Life and Random Thinking

Anniversary, Celebration

Posted on November 4, 2021 by dfolstad58

Dear Blog friends,

it feels so nice for me to be able to use my left hand again.

I had surgery October 14 to deal with cancerous cells in my left thumb. It required an operating room, a plastic surgeon, and a lot of stitches. They dug deep to my bone and tendon to get it all but I may still need radiation. I am so grateful I have my thumb and over 31 stitches later I am down to just one bandage. They had to backfill the lost meat from my thumb by taking a little piece from my bicep. Yucky eh. No more and don’t worry no photos. LOL That is behind me for now but the nature of my medications for my transplant and that I have been taking them for 33 years means more surgeries likely.

A is for Anniversary ; This is an anniversary post and unbelievable, almost, this is my 801st blog post. Wow.

I started this blog eleven years ago in honor of my Aunt Elinore. She was a miracle person and full of life and love for her family and friends. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed, she was a person of light and love.

My first blog post click here

Celebration; is for festivals of light.

Today marks the beginning of Diwali. Happy Diwali Festival.

Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance“.

In December of 2017 I blogged about another Festival of Light and I thought how amazing light is, and how symbolic. (link here)

I am blessed to know via blogs and directly people who I think of as inspiring. They are light sharers.

It is wonderful to know people like that. It only takes one person like that to restore belief that there are good people in this world.

Now eleven years after starting this blog, gratefully able to type again, I want to thank everyone who ever read one of my blog posts.

I am not stopping reading or writing, but I felt like a message of appreciation was due, and appropriate. – David

Enjoy these recent photos I have taken here in the Okanagan valley. ♥♥♥

Posted in health, Just being creative, okanagan related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged anniversary, autumn, diwali, elinore, light, Okanagan | 30 Comments

Nobody else but

Posted on September 26, 2021 by dfolstad58

September has flown by and it is almost at an end. The warm days here (up to 25 C) and the cooler evenings (14 C) are a wonderful combination for outdoor walks and sweet slumbers.

I have been jotting down blog ideas but whenever I sit down at the computer there always seems something else that I should do, I am so far behind at reading my favorite blogs I have had to delete to try to keep my inbox from being too intimidating.

Today I will share some lyrics and link at the end because I was out cycling and some lyrics of some Disney movies came to mind.

This is not a movie that stood out to me, until today, when I watched and listened to “NOBODY ELSE BUT YOU”

I believe that there are some songs that we “absorbed” when we were young and we just never forget, eh? (Just a spoonful of sugar, helps the medicine…….)

There are times you drive me, shall we say, bananas
And your mind is missin’, no offence, a screw
None taken
Still, whatever mess I land in
Who is always understandin’?
Nobody else but you

Growing up on Sunday nights there was the “Wonderful World of Disney” with Walt Disney himself opening the evening with a few words. After his welcome was always an hour of entertainment, possibly a narrated nature show about Charlie the cougar. Whatever the show, it was something the family could watch together, and it was never R rated, or 14+ or 18+.

Goofy: Oh, your moodiness is now and then bewilderin’
And your values may be, so to speek, askew
Gesundheit
Thanks
Who deserves a hero’s trophy as we face each “catastro-phee”?
Nobody else but you
Nobody else but you

It’s just our luck
We’re stuck together
Nobody else but you
Is crazy enough to believe we’ll come through

“Nobody Else But You” – Bill Farmer (The Goofy Movie)

I hope you thought a few of your favorite Disney songs, that you will never forget.

I would love to know which Disney movie songs you listened to more than once.

Enjoy your day, thank you sincerely for visiting. ♥- David

P.S ♥ – I loved “Oliver and Company” – some amazing songs. I wrote about it before so you might have already seen this post HERE.

Posted in family, music related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged animated, Disney, Goofy, Nobody Else But You, Oliver and Company, songs | 7 Comments

Moments in the Sun

Posted on August 18, 2021 by dfolstad58

Thank you for visiting today, I look forward to hearing from readers. I am always grateful when someone tells me that they read my blog as the nature of the blog writing is little bit like putting a note in bottle and throwing it into the ocean. The writer always wonders who found the bottle and if they found it, if the writer will ever know who?

I have been missing moments in the sun lately due to the forest fire smoke in the Okanagan. Today the skies partially cleared and I was able to get out and ride my bike for a nice spin.

My first topic involves steam and a bear sighting while riding the Kettle Valley Steam Railway ♥

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The train chugged, steamed and blew it’s whistle all the way around the valley side.

August 9 was a day of steam and smiles as three generations boarded the Kettle Valley Steam Railway ( KVSR) in Summerland. Some track still remains thankfully so that the volunteers and staff of the KVSR can still relive the experience with their passengers.

It’s a trip to remember on the #3716 The Spirit of Summerland.

The steam whistle, the clanging bell, the sight of a black bear clambering up a bank beside the train – it was a morning of smiles.

Be careful which train trip you book because there have been train robbers sighted, they arrive on horseback and pistols but it’s all in fun for everyone. If you are interested in a 90 minute or 120 minute experience – you can learn more hear HERE.

Hear the train whistle and bells at the 40 second spot if you don’t want to watch the whole video.

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I wonder if I should really end this post here on a happy note because writing this post did make me happy.

However I think it is worthwhile to add one more thought.

I will sometimes ask someone how their day is and their response is along the lines of nothing new, same old thing. I think you understand, they mean nothing too exciting happened.

I was reminded today that many people today could be wishing for a “nothing” day. They could be mourning, suffering through an invisible pain that no one else can see, feel or appreciate.

Just a plain glass of water is boring to some but to a person on dialysis, whose water intake is restricted, a plain average glass of water is a treat. A treat to be sipped and made to last.

Even a light breeze in a doorway, is special to a hospital shut-in.

In the bustle of life, I think it is important to remember and be grateful for the simple things, and remember what I take for granted, many can’t.

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A quote to end my post today and wish you all the best. Sincerely, – David

It is better to elevate our words than our voices.
Flowers are grown by rain, not thunder.
Unknown

Posted in health, okanagan related, Thinking Out loud | Tagged celebrate, gratitude, Kettle Valley Railway, simple things, Summerland, train | 25 Comments

Three Random Thoughts #13 – Murder, Music, and Choice

Posted on August 6, 2021 by dfolstad58

Welcome to my blog “Life and Random Thinking” – I hope you will enjoy this post.

This post is another for the Three Random Thoughts category. – David

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MURDER – A true history of sport, violence, and emotions but also amazing talent – the sport was tennis, the artist was a painter named Caravaggio.

He murdered his opponent over an argument in a tennis match. The murderer was volatile and extremely talented. Swords, illegal weapons, racquets and paint brushes were all common to Caravaggio.

Giovanni Pietro Bellori (1615-1696), gives a short but colourful description of the 1606 match, writing that the painter played ‘gioco di palla a corda’ with a young friend and that during the match they started hitting each other with their rackets.
Eventually Caravaggio drew his sword and killed his opponent. For his crime the painter risked capital punishment (bando capitale) and was forced to leave Rome, living like a man on the run, never to return to the city again.
https://www.real-tennis.nl/caravaggio-blog/7-caravaggios-tennis-match

A well known brawler, he assaulted many including a police officer, in May 1606 Caravaggio may also have been the most well known painter at the time. However after the tennis murder, he was forced to flee Rome to escape a bounty on his head for a few years. Ironically during this period many of his paintings included severed heads. !!

Judith beheading Holofernes (Caravaggio)

I saw some of Caravaggio’s paintings in a gallery in Rome, the paintings were so dark and violent but also amazing in their intensity. Links to more information Here and Here.

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MUSIC – There have been many OHW (One Hit Wonders) and those hits are remembered by us all even if the band disappears.

Perhaps the biggest one of all time was in 1995 – “Macarena” by Los del Río.

The One Hit Wonder below had an interesting inspiration story, you might call it depressing.

The band’s main songwriter, Sherman Kelly, was inspired to write this hit song after getting viciously beaten up while on a Caribbean island holiday.

Recovering in hospital, he decided to envision a peaceful and joyful reality, and a song was born.

Everybody here is outta sight
They don’t bark and they don’t bite
They keep things loose, they keep things light
Everybody was dancin in the moonlight.
King Harvest – Dancing in the Moonlight

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CHOICE – The streets can be a tough place to struggle daily. The quote below was recently spotted on a post in the Okanagan and shared with me. I don’t know the author, sorry. Whenever I read it slowly it tells a story. A story of crossroads, and found strength. – David

I found myself at a crossroads,
To carry on in fear or to stand in faith,
Today I do stand, where I used to fall,
And God gave me a choice, and I choose Freedom.
Unknown

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Posted in Three Little Random Thoughts | Tagged art, caravaggio, choice, crossroads, Dancing in the moonlight, italy, King Harvest, one hit wonders, street life | 12 Comments

Three Little Thoughts #12 – It’s the Little Things

Posted on July 29, 2021 by dfolstad58

Thanks for visiting my blog “Life and Random Thinking” – today will be another post for the Three Little Thoughts category (I have a few different categories for my blog ☺)

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Thinking about the Little Things that are so meaningful in our lives, it is not overseas trips, not expensive restaurants, it is the little things that make me smile. Small things that I overlook but would miss so dearly.

Little things that cause us, you and me, to Smile and pause.

Hugs to start the day, every day, along with a whistle to find one another in the house.
The first sip of coffee of the day especially when it my favorite creamer (hazelnut)
Chirping birds and seeing them hop around in the sunflower plants
At the end of the day I can relax, and sleep in my own bed and pillow.

I once spent a long time indoors (hospitalized) and when I finally walked outside it was a little thing that I remember – wind. I couldn’t just get in the car, I had to soak it up. I had missed wind.

Maybe something effects you the same – does the smell of cinnamon buns stop you in your tracks? Onions barbecuing on the grill?

I remember when I was really young, my friends loved my house. My Mom baked fresh bread nearly daily and there was homemade jam (blueberry I remember).

It’s the Little Things that you never forget but at the time you just experience and enjoy.

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Video Time	View ♥ Guide
First 60 seconds	Riding the KVR trail – gaining altitude in town
2:00	Riding the KVR gravel path – Lake below
2: 45 approx	Short break to smell the sage and rub on the scent
4:11 approx	Zoom over the McCulloch Trestle
5:04	Poplar Grove & Naramata Road – only trail ahead
5: 30	Big snake
7:10	Railway Trail cut through rock
8:25 ☺	Arrive at the Little Tunnel – Wow view
9:45	Handheld camera – downhill and lovely view

A guide to the video above

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Word of the Day: Lope – run or move with a long bounding stride.

In a sentence: I was watching nature videos and the fox, deer, etc moved so lightly on their feet – I thought that bouncing walk is amazing; I definitely wish I could lope like that.

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It really is the little things that we can overlook but are so meaningful and essential.

Clean water, being able to move freely, a safe place to rest and the hugs of those closest to our hearts.

Thanks for visiting – David