Life and Random Thinking

Day 4 – día 4

Posted on April 2, 2020 by dfolstad58

A gift from my wife to me

Day 4 –

and northern air has been delaying spring in the valley, night time temperatures dipping slightly below zero (Celsius).

Bundled up in my balaclava and in my gloves, I am still enjoying the clear sunny days and fresh air outside albeit two metres from anyone else.

I was reminded Wednesday that anxiety to some degree is touching nearly everyone.

I know that applies to me also. My mind is like a car driving the highway, occasionally it swerves over the line and head-on I am dealing with anxious thoughts. As soon as I realize it, I swerve back on the correct side of the highway, allowing myself to relax again.

Let’s keep our hearts high, if we are not over the mountain yet, I believe we can see the peak!

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Word of the Day – Stodgy

Meanings

dull, boring, uninspired, dreary, uninteresting
(pertaining to food, a british expression) heavy, filling, indigestible, starchy

In a sentence; While I love those croissants in the morning, they are stodgy and should avoid eating them.

(the word of the day was inspired by a Netflix movie I watched Tuesday – Phantom Thread. I won’t give it away but the ending surprised me !)

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How to be a Good Husband

Quote of the Day –

“Don’t allow yourself to become careless in the matter of dress in the home, nor permit your wife to do so. To sit down to dinner in the hot weather in your shirt-sleeves may be very comfortable, but no nice woman looks with equanimity on any action that her husband would hesitate to do in the presence of other women.” – How to be a Good Husband.

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Musical distraction time –

I have to leave you friends today with a snappy song, fun song

Simple Life

I love this acapella version, I think it is a brother and sister, 4 minutes long, she has a sweet voice and I always am amazed at their sound, vibrant and clear. If you are interested click here

[Verse 2]
I’m taking one step forward and three steps back
Kick myself for letting go of the things I had
Guess you don’t know what you got till that junk goes bad
Never should have dumped that hand me down I got from dad
I’m solve one problem and another one’s popping up
Ain’t it ironic how the problem get’s chronic
‘Cause when you got it good you just don’t know when to stop
Don’t worry ’bout the earning if it stops you from living

Thank you for your time visiting today, I hope you are safe and snapping your fingers to the memory of the song. I appreciate comments and my blogging friends. – David

Okanagan lake looking east toward Munson Mountain

Posted in blogging assignments, Just being creative, music related | Tagged casey adams, day 4, good husband, quote, simple life, Stodgy, word of the day | 12 Comments

Dag 3

Posted on April 1, 2020 by dfolstad58

Dag 3 (Day 3) and the sun was streaming over the valley Tuesday. Only one degree celsius and still a smidgen of snow that I saw at the higher altitudes down the valley.

Regardless I know spring is here, I have spotted robins already and there are buds on my cherry tree and lilac tree.

My mind was doing it’s own thing again Tuesday night, I woke up at 4 a.m. singing Shambala (Three Dog Night). I went to a concert of theirs in Vancouver, BC a long time ago, maybe 1974. They were excellent, and they looked just like this.

Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala –

Ah, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind
On the road to Shambala
Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind
On the road to Shambala

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Today’s Quote – – A Study in Scarlet (A. Conan Doyle)

“I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.

Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that little room has elastic walls and distend to any extent.

Depend upon it, there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.”

Word of The Day – Bumptious

Meaning: self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree

Synonyms: Self-important, conceited, arrogant, pompous, overbearing

In a sentence: I was still annoyed at his bumptious style of conversation.

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Last thought

Yesterday I was compiling a post about compliments that aren’t, and other statements that a person should avoid.

If I share a couple, then perhaps you will let me know if I should continue, alright?

Has anyone ever said to you: That’s not a half-bad idea.

When I hear that, I am thinking; so what percentage is bad?

That statement isn’t too far from the statement: You’re not a complete idiot.

I think you know what I am thinking then.

Sometimes people set themselves up for it, usually deliberately as a joke.

They say: What kind of an idiot do you think I am? or maybe: Do I look stupid to you?

Then they watch you squirm, as you struggle not to respond, or they just smile innocently. ♥

Spring is here!

Thanks for visiting for Dag 3 (Day 3), looking forward to seeing how this day unfolds. I am enjoying reading all your blogs.

Sorry the blog content seems squished, I have trying editing to create more space and divide it up more, but WordPress doesn’t like me today, oy vey

– David

Posted in blogging assignments, Just being creative | Tagged bumptious, day 3, Humour, quote, Shambala, Sherlock Holmes, Three Dog Night, word of the day | 23 Comments

Día dos

Posted on March 31, 2020 by dfolstad58

Day Two – Día dos and Welcome Back

The days are mingling together a bit and you might have trouble remembering what day it is. I totally get it.

Good Karma Tip – Head Into the Kitchen !

My naan and curry on top ♥

A couple days ago I headed into the kitchen and made naan bread for the first time. The instructions didn’t say to put oil on my fingers so the dough was sticking, my wife came to the rescue.

It all worked out though, and it was gobbled up. Who doesn’t love hot bread with melted butter on it? Kitchen smelled nice also, plus plus.

The photo above is the result – Hot naan fresh out of the pan, buttered and my wife’s curry veggies made for a delicious dinner. My sweetie Susan approved ♥

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Word of the Day – Superfluous

Meaning – an adjective – unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

Synonyms – surplus, redundant, not required, excess, unneeded

In a sentence – The Sign of Four – Arthur Conan Doyle

“It is simplicity itself,” he remarked, chuckling at my surprise- “so absurdly simple than an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction.

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Quote of the Day

History will judge societies and governments — and their institutions — not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless. ~ Cesar Chavez

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Cup Song Again –

I hope you visited me yesterday because I shared this song HOWEVER this NEW youtube while technically is a followup but the cast is

much bigger and could coax a smile.

Click here –You are going to miss me when I’m Gone. with a much bigger cast – I enjoyed this.

I am going nuts here, forgive me for another link ** I watched Pitch Perfect and they also did the cup song on that movie – if you can stand it- click here.

Thanks for visiting on Day Two – Día dos. Comments make me smile – David

Posted in blogging assignments, Just being creative, music related | Tagged bread, cup song, curry, naan, pitch perfect, quote, superfluous, word of the day, you don't have to walk alone | 15 Comments

Birinci gün

Posted on March 30, 2020 by dfolstad58

scooting in the rain

smiling in the rain

what rain?

quiet in the rain

I washed my car yesterday, this morning it is raining. That’s perfect with me as that is part of spring – April Showers bring May Flowers (and April is almost here).

A few of my blogger colleagues are doing multi day challenges, I am going to do a five day challenge, not a challenge for them, but it is for me.

Each day I will be brief, so I hope you will still come and see me for five days in a row.

Today is Birinci gün – Day One.

Sage brush and looking down on Okanagan lake

Word of the Day – Piquant

Meanings

Sharp taste – Synonyms would be: spicy, tasty, flavorsome
Pleasantly stimulating – Synonyms would be: intriguing, stimulating, interesting, fascinating

Piquant in a sentence from ” A Study in Scarlet” – Arthur Conan Doyle

“By the way,” I asked suddenly, stopping and turning upon Stamford, “how the deuce did he know that I had come from Afghanistan?”

My companion smiled an enigmatical smile, “That’s just his little peculiarity,”he said. ” A good many people have wanted to know how he finds things out.”

“Oh! a mystery is it?” I cried, rubbing my hands. “This is very piquant. I am much obliged to you for bringing us together.

(I am confident you know whom John Watson is referring to)

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Quote of the Day –

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope. – Winston Churchill

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A Song – I’ll Think of You

I’ll think of you
As I go
So when I leave
You’re not alone
And no matter where we are
We will never be that far
Cause I’ll think of you as i go
I’ll think of you
As I dream
So when it’s dark
You’ll be with me
And no matter where we are
We can look up to the stars
And I’ll think of you as I dream
Oh, it’s a long and winding road
But you don’t have to walk alone
Cause no matter where we are
I’ll keep you in my heart
And I’ll think of you as i go….

Click here

if you want to sing along – I like this video as it cleverly done all in one take, singing and patty-caking!

Thanks for visiting, and Day Two tomorrow.- David

Posted in blogging assignments, Just being creative, music related | Tagged i think of you, John Watson, Music, quote, sherlock, Spring, winston churchill | 21 Comments

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

Posted on March 25, 2020 by dfolstad58

Africa – One cat to rule them all

Last night in my sleep, I sang the lyrics for “Both Sides Now” and so now I have been thinking about the song. It’s a sweet acoustic song, and you can listen by clicking here.

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

“Both Sides Now” is a song that is sweet, and intriguing and I don’t know what meaning Joni Mitchell had in mind. I have a theory though.

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Someone is welcome to correct me but the clouds in the song may be a metaphor for life. Clouds are always changing, and evolving. Clouds can be light and white, or dark and threatening.

Life is constantly changing like those clouds, nothing remains the same and, as I am reminded often, it’s always sunny up above the clouds! Those blue skies are hope, peace and light.

Thank you for reading, and visiting. – David

Posted in humor, Thinking Out loud | Tagged blue skies, both sides now, meaning, metaphor, Music, singing, sleep | 21 Comments

Ticket to Ride Tuesday

Posted on March 24, 2020 by dfolstad58

I went out for a bike ride last night

about 8 p.m. and it felt like 3 a.m. in the streets as no cars around, surreal. I am worried for people here and my country. I remain optimistic though and hope you are also wherever you live.

I hope you enjoy my simple post today, sharing photos I have taken while enjoying cycling in my city. It’s a pleasure for me to take pictures of the lake as it changes in seasons, times of the day and so on. I will do the pedaling but you have a Ticket to Ride.

One nice note to share is that some of my neighbours

are putting hearts in their yards and in their windows, and hanging Canadian flags outside. Later this afternoon I will hang a flag outside on my balcony also.

I see it as evidence of the solidarity together here, proof that we are all still here, and riding out a quiet storm together.