The storm forecast was not pretty.
The radar image of a shark with his mouth open was amazing.
The beauty of the sunrise was a relief.
Debbie Smyth of Travel with Intent invites us to play along with Six Word Saturday.
Beauty of Sunrise after a Snow
Category: Kindness
TV From Box to Screen to Phone, #SoCS & #JusJoJan
The track of television from beginning to now has been rather amazing. What is next for the technological future of this apparatus? Since I am older than some of you who read my Jots, lets do a little of my history with TV. When I was young the TV was a large box that housed the TV screen and the large vacuum tubes inside them that made it work.
These tubes gave off a slight heat and I remember my old dog would sleep next to it to feel that warmth. The TVs at that time showed only black and white images and some of the shows we watched were Wagon Train, The Rifleman, The Lone Ranger, Roy Roger & Gunsmoke. Westerns were very popular in that era. And as time went on some of the TVs got put in bigger cabinets.
And when color TV came along you had movies like the Wizard of Oz that started off black & white in Kansas then turned to color when she got to Oz. All the kids went to one house or the other to watch through their TVs. That was a simple time when you did not have to worry where your kids were because all moms took care of what kids were in their house at the moment – and some moms were cooler so that was usually where everyone went. Oh, and at this time TV was FREE.
Then later, about my college years, came the BIG box TV with a 40 something inch screen but still in a box. By this time the technology had totally changed and you were actually looking at a projection onto the screen from inside the TV.
Now TVs are on a screen as thin as the computer screen which also had a similar history of development. If you miss a TV program now, you just look through your DVD player where you recorded it and watch it at home or on you hand held device because now you buy your programs through cable or satellite.
The one really good things about today’s TV, if you record everything and watch it when it is actually thought recording, you can zip right though the commercials or any part of the show you wish not to see.
So Linda G Hill challenged us today with Stream of Consciousness Saturday and Just Jot January with the prompt of Television. Hope you enjoy my version of its history and hope it spawned many fond memories of your own history.
And as a posting reminder from me to anyone who reads, please remember to be kind. This world has a tendency to be harsh and cold so a spark of tenderness and kindness goes a long way.
Friendship vs. Companionship, JusJoJan
In looking up the meanings of these terms, they seem to be pretty much the same per Webster. But to me there is a different emotional attachment for companionship. To me companionship requires a heartfelt emotional connection between to bodies. The bodies can be the same specie or different specie. The animal world is forever showing us this emotional connection of companionship in various ways.
People can have many friends but only a few they call true friends or companions that they can share heart felt concerns, fears, joys or tears. We have drinking buddies or ice cream buddies who will hear all of our concerns and just nod at appropriate times to assure us it will be OK. Then they lock away that information and never dare share it. Loyal companions. We all need them. Man has to have someone or something to talk to. Remember the movie with Tom Hanks, Cast Away. He cut his hand and with his blood made a face on a soccer ball and called him Wilson, because that was who made the ball. God made us to have companions.
Mine sits beside me on the sofa as I type, sometime snoring loudly.
But she listens to every word, gets very concerned when my voice get upset then comes and stands protectively across my lap. It makes football very difficult to watch.
What or whoever is your companion is cherish that companionship. They really are few and far between in our lives and most needed. And companionship requires kindness, sometimes extra kindness, so remember to be kind. While your companion may out of hurt be unkind, do not return in favor. Show your inner strength and be strong and kind.
Today’s prompt from Linda on Just Jot January is being supplied by Di. And the word is companionship. Come join in on the fun.
It’s This Big… #JusJoJan #17
In trying to visualize to someone how big or small something is, we will often use our fingers…
While that may look really small, if you are describing the size of a mouse dropping found in your cabinet that is a BIG mouse. And using that method again, I don’t care if the snake is only that big…he is too big for me. Just sayin’.
Alrighty then, let’s think on things that we are told are really big, like the moon at 2,159 miles in diameter. That seems big but not compared to some other moons. Jupiter has the largest moon, Ganymede at 5,262 km. Those of you who live in the US, that is more than 3,629 miles so our moon does not seem not that big. Of Jupiter’s 79 moons, it is also credited with the smallest moon at 2 km equaling 1.25 miles. Now how in the world can you see something that small from a roaming satellite. Amazing.
I saw this picture I am enclosing today that I thought was fabulous. I don’t know the photographer but the tree seems to think our moon fits right in between it’s fingers. So I thought I would share.
Sizes are always relevant to your measuring device. Like guys that go fishing and tell stories of the one that got away.
In the 70’s there was a quirky little figure with his arms spread wide showing you he loved you this much. The 70’s were the love generation but they just kinda forgot some of the other things that needed to go with that love…but I digress. It is the symbol of measurement I want to focus on. That symbol is still used today and will always remain true.
What an amazing measurement. Many songs have been written about this amazing amount of love. And even though we can not fully understand this amount of love, we can still measure out a reflection of this love by being kind to those who so desperately need it. Sometimes you may not even realize someone is hurting but your kindness may be the one thing that day that releases enough pain to be able to go to the next day. So remember to ALWAYS be kind.
Linda’s Just Jot January prompt is being lead by John Holden of One Hand Typing. And that prompt is “inch”. And while I did not use the actual word I did measure it out. Come join in on the fun.
Cup of Hot Chocolate
Old fashioned hot chocolate to finish out the night
With just enough of chocolate to ensure ones delight
We sip real slow to the bottom of the cup
For when its all gone we will have to get up
If we drink it too fast it will go to our head
Making it that much quicker in going to bed
Good Night all. I am joining in with Linda G Hill’s #1Liner Wednesday and Just Jot January. Come join in on the fun.
And as always, remember to be kind. Kindness shows God’s love in action.
Art in the Cold
In everything God creates, if we look hard enough we will still see beauty. As I went to take out the trash this afternoon, I noticed how the snow clung to my new rock wall. I thought it interesting how it clung to some areas and yet totally missed others creating another interesting God type artwork.
I am big on patterns and coming from the quality control world sometimes those patterns can let you know if something is off or not. Now that I am retired, I just like to see what pattern emerge when I look at things. I have teased Irene of Heaven’s Sunshine on her post of Dark Star telling her where my quirky visual eye saw Mary and baby Jesus in her flower of the day.
And then today I told CitySonnet on her wonderful picture of a Pansy when I could see someone in yellow shirt with white sleeves and blue bell bottoms praising the heavens.
Its a fun way to share our individual quirky art side. Some of us more quirky than others but that is why art is so subjective. Its in the eye of the artist. Even with writing. My book is now fully complete and edited so I am trying to figure out what to do about publishing it – traditional or self publish. What are the pros and cons of each. Who is good, who can you trust. It a lot to process for a newby. Plus the content is really out there unless you are an avid dog lover who truly believes all dogs do go to heaven. LOL. But we will see. I am up for any advice anyone wants to share. Until then I will continue to share my quirkiness, fun side and kindness here in the blogusphere world.
As you share with each other here or even as you go about your day, I remind you to always be kind. Kindness is the light of Christ shining through us to help lighten the darkness of someone’s day.
Intriguing Paris
Paris is the largest city in France and holds a great desire of visitation from Tourist each year. Last year there were over 83 million foreign visitors and France is the most visited country on earth. I have not been but my daughter has. I know of three main sight seeing attractions but I am sure their are a vast number I do not know about that are as intriguing as the 3 I know of.
I find it interesting that across the world our fascination with Paris brings us to name cites and town in honor of the real one and thought I would share them. I did not check other parts of the world, just my neck of the woods.
In Canada there are 2 such places. In Ontario, there is a community called Paris and in the Yukon, there is a former community called Paris. Not sure of the community is no longer there of if its name got changed.
In the USA, I have to put it in a list as it is extensive since we are very infatuated with Paris. I am listing them by state and I guess it size is noted by city, town or community.
- Arkansas – city
- Idaho – city
- Illinois – city
- Indiana – unincorporated community
- Iowa – unincorporated community
- Kentucky – city
- Maine – town
- Michigan – unincorporated community in Green Charter Township
- Mississippi – city
- New Hampshire – community
- New York – town
- Ohio – two separate counties have an unincorporated community
- Oregon – unincorporated community
- Pennsylvania – census-designated place
- Tennessee – city
- Virginia – unincorporated community
- Virginia – unincorporated community
- Wisconsin – several Wisconsin localities
- Several US locations have Paris townships
- Beresford South Dakota – a city formerly called Paris
- Loraine California – an unincorporated community formerly called Paris
- Paris Mountain – South Carolina (Paris Mountain State park)
- Paris Mountain – Virginia
So you can see the name Paris is a much beloved name with fond memories for its people. Many famous cities have been copied for various reason but at the heart it was probably the beauty of that city wanting to be duplicated. For instance, there are 23 location in the US that have the name of Athens. Some prominent and some much smaller. But regardless of where you are, take pride in where you live and help it be the best it can be.
And in all things remember to be kind. The steps of kindness you share with others can leave footprints of love where ever you step.
Linda G Hill and Kellie have brought us another fun prompt of Paris. Come along and enjoy.
Ways of Reflection, #JusJoJan 14
There is something so calming about watching the sun go down near water as it reflects its last light towards you. Some of my favorite places to watch a sunset. But I have seen many beautiful pictures through this realm of communication with reflections on water, in mirrors and glass of high rise buildings.
Life itself is a reflection and how we live it reflects who we are, who we want to be or maybe who we wish we were not.
Linda G Hill and Janet have brought us today’s prompt of reflection. Come join in and enjoy the fun or just stop by and say hi. We always promise to make it interesting.
My thoughts for today center around a reflection of my returning to the working world after being retired for 10 months. My energy levels were not ready to retire but the abuse my feet were getting from 40 years on concrete demanded a change. So we got some much needed rest; some corrective surgery to the feet which are about 80%L and 50%R in the healing process and I am getting bored. I don’t sit well and now I don’t walk well. So when the church called needing someone to answer phones and do light filing – I am there.
The problem I am having is REFLECTING on what I used to do, being a quality manager and controlling all documentation. Now you got NO control so just hush. LOL. In all serious it is interesting in reflecting on the differences in working for so many years in a mildly hostile environment and changing to a non hostile environment. Oh, I am sure there will be days but its not every day and that makes it nice. It is so much easier trying to get along and make the road a little smoother than to be the constant firefighter watching for smoke to get it eliminated before the real fire erupted.
So as I try to reflect on new ways to do things, I also reflect on other ways to be kind. And I ask you to come along in remembering to always kind. You may be the only light reflecting in someone’s dark day. So be their spark.
Living Art…#JusJoJan & #SoCS
Art is very objective and life is ever a challenge so when you put the two together you get living art and living art can be terrifying or the most beautiful thing you could see. Artist over time have tried to capture the beauty of life as they see it but for me I have reconnected with the medium of photography now that I have retired. Many photographers here in this blogging world have exquisitely captured the beauty of this world and life as they see it and they share it with us.
I love the beauty of nature and thank God for His handiwork to awe us sometimes or make us giggle sometimes as nature like other mediums of art is tied to our emotions.
Today it is snowing. The first winter snow. Now in November we did have a freak snow come through with 14″ of wet heavy snow but that was in the fall. And after that storm, weather has been really mild. Just last week it was in the 40’s and for January that’s unusual…and weird. I fear we will pay for that mildness for the remaining of winter. This week temps have been in the teens but even with cold temps nature’s art was available to see if you looked for it. Below are a few pictures to share of what I saw first thing this morning. With a better camera than my phone, I am sure the art of snow would be more breathtaking. But it beautiful and peaceful to watch.
Everything looking pristine and fresh…and cold. Although the bird feeder is completely covered so the birds are having to did out their treats.
So very glad it is Saturday and I am not expected to go anywhere in this. Even though it is only a few inches, still, I am glad I don’t have to get out in it. I also want to thank Linda G Hill for a fun way to share the snow today with “art” being the theme word for Just Jot January and Streams of Conscious Saturday.
When going through the art of life, remember to paint to paint gently. Paint with encouragement, love and with an abundance of kindness. Kindness is felt in all of nature and can make your painting shine the beauty that God has intended.
He flew over…JusJoJan #11
The bird flew over it and what did he see
But craziness below of a torn up Christmas tree
The lights and ornaments were slung everywhere
While the flu engulfed me and I rested in a chair
He circled the room getting caught in the drapes
Then he raced up the flue in hopes to escape.
The silliness of quick poetry on a tired Friday night. Thanks to Linda G Hill and M for the fun challenge of “flew/flu/flue.” Come join us for Just Jot January, see the zaniness that we can come up with and say Hi.
We are all birds of one kind of feather or another but we all want love and kindness, so remember to always be kind. And if you live in the midwest like me…its coming y’all…
For the Love of 