Sinful food

We can usually tell that someone is enjoying life's abundant blessings by the food they eat.  Rich and savory cuisines that titillate the human palate and rob the pocketbook by their over-the-top price tags.  For ordinary mortals who make do with the ever reliable pizza and burger meals, here's a feast for the eyes.  Thanks to Josie (my BFF) for sharing this interesting piece. 

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1. Saffrona spice grown worldwide, is derived from the saffron crocus flower. A pound of dry saffron (0.45 kg) requires 50000–75000 flowers to make, meaning an entire football field of these flowers. Requiring so much resources and labor prices for the spice go around US$500/pound to US$5000/pound (US$1100–US$11000 per kilogram).

2. The most expensive nut in the world is the Macadamia nut. The macadamia tree produces nuts only after it’s 7-10 years old requiring fertile soil and heavy rainfall. These nuts have a very hard seed but once it’s open it reveals a creamy white kernel containing up to 80% oil and 4% sugar. The cost of a kilogram of these nuts exceeds $30.

3. The most expensive caviar in the world is not the black one but the almas caviar! The word ‘almas’ is Iranian for diamond. Beluga caviar comes from a fish over 100 years old that is virtually unchanged for 120 million years. The luxurious caviar comes from the oldest survivor of the Dinosaur era. Beluga caviar ranges in price from more than $5000 per kilogram in the United States

4. The most expensive mushroom in the world is the white truffle. The mushroom has its origins in the Langhe area of the Piedmont region in northern Italy it can reach 12 cm diameter and 500g. These truffles are sold at a amazing price of €2000 and €4000 per kilogram ($1350 - $2700 per pound). The record price for this truffle was paid last year, in December, when Stanley Ho, the owner of the Macau casino paid $330000 for 1.5kg of truffles.

5. The most expensive potato in the world is a French one “La Bonnotte”. Annually, only 100 tons of this top quality potato are cultivated and collected only on the island Noirmoutier. The potato fields require to be fertilized only with seaweed in a climate shaped by the nearby sea. The cost of one single kilogram can reach €500 since this type of potato is almost extinct.

6. The most expensive beef in the world is the type of beef coming from the Wagyu cows. These Japanese cows are fed the best grass and provided the best treatment. That is why the meat is especially tender and particularly expensive. 200 grams of a fillet cost in Europe more than $100.

7. The most expensive sandwich in the world is the club sandwich from Essen aka von Essen Platinum Club Sandwich. This triple-Decker delicacy contains the finest chicken, ham, hard-boiled quails’ eggs and white truffles and it’s currently sold at Cliveden Berkshire. The chicken (poulet de Bresse) is referred to as the ‘fourth gastronomic wonder of the world' served with a topping of white truffles, sold at over a thousands ponds a month. At 1182 calories, with 1.8oz of fat, it’s not the healthiest dish but certainly one of the most expensive. Costing 100 pounds (almost $200) this is a must-try for the food fanatics.

8. The most expensive pizza in the world, valued at 8300 Eur can be tasted in Italy. With generous toppings of caviar and lobster, the pizza has a diameter of 20cm and Louis XIII Remy Martin cognac poured all over it.

9. The most expensive omelet in the world can be tasted at the Le Parker Meridien restaurant in New York. The $1000 omelet consists of 10 ounces of sevruga caviara whole lobster, and six eggs. To make it in the privacy of your own home, the cost will be only $700.

10. Off to something sweet now with one of the most expensive deserts in the world, served at Serendipity 3a popular restaurant in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The $1000 sundae was introduced in 2004 and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive dessert. It’s made up of 5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, Madagascar vanilla, 23K edible gold leaf and one of the most expensive chocolates in the world, Amedei Porceleana.

Budjie's milestone

A year ago today my unplanned, unpremeditated blogging life was born. 

That day was a most precious gift from the Good Lord because never in my wildest fantasies did I dream of publishing a daily journal for the world to read.  Being such a private being, I didn't think that I had the guts to bare my soul to an anonymous audience.

I remember the precise moment when I turned myself into a Google publisher.  It was the Monday after the long Thanksgiving weekend.  People were most likely returning to their home bases from long-distance trips that reunited them with family and friends during the holiday.  I sat in my corporate world feeling sheer gratefulness for just being okay.  For most of my life, good health, wonderful friendships and good fortune in my career life were blessings I enjoyed.  I thought that I must have planted many a good seed to deserve such good fortune.  Thankfulness was overflowing in my heart and I needed to share it with the Universe!

I have to confess that the idea of daily blogging quite intimidated me.  My full-time job demanded much of my workday energy.  Writing could be just as demanding.  However, I figured that writing wasn’t exactly a job.  I had to remind myself that the creative process of writing, like a friendly e-mail, had given me the best joys of my life.  Many times, writing had turned out to be a therapeutic exercise.

Then I panicked…. What in the world could I write about every single day?  An inner voice told me to listen to my heart… trust my instincts... and the ideas would flow.  Looking back now, 365 days later, I can’t help but find myself in a celebratory mood.  I have accomplished my goal of blogging for at least one year… and that alone is an awesome feat worth celebrating.

There had been days when I didn’t think that I could publish the day’s piece.  The reason was either my body wasn't enjoying good health or a brain freeze came over me.  But like a miracle, something wonderful always happened... a light bulb went on in my head... everyday occurrences or an intriguing encounter with humanity brought perspective and inspiration... interesting materials arrived in my cyber mailbox... and before I knew it, Budjie's Thoughts came alive. 

I love what Oprah Winfrey once said:  "If you do work that you love, and work that fulfills you, the rest will come.  And, I truly believe, that the reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is because my focus has never, ever for one minute been money. Would you do your job and not be paid for it? I would do this job, and take on a second job just to make ends meet if nobody paid me. That’s how you know you are doing the right thing.”  Amazing truth!

I know in my heart that writing is what Jesus wants me to do.  To follow my passion and a joyful heart becomes my priceless reward.  Thank You, Jesus!

Besides Divine intervention, I couldn’t have done it without the support and contribution of some very special people.  They are the long-time and long-distance friends plus family members who fueled my imagination and inspired me to pursue my blogging ambition.  A million thanks to everyone.  You know who you are!

Losing my car in a 2007 accident certainly happened for a reason. For someone who had driven for almost 30 years and depended on driving metal to get to places, it was a shock to the system.  That sad event led me to the public transit world which gave me the inspiration to write about daily life in public, fellow mortals, human behaviors and humanity's negative and positive energies.  I would like to believe that God took away my car so that I could authentically experience the world.  Thank You, Jesus!

Finally, I thank my viewers all over the globe for taking the time to visit my site.  My hope is that in some way I have uplifted your spirit, brought you joy, if not challenged your way of thinking.  More importantly, I hope that you walked away feeling that your time wasn’t wasted after reading my ramblings.

Life is good!  May you find yourself in a happy place.  If you're not there yet, please be patient and eventually you'll find your bliss.

Thank you all… and I wish you great joys in your journey through life!



Life on the train

Good, old reliable Mister T (Kenneth my former boss from long ago... the best in the world!) forwarded this piece.  Thanks, sir!

Pray the Rosary online

My BFF Josie received this e-mail and forwarded to me so that I can share with Rosary devotees.  Thanks, my friend!

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Hello Everyone,

This is one of the best ways to pray the Rosary together, alone or with your respective loved ones.

You'll see some of the different places in Holy Land where we as pilgrims walked, prayed, contemplated, and discerned, and deeply felt Jesus Christ with us especially in Jerusalem.
Please pray the Rosary always and everyday. It blesses us all with heavenly connection with the Holy Family --- feels so awesome ! ! !
                                                                                                                                                

I have not seen anything like this before.......... wow !

I want to share this website with you ... http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

This is just Beautiful !!!!  See the Video online of the Holy Land, while praying.

 
· Pray the Rosary online with people all over the world, or
· Pray the Rosary alone, it's awesome !

The accompanying Images of Holy Land and St., CA have also been added as visuals while praying the Rosary.

Paschal Baylon Church

How to steal a credit card

With the busiest shopping season upon us, it's good to be aware of criminal trends out there, specially when it comes to our debit or credit cards.

Below is a video of how thieves are able to steal from us without taking possession of our actual credit cards.

Credit card account holders... BEWARE!

http://www.wreg.com/videobeta/?watchId=8ba6f8fc-90a2-4711-90ea-1884ec348310

Black Friday

Yesterday's newspaper arrived bulging with advertising fliers for the year's expected biggest sales event:  the Thanksgiving/Black Friday lure for holiday shoppers and bargain hunters.

I confess that I don't belong to the post-Thanksgiving maniacs who camp out at dawn outside the major department stores to take advantage of the bargain sales.  People would leave the comfort of their own beds, put up with the outdoor cold to get in line for... what?

Merchandise with marked down price tags?

For the guilty, it must be a wild adrenaline-pumping exercise, but honestly, the senseless notion is beyond me.  If people can get into the habit of multiplying their hourly job rate by the number of hours they spend waiting for the store opening, they might get an epiphany on the silliness of their actions.

I prefer online shopping because I can spend as much time as I need browsing merchandise and don't have to make impulsive purchasing decisions.  The shipping cost can be the reason why many folks avoid cyber shopping.  Look at it this way:  If you have to drive around, consider the fuel cost, the time stuck in traffic and the stress the whole adventure can bring on your nerves.  Typically, a mere hunt for one item can take hours, specially if you're a woman and you get distracted at the mall.  I have been guilty of this activity in my past shopping life.  When I look back to those days, I regret the many hours wasted going from one store to another and coming home with items I didn't even plan on buying.

Store management look at after-Thanksgiving sales as their chance to drum up profits for their bottom line.  Customers are typically shopping now for the holidays.  Everyone wants to take advantage of good sales and stores like to cater to that need.

I wish everyone fun and good luck on their holiday gift search or shopping escapade for desired items they're looking for.  Enjoy the hunt for stuff at affordable costs.  But if you get tired of the sheer thought of hitting the mass-packed shopping areas, just stay home and shop online.

Do yourself a favor by shopping from home.  Chances are, you just might love it! 


 

Nourishment for the soul

It's Thanksgiving Day 2011, a time to feel blessed and grateful for everything that makes our lives worth living.

Pictures help to put into perspective the reasons we should feel gratitude for the world we inhabit.  My thanks to my friend Ashley for passing the link below. 

Take it from me... these amazing snapshots have an ethereal quality about them.  Another very good reason to believe in GOD!

2011 National Geographic Photos

Happy Thanksgiving to all!



Prayers for Thanksgiving

This is the week of Thanksgiving, an annual occasion dedicated to giving thanks and feeling blessed for God's graces in our lives. 

Personally, I celebrate Thanksgiving each day of my life, saying thanks to the Good Lord for allowing me to wake up with all my body parts in good condition.

If anyone needs help with the words of gratitude, below are some prayers for your convenience...

A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2245

O Lord and Vivifier, Your grace has achieved for us all that You had spoken and promised. Grant us access to the place of Your peace. For You are our Vivifier, You are our Consoler, You are our life Remedy, You are our Standard of Victory.
Blessed are we, O Lord, because we have known You!
Blessed are we, because we have believed in You!
Blessed are we, because we bear Your wounds and the sign of Your Blood on our contenances!
Blessed are we, because You are our great hope!
Blessed are we, because You are our God forever!

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2828

O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite; we render thanks to Your most gracious majesty for the gifts You have bestowed upon us, evermore beseeching Your clemency, that as You grant the petitions of them that ask You, You will never forsake them, but will prepare for the reward to come. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

THANKSGIVING PRAYER

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2831

Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.
Thank you for all the graces and blessings You have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage, our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.
Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year.
This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother.
Amen.

THANKS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2823

Blessed are You, loving Father, For all your gifts to us. Blessed are You for giving us family and friends To be with us in times of joy and sorrow, To help us in days of need, And to rejoice with us in moments of celebration.

Father, We praise You for Your Son Jesus, Who knew the happiness of family and friends, And in the love of Your Holy Spirit. Blessed are you for ever and ever.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THANKS FOR PEOPLE

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2824

God of Love, I thank You for the people in my life who are easy to love. I thank You for my family and friends who understand my actions, who support me in my decisions, and whose presence can lift the burden of a thorny day.

Help me with those who are difficult to love. When they come at me with criticism and wild expectations, when they ignore me or try to bend me to their will, let me recognize their flaws and their dangers. But then let me remember your attitude toward them, and lead me to see them in the light of Your love.
Amen.

THANKS TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=2825

O Angel of God, my blessed protector, to whose care I have been committed by my Creator from the moment of my birth, unite with me in thanking the Almighty for having given me a friend, and instructor, an advocate, and a guardian in thee.

Accept, O most charitable guide, my fervent thanksgiving for all thou hast done for me; particularly for the charity with which thou didst undertake to accompany me through life; for the joy with which thou wert filled when I was purified in the waters of Baptism; and for thy anxious solicitude in watching over the treasure of my innocence.

Thou knowest the numberless graces and favors which my Creator has bestowed on me through thee, and the many dangers, both spiritual and temporal from which thou hast preserved me.
Thou knowest how often thou didst deplore my sins, animate me to repentance, and intercede with God for my pardon.

Ah! why have I so little merited a continuance of thy zealous efforts for my salvation?
Why have I so often stained my soul by sin, and thereby rendered myself unworthy of the presence and protection of an angel, of so pure a spirit as thou art, who never sinned?

But as my ingratitude and thoughtlessness have not lessened thy charitable interest for my salvation, so neither shall they diminish my confidence in thy goodness, nor prevent me from abandoning myself to thy care, since God Himself has entrusted thee with the charge of my soul.

Penetrated with sorrow for the little progress I have made in virtue, though blessed with such a Master, and sincerely determined to correspond in future with thy exertions for my salvation, I most earnestly entreat thee, O protecting spirit, to continue thy zealous efforts for my eternal interest; to fortify my weakness, to shield me from innumerable dangers of the world and to obtain by thy powerful prayers that my life may rather be shortened, than that I should live to commit a mortal sin.

Remember, O most happy spirit, that it was one act of profound humility, and one transport of ardent love for thy Creator, that caused God to establish thee forever in glory; obtain that those virtues may be implanted in my soul, and that I may seriously endeavor to acquire docility, obedience, gentleness and purity of heart.

Conduct me safely through this world of sin and misery; watch over me at the awful hour of my death; perform for my soul the last charitable office of thy mission, by strengthening, encouraging, and supporting me in the agonies of dissolution, and then, as the angel Raphael conducted Tobias safely to his father, do thou, my good angel and blessed guide, return with me to Him who sent thee, that we may mutually bless Him, and publish His wonderful works for a happy eternity.
Amen.

Cravings

One evening last week I had a sudden and unstoppable craving for Lo Mein.  It’s a Chinese dish of noodles, veggies, shrimp, chicken and pork.

The next day’s weather forecast included heavy snowfall and the mere idea of having Lo Mein for dinner was certainly, in my mind, the best pre-snow day thing to do.  I walked a block to China Chef where at least ten customers had the same idea of having a Chinese meal for the evening. 

The fastfood staff were obviously trained to be quick, no-nonsense and efficient because in ten minutes, my order was in my hand.  I was out of there as more customers flocked in to fulfill their Chinese meal craving.

A dvd arrived in the mail that day and in addition to enjoying the Lo Mein, I was entertained by “The Color of Freedom,” a Joseph Fiennes movie.  It almost felt like enjoying a dinner theatre right in my own comfort zone!  You see, during my car-driving days I liked to treat myself to the dinner-while-watching-a-movie ambience.  There’s such a place blocks from home and every weekend I would go there to watch a film while savoring food from their menu.  Looking back, I realized that the entrees cost more than a regular eatery’s price, but in the comforting darkness of the theatre, the price didn’t matter.  After all, the movie ticket came cheap, half the price of a regular show.  I figured that the theatre management had to make some profit and made up the difference by over-pricing their food offerings.

The truth is, as luxurious as it seemed back then, I don’t really miss those dinner theatre days.  I love eating food in my own home.  Doing it while watching a movie or not.  The only thing I miss is being catered to by a waiter and not having to spend time cooking in my kitchen.  At home, like most Americans, I am my own slave!

Another advantage of home movies is that I can always replay a film scene if I need to.  Or repeat watching it for as many times as I want.  In the dinner theatre I have to give the movie my undivided attention.  Even a quick trip to the bathroom is never a welcome idea.

Come to think of it, anyone doesn’t need to spend a fortune to be entertained.  In these recessionary times, penny pinching can use a lot of creativity.  I know folks who love to be entertained by films on dvd and don’t even spend money.  The dvd’s are available at their public libraries… without charge. 

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if our evident hard times are sent our way, not only to inspire downsizing ways, but to set our creativity in motion.  You know…

     sewing our own clothes instead of buying off the rack…
     cooking our own meals instead of eating out…
     brown-bagging our work lunches instead of spending on take-outs…
     taking public transportation instead of driving to places.

If we can only stop and think, there are many money-saving ways we can implement in our daily living.  The tough economy shouldn’t be regarded as a damper on our old frivolous spending ways.  Instead it should be regarded as a challenge to how we are able to make the best of the worst.

Remember the saying... “If you're stuck with lemons, make lemonade"?  It's never been truer than the Year of Now.

My blue Nuigi

Thanksgiving Eve in 2007 was the day I bid an unexpected farewell to Nuigi.

Nuigi was my 15-year old Toyota that crashed in T-bone fashion with another Toyota car on a busy intersection three minutes from my workplace.  After the crash everything was a blur, but the Good Lord made it a point that I got home in one piece.

That morning started like any typical fall morning.  Snowflakes came overnight and I had to scrape the ice off my windshield.  Because the roads were covered with snow, I didn’t rush to get to the office.  When I got to that fatal intersection, I didn’t see the red light and Nuigi had barely crossed over when a white old Toyota hit my passenger side.  I was going straight to the next block, but the crash forced Nuigi to swerve rapidly and barely missed hitting the electric lamp at the corner.

Driving behind the white Toyota was a cop and he witnessed the accident.  According to him, I ran a red light.  For a driver who always stopped at yellow, that was totally out of character.  I instinctively knew that I dozed on the wheel before the moment of impact.  I wasn’t the type to risk my life, specially of others, on the whim of beating a red light.

The cop thought that I might have been seriously hurt.  He said he saw my upper body swing forcefully from the impact of the crash.  The paramedics came and asked if I needed to be treated or brought to the hospital.  At that moment, I was too stunned to feel anything.  I just knew that I was fine enough to get out of the car, walk to the driver of the white Toyota who was standing and smoking at the side of the road.  He said he was okay and that one-word confirmation made me feel alright too.

After the cop made his statement and issued me the ticket, I took care of getting Nuigi towed to the body shop.  During the trip I didn’t think that it was the last time I would be with Nuigi.  I felt hopeful that the necessary body work would be done and in perhaps a few weeks, we would be reunited.  At the shop the auto mechanic looked at Nuigi and confirmed my worst fear:  Nuigi was a total loss.  When I was told that the repair would cost a great deal more than what the insurance company would reimburse me, it was a no-brainer.  It was like having to pull life support from a terminally ill patient.  Nuigi and I had to part ways.  If I wasn’t in the stunned state that I was in then, I would have cried my heart out and felt extremely sad.  It all happened so fast that emotions seemed to desert me.

When I got home with all the items that were stored in Nuigi's trunk, I realized that I had a huge purple bruise on my right thigh, apparently caused by hitting the wheel during the crash.  It hurt for a while, but the bruise went away after a couple of weeks. 

That holiday weekend was the saddest Thanksgiving of my life.  I not only lost a dear, precious friend, I knew that it was the dawn of my public transit lifestyle.  At that time I couldn’t decide whether I should get a Nuigi replacement or not.  I still felt traumatized by the crash.

Now four years later, I believe that Nuigi left me for a reason.  It was God’s Will, plain and simple.  After I conceded to that truth, being car-less left me feeling appreciation for what I have… a healthy life that could have been lost if fate decreed that it was my time to go.  Right now, I’m very much alive and thankful for the good fortune of breathing life. 

I still miss my blue Toyota named Nuigi, and once in a while, give myself permission to reminisce our driving days together.  I have to admit that being driven, and no longer the driver, has given me ample time for the pursuit of joyful activities during my work commute.  For that reason alone, I see the positive from that 2007 Thanksgiving Eve accident.

Valentine in November

It never hurts to spread the LOVE. 

Compliments of, and thanks to, my friend Mary, here's a month's early Valentine present which I'm happily passing along...

The perpetual sweepstakes

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has started to annoy me.

A few months ago, I entered their "$5,000 a week for life" sweepstakes, hoping to win some incredible money.  Since then, every two weeks it seems I get something in the mail containing entries that needed to be mailed back if I wanted to be their big winner.  Each time I fell into their scheme.  Who wouldn't want to enjoy a $5,000 a week for life allowance without working hard for it?  There's a rub, however.  Before I could find the entry form from the bulky mailing, I had to go over a multitude of advertising fliers of merchandise for sale.  I have already spent a small fortune purchasing some of their offerings, but I have yet to receive a dime back in the mail.

Sometime ago I bought a Hawaiian Lucky Ti plant that was supposed to bear roots in three weeks.  Two months later, it’s still sitting in water with no promising roots in sight.  Chances are, that's probably a foreshadowing of my sweepstakes fate.

Not only does my mailbox get bombarded by their advertising-packed mail, my cyber mailbox takes the hit.  And there’s always the inevitable warning that I need to respond... or I’ll be out of the winners’ circle.  One time I made the mistake of opening their electronic mail.  What followed next made me suspect that the virus my computer suffered from afterwards came from their long-winded message.

Honestly, I am fed up with the postal and cyber clutter.  After November 30^th, the date when the big sweepstakes winner wil be announced, I won’t get myself attached to PCH again.

The PCH sweepstakes may not be a scam, but their nonstop process of luring customers is getting under my nerves.  Hopefully, I’m not an isolated case.  I’m sure that many folks out there have the same grievance to air.

Because we thrive on the idea of getting rich, humans are a sweepstakes-crazy bunch.  We get excited at the prospect of winning the mega bucks.  Like everyone on this planet, I plead guilty!  But now I promise, over a stack of PCH mailings, that when the November sweepstakes is all over, I’ll never open a PCH mailing again.  Disengaging myself from their over-the-top advertising and never-ending lure to get rich quick will save myself some precious time and peace of mind.

What gives you hope?

These are faith-testing times.  No doubt about it.  Every day that we venture out of our comfort zones, opportunities abound that question, not only our faith, but our belief in humankind.

When God doesn’t seem to be smiling anymore, we tend to get scared of the consequences.  Is the world coming to an end?  Will there still be a tomorrow to look forward to?

I’ve heard folks say “The world is coming to an end!” like it were a cliché.

In my part of the world, just like clockwork dawn comes after midnight, the sun still rises, and at the end of the day, sunset glows in the horizon.  This fact alone continues to instill hope in my heart.

I wake up each day wondering what the next 24 hours would bring.  In the same breath, I know that in His loving way, the Good Lord will shower the blessings we deserve.  Some places may enjoy greater abundance and others may be wanting in more.  Nevertheless, our Almighty Someone will hand out what He deems appropriate for the world.

Perhaps it’s the terrible economic climate that has been responsible for the fading of optimism among mankind.  Financial worries have a way of diminishing hopeful insights.  However, our financial decline, depressingly terrible as it is, has been the making of human greed and we are now simply paying for the terrible consequences.  

There is a saying, “Break it, fix it.”  It sounds almost impossible that we could all collectively solve the world’s problems.  But I suspect that if all raise positive thoughts to the Universe, nothing is undoable. The world is in a downward spiral because so much negativism inhabits our midst.  Violence has become the norm in day-to-day events.  It is a sign of a God missing from many people’s lives.  Destruction is certainly not what the Good Lord would wish for our planet.

Wherever we are in our lives and the globe, let’s maintain a hopeful stance that order will be established so that peace will reign in our environment.  It’s a simple act to think bright thoughts and good wishes, but if done religiously, I believe that we will make a difference.

Let's all do our part in the planet we inhabit.  Always think bright!

photo credit:  Dennis Chunga

designzzz.com

Grinning and bearing nonsense

The other day I was on the train and bore a painful commute.

Three teenage boys sat across the aisle from me and for at least 15 minutes, I had to put up with their terrible nonsense.  One of the guys struck a conversation with the girl sitting across from me, a long-haired teenage brunette who immediately got busy refreshing her make-up as soon as she sat down. 

“What’s your name,” he asked.

The girl didn’t play hard-to-get and quickly responded, “Ally.”

“That’s a nice name.  Is that spelled with an ‘ie’?”  He wanted to know.

“Ally with a ‘y’.”  She said.  Then complete, uncomfortable silence.

The girl was obviously waiting for more, perhaps the inevitable pick-up line on a Saturday afternoon, but the boy got busy with his cell phone.  After he finished his cellular chat, he and his two buddies engaged in boisterous chatters about basically nothing.   

I think the young ones aren’t comfortable with pregnant pauses.  Noise and loud talk are their absolute ambience that spells comfort zone.  They just have to make incessant chatters or disturbing thumping actions with their feet to feel okay.

The girl looked disappointed and got busy toying with her wrist ornament.  I was engrossed in my puzzle, but couldn’t help but notice the mad, distractive hand motions she made across the seat.  

Across the aisle, the boys couldn’t be contained with their restless body movements and petty conversations only they could fathom.  They spoke in English, but seemed to converse in an alien language all their own.  What was more disturbing was that they talked at the top of their lungs even though they were sitting face-to-face of each other.

Finally, the mall train stop arrived and off they went.  The girl too stood up to get off.  At the back of my mind, I thanked God for some peace and quiet for the rest of the ride.  I mentally wished the kids a good time at the mall, but was certainly glad that they were out of my hearing distance.

Maybe I'm just weird, but I would prefer a quiet commute any time of the day.