 20th annual observation of the lighting of the community Christmas tree.

I spend this anniversary and festival far from my country, far from my family, yet I cannot truthfully say that I feel far from home.  Whether it be the ties of blood on my mother's side, or the friendships I have developed here over many years of active life, or the commanding sentiment of comradeship in the common cause of great peoples who speak the same language, who kneel at the same altars and, to a very large extent, pursue the same ideals, I cannot feel myself a stranger here in the centre and at the summit of the United States.  I feel a sense of unity and fraternal association which, added to the kindliness of your welcome,  convinces me that I have a right to sit at your fireside and share your Christmas joys.

This is a strange Christmas Eve.  Almost the whole world is locked in deadly struggle, and, with the most terrible weapons which science can devise, the nations advance upon each other.  Ill would it be for us this Christmastide if we were not sure that no greed for the land or wealth of any other people, no vulgar ambition, no morbid lust for material gain at the expense of others, had led us to the field.  Here, in the midst of war, raging and roaring over all the lands and seas, creeping nearer to our hearts and homes, here, amid all the tumult, we have tonight the peace of the spirit in each cottage home and in every generous heart.  Therefore we may cast aside for this night at least the cares and dangers which beset us, and make for the children an evening of happiness in a world of storm.  Here, then, for one night only, each home throughout the English-speaking world should be a brightly-lighted island of happiness and peace.

Let the children have their night of fun and laughter.  Let the gifts of Father Christmas delight their play.  Let us grown-ups share to the full in their unstinted pleasures before we turn again to the stern task and the formidable years that lie before us, resolved that, by our sacrifice and daring, these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance or denied their right to live in a free and decent world.

And so, in God's mercy, a happy Christmas to you all.

Dad art

Now our new place is more like a home.  Dad's lighthouse picture and 3 pictures of New Orleans scenes are above our fireplace. 

Folks  and Brother John's family are all in New Orleans again for the filming of new Will Smith movie called Focus.

Eleanor Roosevelt quote

Reading Eleanor and Franklin books for book club.  This quote is from the book by her young "radical" friend Joseph Lash.  He attributes it to her but I couldn't find the speech it came from.

The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world "Love thy neighbor as thyself"  Christ, some of the other great Jewish teachers, Buddha, all preached it. Their follower forgot it.  What is the trouble between capital and labor, what is the trouble in many of our communities, but rather a universal forgetting that this teaching is one of our first obligations. . When we center on our own home, our own family, our own business we are neglecting this fundamental obligation of every human being and until it is acknowledged and fulfilled we cannot have world peace.

Victoria

What a fun week-end.  Wonderful people, beautiful city and silver medal. Even the 10 hour trip up by car, shuttle, ferry, and taxi was fun with teammates Luise and Mike.

Lak had the bagpiper escort us to the boats during marshaling of heat 3.  Last year, he had the bagpiper serenade Cyndi on her birthday.

Captain Bill's boat Sick Day was in it's normal spot in Victoria Harbor right at the finish line.  As usual it was party central and race watching central.

Here's a link to a video of heat 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y03QpjQjZkY

Graduation Season

And nephew Rome is graduating from preschool.  Love it!

This is why I love Patrick Stewart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=y15pkRzWVbY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TqFaiVNuy1k

Patrick Stewart talking about domestic violence, PTSD and the link between the two.

He talks about his personal experience (his Father had PTSD or shell shock) and his mother was abused. 

He also talks about his work on both issues through various organizations.  Talk about taking a traumatic event and making a positive impact on this world.

I tried to imbed the video but no luck.  You can also search youtube to find more videos including one at a comicon where he opened up to a fan who apparently had been abused herself.  Very moving!

Kenny Chesney concert

Concert last night at Century Link Field.  Acoustics were terrible up high but had a great time. 

How come I didn't get the short shorts/short skirt and cowboy boots memo?  Probably a very good thing!!!!!

Our new home in Lake Stevens

It needs paint, vents, appliances, carpeting, but we love it already. Has a huge shop in back and large fenced back yard!

Saints Martins Dragon Boat Race

First dragon boat race of the year was last Saturday.  I was the official photographer and cheerleader since I had to work that morning.  Great job Habu!

Happy Birthday Ty

Ty and his new wife Carrie manage the apartments.  His sister and mom have also been managers here over the years.  Last name is Wine so guess what we got them for Christmas and Birthday!

Really an awesome loving family.  Nice to have a chance to hang out with them.

This is a Jim MacCarthy original creation fresh from facebook.

Little poetry on the brain tonight.....please be gentle.....

 If I am to Love
As a moth is to flame
Let me leap into the pyre
To be consumed utterly!


Love my poetry writing, dragon boating, hurling hubby.

Ducks

Ducks are funny during mating/nesting season.  This morning a female walks across the street near the bus stop, stopping traffic.  The male keeps staring at her and then slowly walks the other direction.  A few seconds later, he flys across the street to join her.  Duh!

Habu practise

Cool Habucam!!!!  Now we need some video so that we can critique our own technique.  Turned out to be a lovely evening with sunshine and very calm water. 

I missed the Connorman!

Missed book club last night and missed meeting Jan's adorable grandson Connor.  Mary's grandson is adorable too - just saw a new picture on facebook.  Boy, do those ladies love those grandchildren!  Lucky grandchildren to have such awesome grandmas.

By the way, Jan said Connor told her he only liked boy book clubs, not girl book clubs. Cute!

Declaration of War

This movie was recommended by Jan.  Awesome!  Is french language with subtitles.  Romeo meets Juliet (that's the character's names).  They have a beautiful baby and deal with his extremely serious medical condition with bravery, humor and love without one sappy moment that you would expect from a dying/seriously ill child movie. 

Romeo and Juliet are not perfect in any way, but come close to seeming like perfect parents. Even their escapism moments of partying and riding motorcycles feels more like survival than selfishness. The actors who play the young couple are beautiful and expressive and you can see the story in their faces and body language.  By the way, this is based on the movie maker's true story.

Love the wonderful hodgepodge of quirky family and friends who are totally there for Romeo Juliet and beautiful baby.

The movie has a surprise (to me) happy ending and sad ending.  Loved it!  See it!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Kept delaying borrowing this movie and am so glad I did (borrow it and watch it that is).  A wide range of older British characters are brought to the hotel in India due to mostly money issues.  The young man running the hotel is trying to save his father's hotel by promoting it as an affordable senior citizen retirement oasis.

Love all the stories bound together by the wonderful hotel.  Love the glimpses of India both ugly and beautiful.  Love the acting jobs including the "senior all stars" Judy Dench and Maggie Smith. Oh, yeah one of my favorite Coronation Street characters also does a wonderful acting job as a dissatisfied nagging wife.