Same Place, Different Time

Posted on January 9, 2015 by dfolstad58

I walk in Okanagan Park regularly. It’s a beautiful little park at the north end of my city where the city butts up against Okanagan Lake; 150 miles of wonderful lake. The south end of Penticton is about 9 kilometres away and it butts up against the north side of Skaha Lake.

Both lakes have nice beachs but very different ambiences.  If the wind is blowing from the south, we can drive to Okanagan lake and paddleboard in the summer, and vicey versa if the wind is blowing from the north. Just like that and bam, there’s ten minutes wasted.

Truly I am grateful for walking along the beaches, I like walking in the wind, and when I am thinking about something it helps me realize how small my problems are in the big picture.

I have posted many pictures of summer at this park, now some winter shots mixed in with shots of the same location but in summer so you can see how different it looks, hope you like them.

Plus a special song after that I woke up singing.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you will comment before you go.

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No. 1 Regret in Life

Posted on January 8, 2015 by dfolstad58

Although we are all different in many ways, we are similar also. Men or Women, children of all ages, we want the approval of others concerning of our choices in life.

This leads to the No. 1 Regret in Life.  In one of my favorite posts, in the favorites Category (click here)  I wrote about the Five Regrets in Life which a nurse wrote about after interviewing patients who were terminal and had the time to explain it to her.

The No. 1 Regret in Life is…………….. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

To my imagined reader out there, this is for you.

plantIf you are fortunate, you will live a long life, and when you are older you will be blessed with the health and wealth to do what you really want to do, what things that make you most happiest, go to the exotic places, get a motorcycle, or scooter, see the pyramids, climb the Eiffel Tower,  enjoy the baths in Iceland, run a marathon, whatever tugs your heart strings.

But life happens, you may have health now, but perhaps you won’t in the future, or your loved one won’t, the one you want to share those memories with.

But life happens, you may have the funds now, although you have bills now too.

Hopefully when we retire, we will be able to do what we want, what makes us happiest but for most of us, circumstances change and we put ourselves in the back seat for those we love.

synchronized yoga

synchronized yoga

But love yourself now, a little bit – take a course in Tai Chi,  take some mini holidays, splurge on a trip now, if you want to go around the world, but that is too much, pick someplace closer but have some of your dream while you can.

The memories will then belong to you, always.

Have the courage, take the courage to live your life – no one can do it for you,  grab a little of what will make you smile as you think about it in the days ahead. Do it with someone you love,  and you can look back on it together, and smile.

The No. 1 Regret in Life – most people will live it… it’s up to you if you don’t.  Plan now to do something for yourself – pick the date, and make it happen. If you don’t plan it, where, when, it won’t happen. Make it happen.

Then pass it on, encourage others to live their own lives…..while they are able.

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Assignment Number Two – Change Title and Tagline

Posted on January 6, 2015 by dfolstad58

Ouch, I took a long time to do this assignment. My previous Title and Tagline I had had for three years.

So I took a good look at my old Title – Notes from A Place to Live Forever.

I suppose it is a very pretentious title.  I know that is the Indian Translation for my home city Penticton but it sounds kind of “back-patty” – where is my thesaurus?

There are many, and Many beautiful places to live and be and really being happy where you are, is the best choice.

download 7Ok, I did the assignment, I made the change. Nothing wrong with change, and maybe it’s a good thing. Heck, the next time I go for coffee I may even  not have “milk” in it.

Whoa! Slow down you say… one change at a time, don’t overwhelm yourself.

Okay, so I am predictable nearly all the time. I will work on that, I am not afraid of change (my new mantra).

Have a spontaneous day!

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Assignment 1 – Blogging 101

Posted on January 5, 2015 by dfolstad58

This is my first assignment in Blogging 101.  Why? you say are doing an assignment after three years of blogging. Why?

Why not? It’s the first blogging course I’ve ever taken and it’s always good to prime the pump.

Assignment numero UNO

  • write and publish a “who I am and why I’m here” post
Peachland BC across the street from Bliss bakery on Okanagan lake, just me

Peachland BC across the street from Bliss bakery on Okanagan lake, just me

My name is Dave, I am here on WordPress to learn, and be creative. I am also interested in sharing about the Okanagan, and perhaps test to see if I can write, and others will find my writing interesting.

I logged onto a blog post in India just a day or so ago and a young girl wrote about her life. She was an excellent writer and I realized her life was very different than mine, and I asked her to write more about her life, and culture there. I likely will never get to India, and perhaps there are others around the world who are interested in my life in Canada in comparison to theirs.

I am retired one year from a desk job but I retired for my health because I have had a kidney transplant and retirement would be better for my health. Someone may be interested in kidney transplant patients because they know someone who may be facing dialysis also. Since my transplant was 27 years ago, they may find my experiences encouraging, possibly hopeful.

I am here to learn, I am doing this Blogging 101 course to learn more as so far I am self taught. I am also here to share about Canada and this tiny corner where I am fortunate to be planted.

This part of Canada is beautiful, beaches, wineries, clean warm lakes to swim in during the summer, and skiing and boarding in the ski resorts in the winter.  Most people can bike or drive to work in less than 15 minutes.  Questions?

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New York City’s First Cat Café: Meow Parlour

Posted on January 4, 2015 by dfolstad58

This gallery contains 3 photos.

Originally posted on almostfreeNYC:
Meow Parlour, New York City’s first cat café which opened less than a month ago, is everything a cat lover has ever dreamt of. What is a cat café?   Cat cafés originally started in Asia in…

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2015 – Time to plunge in

Posted on January 3, 2015 by dfolstad58

2015 has arrived for us all, whether we drag our heels, kicking and stomping or whether we dive in wholeheartedly with anticipation to improve, heal, or attain.

plunge (the definition) – it’s a verb 
  1. jump or dive quickly and energetically.
  2. push or thrust quickly.
    synonyms: thrust, jab, stab, sink, stick, ram, drive, push, shove, force
 or a noun
  1. an act of jumping or diving into water.
    “we went straight from the sauna to take a cold plunge”
    synonyms: dive, jump, nosedive, fall, pitch, drop, plummet, descent

    “a plunge into the deep end”

    In the Okanagan where I live, we own snow shovels, and bags of de-icers or salt for our sidewalks and driveways. Some folks enjoy all seasons; making the most of Mother Nature no matter the temperature,  some dread the cold of winter, while others just appreciate each day as it comes.

    winter sunshine

    winter sunshine

    The daylight hours are shorter but there is nothing as refreshing as cold air on the cheeks, and sun sparkling across unbroken snow.

    Plus there is the pleasure of a warm mug between the fingers as we sip hot chocolate and melted marshmallows.

     

    Another tradition in many communities including ours is the (insane) Polar Bear plunge. I do not ever intend to indulge in this particular tradition regardless of how “green” New Year’s Day is. However this year the day looked mild, Mother Nature can be deceiving, and so I ventured forth on January 1 to Sunoca Beach which is about 16 km north of Penticton where the hardy fools plunge annually on Janaury 1.

    Imagine the scene, cold wind, I was shivering inside my jacket, hat and gloves and all around me stood “children of all ages” in their swimsuits waiting for the sign to run into Okanagan Lake screaming, and then repeat in reverse direction. I joined them around the bonfires, and hope the brave souls had the thickest of robes to dash into and then wrap themselves around aforementioned hot chocolate. The event is supervised and search and rescue are in the water to help any who flounder.

    I’m in training for next year, I’m going to put an ice cube in a seasonal refreshment 🙂

    Here’s my visual for you!

     

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