July 22, 2024 a thought for today, Only two relationships are possible - to be a friend or to be an enemy. Native American  Cree Proverb

The first challenge for yesterday was “numbers”. I thought of all kinds of things with number, a keyboard, phone numbers, store receipts. I was in my car when bewitching hours was near (time for the photo to be due) so I used the numbers in my car for this image. 

The next upload for July 21, 2024 was “letters”. Again, there are all kinds of places to find letters or use even the mailing kind of letters. My choice was to drive past the park and get a current shot of the concrete alphabet letters. 

The last shot for yesterday was “juxtapose”. I chose the difference in the pointed foliage of the trees to the leaves of the snowball flower as well as the contrast in the two colors. 

Life today. This is the first day of the busiest week in the month. The bulletin is done except one tiny spot. The rest of the information will mostly likely come later today. 

Three or four nights ago I must have slept with my neck in a “hazardous” position. So there has been a neck pain every day since. It may be letting up. Getting up each of the last three mornings has been an adventure in pain. Two Tylenols every four hours have helped. Time spent at the computer every day doesn’t help. It’s like being in one position for hours and ends similar to positions the end in developing carpal tunnel happens in the wrists. 

I sent a message to the congregation that I was working on the newsletter and needed any information they would like to enter. Three responses came back now at least one more is needed. 

My first challenge for today is “hands in action”. I decided to use my own hands as I was fixing part of my lunch. 

I took a break to work with some of the peppermint cutting that were started a little over a week ago. While on the “break” a trip outside on the look out for a couple of the photos needed took sometime. As I was fixing my sandwich for lunch I took the third photo that I need for today. 

The next six days are filled in on the calendar. Lots of activities to keep life interesting and open for investigations and memories.

The next upload for today is “macro”. I used a hibiscus flower in an earlier entry this month but that one was from a McDonalds “garden” by the drive through window. This one is of my own hibiscus plant. 

The word today is high. No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. William Blake.  The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. Michelangelo.  No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. The intelligent merchant does not knock his competitors. The sensible worker does not knock those who work with him. Don't knock your friends. Don't knock your enemies. Don't knock yourself. Alfred Lord Tennyson.  You shall, I question not, find a way to the top if you diligently seek for it; for nature hath placed nothing so high that it is out of the reach of industry and valor. Alexander the Great.  Experience is a good school. But the fees are high. Heinrich Heine. None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves. Charles Spurgeon.  Even peace may be purchased at too high a price. Benjamin Franklin.  Pray thee, spare, thyself at times: for it becomes a wise man sometimes to relax the high pressure of his attention to work. Thomas Aquinas.  Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour; of You, Most High, he bears the likeness. Francis of Assisi.  But curb thou the high spirit in thy breast, for gentle ways are best, and keep aloof from sharp contentions. Homer. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. Henry David Thoreau.  If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever. Thomas Aquinas. 

My last entry for today is “capturing lots of mixed colors”. I haven’t noticed a better place for finding a mixture of colors than in stained glass windows. I have seen some in a few graffiti street art but not as vivid. 

Article: I have a very dry sense of humor so Bob Newhart wasn’t one of my most favorite comedians. However, he offered many skits that held an interesting and educational message. Those I appreciated and learned from.  The article is titled “Bob Newhart was more than an actor or comedian – he was a literary master”.  According to the article, in his early acting life he “demonstrated a mastery of diction, dialect, character and dialogue worthy of the title “literary master.” In 2002 he received the Mark Twain Prize. The author related to the award that “the mastery of language and character is not the sole possession of poets and novelists”. The article mentioned that Newhart had an ear for dialect and “seasoned his monologue with little bits of slang and jargon to capture the breezy speech of a stereotypical press agent” in a skid he did portraying a conversation of Abraham Lincoln. The article mentions that “character is the key”for both humor and drama. It goes on to say that Newhart “paints a hilarious picture of the naive bumbler”. He often used a talk on a phone as part of his dialog. One of his uses in his act was “putting us in the position of filling in the blanks in the conversation” allowing us to have a sense of being on the other side of the conversation allowing us to be part of the show. 

I am making meat loaf for dinner. 

Joy

                            resting