Unloading my pics

It’s a problem keeping pics because you can’t seem to be able to part with them. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, so goes the saying.

Well last night I came across my own Cristina’s blog Life According to Cristina where she said something about using the blog to unload some pics. What a brilliant idea. 

And, it seems that almost everywhere one goes these days, you’re bound to hear upsetting news. 

One thing that brings me joy is looking back at pictures of good times. So I thought Cristina’s idea sounded great. Reminiscing brings joy to the heart and what a better way to reminisce than by looking at pictures. 

Not that I’m anywhere close to being a professional photographer, but all my photos are important to me, as I’m sure your pictures are also just as important to you. 

I came across a couple I took this week. Pics of our backyard and I decided maybe start with these. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….

A new year a new set of challenges. Just as you’ve put away the last of the Christmas decor, it starts. The mail picks up again but of a different kind. W-2 forms start pouring in. New files have to be set up to accommodate the influx of mail; and so tax season begins. 

On top of that, all projects that have been put on the back burner resurface, each with a higher priority than the other. 

Because it’s not enough to deal with new year resolutions and debt accumulated over the holidays, we then have to deal with new challenges—that’s not to mention possible new breakdowns in the systems. 

So for me, the new challenge is to fix a roof that had one tile blow away several years ago, and which I thought I could put on hold for a while. Well, it escaped my mind, or at least I chose not to think about it, but lo and behold it came back to bite me in the arse as soon as the new year rolled in. Raindrops trickling down the bedroom ceiling and down the wall slapped me wide-awake in the face and now I have to address the issue PRONTO. 

Life, it’s never easy, and the older one gets the harder life gets. 

Here’s to another year and another set of challenges. I have no one to blame for this last one but myself; but I find that it’s always after I’ve had a jolly good time that I’m hit with the worst.

Hopefully, you gentle readers faired better than I did. 

Hasta la vista, everyone !

When will life feel normal again?

During the Covid pandemic, most people lost at least one or several family members or close friends. Among other family members, we lost a brave young man in the prime age of thirty-two. It was an excruciating situation all around with anxiety running high. Medical personnel were short-staffed, and life-saving medicine and equipment were scarce and in high demand. So many loved ones died because of the lack thereof. 

Because of the dire situation, the lack of personnel meant lack of food and other product deliveries. There were all types of shortages.

Not to sound heartless or focus on inane things, we were not immune to such loses, adding to a breakdown of the heating/air conditioning system, refrigerator and stove. Bad situations worsened by the lack of proper repairmen not making house calls. 

Two years after the Covid pandemic, I still don’t have proper working appliances. From day one, the new Cosmo range has been slowly falling apart. The gas ignitions click, it seems forever, before the flames appear and stay lit. My lungs have gotten used to blowing on the ignition to get the flame started and stay lit. But the one thing that broke the camel’s back was one  of the grates cracked  in three places. 

I did what any normal customer would—I reached out to Cosmo to ask them to replace the broken grate. Instead of apologizing for the poor craftsmanship of their product and offering to replace it, they advised me to place an order for a new grate at a price of $150. Needless to say, I was appalled. No amount of diplomacy on my part changed their attitude—the part broke of wear and tear and is not under warranty, answered the company rep. 

In hindsight, I paid close to $3,000 for a new product, and after only 2 years and 2 months it broke down at my expense. 

Wiktionary defines the phrase “alternate universe” as a hypothetical world situated in a different dimension of space and time than the real world consisting of the universe known and experienced by human beings. I feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. 

We’re still suffering both the real and side effects of the pandemic. 

Does anyone else feel this way?

Kyrchyszstan

What a pleasant surprise I just received. I had been so preoccupied with my nephew’s illness and death, I hadn’t had a chance to open it. How blessed am I? Thank you to my friends Miriam and Matthew for their thoughtfulness. I still don’t know what’s inside the beautiful and interesting gift box but it looked like chocolates inside. I love it. And the disinfectant, I admit it took me a while to figure it out but I thought it ingenious. This gift means more to me than many I’ve received over the years. Plus it opened up a new thirst for all things Kyrchyszstan. Now I can almost understand why my friend Matthew is not rushing to leave that country. He is a UN diplomat working out of this beautiful breathtaking place. From the pictures on the web the place is like from a storybook, almost magical. Thanks again, my friend. You made my year! 

I’ve posted some of the pictures I found on the web. My words could never do justice to such a magnificent place hence the photos. Enjoy. 

Love,

Sylvia 

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Spring is here and that’s reason enough to celebrate. It's almost the end of March and three weeks from Easter. After that, time will fly and before we know it'll be summer.

Get out there and smell the air, gazed upon the buds, listen to the chirping of the birds and try to slow down time.

But how does one slow the days?

As we age, obviously we know our time on earth is dwindling and we want to accomplish those things we've put on the back burner, things we keep telling ourselves we will eventually take care of but which we never do. Our brain tricks us into believing we have time. But do we really? That's trickery, and unless we snap out of that mentality, we will remain stagnant, wishing we could tackle whatever it is we need to do.

I know, I know. It can be overwhelming. Worrying can zap the energy out of us, especially if we're already dealing with other stuff such as illness, emotional hurts, financial difficulty, etc. There's a slew of incidentals we could be dealing with, and that doesn't make it any easier. But, rejoice. As long as we have life in us, there is hope for us. Remember, hope springs eternal and Spring is proof of that. 

Easter is a time for new beginnings, but we don't have to wait for Easter to start on our to-do list. With God all things are possible. Plus Rome wasn't built in one day. The trick is to start small.

Every year I say the same thing. My biggest project is emptying out the house's four levels, basement, first and second floors, and attic. But my biggest obstacle is my health. Do I use my poor health and lack of energy as an excuse, or do I try to tackle a bit at a time? 

Sometimes our lives affect others and we need to be mindful of that as well when we make plans. But with the right attitude and with God on our side all things are possible.

In the meantime, while you’re trying to figure life out, go for a stroll and take in life. Let it seep in slowly and savor it as you breathe in and breathe out. And always let God guide you.

Happy Spring, you all!

102 y/o Dancer Sees Herself on Film for the First Time

New Jersey (1940s)