Day 2535: What makes the ordinary extraordinary?

My extraordinary readers probably know that I focus a lot on the ordinary in this blog, no matter what time it is.

My hope, every day, is that you will see the extraordinary in the ordinary, as I do.

Yesterday, I noticed this ordinary and extraordinary sign at work:

Do you see the ordinary and the extraordinary in today’s extra photos?

Those are not ordinary cod cakes, thanks to my extraordinary fiancé, who always adds a little extra.

If we don’t make extraordinary efforts, the ordinary cod might be more difficult to find, very soon.

Today, ordinary UPS will be delivering a ticket for me to see the extraordinary Jacob Collier at Boston’s House of Blues in May, 2020.

2020 looks to be an extraordinary year.

Here‘s an extraordinary tune that was playing in my ordinary ears yesterday:

Don’t you know how extraordinary it is that we’re all alive together, here and now?

I look forward to ordinary and extraordinary comments, below, and I hope you know how extraordinarily grateful I am to YOU.

 

 

 

 

Day 2495: Have a little faith

Yesterday, I appreciated seeing a sign that said “Have a little faith”.

The peace sign, whenever I see it,  also inspires me to have a little faith.

Last night, I had a little faith that the Washington Nationals (who appeared in this recent post about self care) would win the World Series, and they did!

Do my other photos from yesterday have a little faith?

 

I have a little faith that when I randomly and intuitively take photos every day, they will somehow fit together in my next blog post.

Have a little faith that Michael’s cooking tastes even better than it looks. When I first met Michael, exactly nine years ago today, I had a little faith that we were meant for each other.

Speaking of anniversaries, yesterday was an anniversary of the big success of “Faith” by George Michael.

I have a little faith that you will leave a comment, below.

Have a little faith that I’ll end this post with gratitude for all, including YOU!

 

Day 2438: All you need

All you need is …

… love.

All I need is

• love,
• kindness,
• shelter,
• peace,
• the healing power of groups, and
• the chance to pay my respects today to my late friend Hillel and to his family and friends.

All I need is my iPhone to take photos and to post this blog a few hours before my wonderful hostess Julie and I leave to drive to Hillel’s funeral in NYC.

All I need is that Connecticut Cat Nellie and a FaceTime call with Harley to help prepare me for the funeral today.

What’s all you need?

Is this music all you need?

All the love and thanks you need coming at you, here and now, from your grateful blogger.

Day 2237: Declaring a National Emergency

There’s a lot in the news, here and now, about declaring a national emergency.

Last night, in a therapy group, people were declaring that the U.S. President declaring a national emergency seemed like a national emergency to them.  Some people declared that the election of Donald Trump  seemed more like a national emergency than 9/11. Somebody else declared that the U.S. President setting the precedent of declaring this national emergency paved the way for a national emergency about climate change.

I’m declaring a national emergency of worry, shame, and guilt.

I’m declaring that the people I meet, every day, who suffer worry, shame, and guilt are not  people who deserve to have those excessively painful feelings.  I’m declaring that I’m doubtful that the people declaring a national emergency today have worry, shame, and guilt about that.

Are there any other emergencies declared in my other photos from yesterday?

 

I’m declaring a national emergency of peace and love.

Here is “State of Emergency” by Phil Gawen.

Here is “National Emergency” by the Deplorable Choir.

 

Here is “The Ballad of the Wall” by The Parody Project.

 

What national emergency might you declare? I’m declaring there’s a space for your declarations in the comments section, below.

I’m declaring my thanks to all those who helped me share the declarations in today’s post and — of course! — YOU.

Day 2053: Peace & Quiet

In an Iceland hotel, instead of demanding “Do Not Disturb,” one politely asks for “Peace & Quiet.”

I think we all deserve some Peace & Quiet these days, especially with all the noise in the news.

Do you see any Peace and/or Quiet in my other photos from yesterday?

I’m off for another day of Peace, Quiet, & Dramatic Scenery in Iceland.

Peace, Quiet, & Thanks to all who helped me create today’s blog post and — of course! — to you.

Day 1915: Weaponize

Words can be weapons and so can a lot of other things.  Maybe that’s why I keep hearing  the word “weaponize,” which is defined at merriamwebster.com as follows:

 

Definition of weaponize
weaponized; weaponizing
transitive verb
: to adapt for use as a weapon of war

 

Recent Examples of weaponize from the Web:
Facebook, in particular, has come under fire for its partnership with Philippine President Rodrigue Duterte, who has weaponized the social media site to attack his critics.
—
Alex Shephard, The New Republic, “Facebook Has a Genocide Problem,” 15 Mar. 2018

.
Sinclair explicitly weaponizes local TV news’ reputation for impartiality to amplify White House talking points.
—
Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, “Local News Anchors Are Being Forced to Deliver Pro-Trump Propaganda,” 8 Mar. 2018

.
Hertzberg said in January that foes were attempting to weaponize the allegations against him to kill his effort to overhaul the money bail system in California.
—
Taryn Luna, sacbee, “Hugging banned for California lawmaker after harassment investigation | The Sacramento Bee,” 8 Mar. 2018

 

With all the real weapons in the word, I can’t imagine why so many other things need to be weaponized. Personally,  I was hoping that definition would include an antonym, but it doesn’t (and neither does any other definition of “weaponize”).

Is it weaponizing my blog to clearly state that I’m against weaponization and for the opposite?  For now, let’s call that”deweaponization” or  maybe just “peace.”

I heard the word “weaponize” on the news yesterday morning and for the rest of the day, I tried to deweaponize by taking these photos.

 

YouTube has been weaponized with videos like “How to Weaponize Fidget Spinners,” “How to Weaponize IKEA pencils,”  “How to Weaponize Trash,” “How to Weaponize Duct Tape,”  “How to Weaponize a Beard,” and “How to Weaponize Business Cards.”  I’m deweaponizing with this:

I’m also deweaponizing with gratitude for all who helped me with today’s blog post and — of course! — for YOU.

 

 

Day 1828: Where have all the _______ gone?

Yesterday, I took a look at my local supermarket,  saw this ….

… and immediately thought of this song:

 

Where have all the

• flowers,
• folk singers,
• sing-alongs,
• bees,
• frogs,
• endangered species,
• peace talks,
• chocolate futures, and
• smart leaders gone?

When will we ever learn?

Where have all my photos gone? Gone to blog posts, every one.

Where have all the comments gone?  I’ll look for them later, when I’m less clueless and more clueful.

Where have all the thanks gone?  They’re here, at the end of every blog.

Day 1786: For now

“For now’ is something I often say, for perspective, for clarification, for hope, and for an invitation to live in the moment.

For now, Michael still hasn’t sent me those photos he took on Saturday.

For now, I’ll keep reminding him until he remembers to send them.

For now, I have only three new photos to share with you.

 

For now, I’m placing a “Thank you” photo in the middle of a post, instead of at the end.

For now, I’m feeling some measure of peace despite all the chaos surrounding us.

For now, I’m sharing these two videos (playing, for now, here and here on YouTube):

 

For now, please express any thoughts and feelings you have for today’s post.

For now, I’m expressing gratitude for all who helped me create this post and — of course! — for you.

 

 

Day 1758: When do you feel sad?

Yesterday, when I was feeling sad, I noticed this:

When do you feel sad?

I feel sad when

• I’m missing people,
• I witness injustice,
• other people are sad,
• the days turn dark and cold, and
• I can’t remember things, like other times I feel sad.

When I  feel sad, I

• cry,
• share it,
• take photos to cheer myself up,

 

• listen to music I love,

• and express gratitude.

 

Day 1595: Peace cutting through turmoil

In the midst of my personal turmoil of deciding what blog post to write this morning  — (“Should I acknowledge Mother’s Day? Write about my late mother, about being a mother, or about mothers I know?  Should I discuss the current turmoil in world politics? Mention the two funeral services I attended yesterday? Explore the turmoil involved in moving? Celebrate the return home tomorrow of my son?”) — one photo I took yesterday is cutting through the turmoil.

I think we could all use some peace cutting through turmoil, don’t you?  And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Mother’s Day today in the USA.

I hope my other photos from yesterday provide some peace cutting through turmoil.

 

 

 

Here‘s peace cutting through turmoil on YouTube:

 

As always, my gratitude for all who help me create these posts and for you — of course! — cuts through everything.