Vancouver Sun

By royal decree, my sister, proclaimed that another month will be added called “Beachember.” She is a sun lover.

When we were growing up back in the Philippines, Mother used to send us out from 7 to 10 am to sun bathe. During this time, the heat of the sun is soft and we get our vitamin D.

As we grow older and wiser, instead of sunbathing, we prefer forest bathing. I introduced my sisters what I learned from a psychiatrist who provided group walks in MeetUp. We even signed up a UBC study group to help grad students for their thesis. The first session that we were supposed to attend, there was a warning of bear on the loose. Needless to say, that’s the end of our study group in this area.

As for me, I did gorilla gardening, with invitation. My neighbour has been watching me putter around at The Manor and asked me for help in having a floral garden instead of vegetable patch. It was fun transforming her front yard and moving some of my plants at her yard. I even made a small area of salad garden just for her.

Sun season is so short. When it’s out, here we come!

Plant your own garden, Decorate your own soul

Layla Pie and Miss Pretty planting the hydrangea

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises. 

Weather forecast for the first day of summer. Rain.

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain.
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

Lavender Harvest. A good day. Rain the following day.

After a while, you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

Flower girl.

And you learn that you really can endure…
That you really are strong,
And you really do have worth
And you learn and learn and learn.
With every goodbye, you learn.

 

Note:
I originally posted this title on June 13, 2013, here. According to Dear Abby, it was a poem AFTER A WHILE by Veronica Shoffstall. Much to my surprise, this is my top post and most visited. As a curious person, I wonder who Veronica Shoffstall is?

In my searches, I cannot find a reliable source to indicate that Veronica is the real author. In the Urban 75 forum, this question Who is Veronica Shoffstall came up. Apparently, it was a Spanish poem written by Jorge Luis Borges. With the help of google translating it to English, much to my surprise (again} so it was his poetry.

I really don’t know whether it was plagiarism. That is not for me to judge. I just want to throw some more light into the validity of who I am quoting.

At any rate, it’s still beautiful poetry.

 

Changing Seasons

I saw a cluster of maple leaves. Colour turned from green to crimson red. A sign of changing seasons. I want summer to end. Now.  

Climate Change According to a Cat

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Think like a cat. “A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves.” Marcel Proust

Muse: Changing Seasons

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“My heart mused and my spirit inquired” She was holding a flower when I first saw her. I wonder how she got it? Imagination takes over. Someone admires her and must have given her a flower. What a delightful sight … Continue reading →

Great Expectations

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 It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it it summer in the light, and winter in the shade. – Great Expectations

The Tree Dripping Blood

the tree dripping blood
temperature dipping low
summer is dying

Support Piano on the Street

Hi, My name is Julie. I entered this Piano on the street contest on September 21, by playing Chopin Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66 on the Lonsdale Quay Market Piano, if you like it please vote for me! Thank you.

Julie is just amazing. Let’s raise the roof and vote for Julie.  This is one of many players at Support Piano on the street. Please share and vote here.

Disclaimer: I am not related to her in any shape or form. I am not getting paid for this. I just want to show that there are many talented people out there.

Play it again, Sam! Street Piano

Remember the piano on the street in Vancouver I posted here? Apparently, it is a hit as well in Ontario.  How did I find this out? Mainly because of other bloggers that are kind enough to share what they found due to earlier postings. Note: Please vote for Kathryn here.

I came across Michael McNamara performing on my #streetpiano, Foxgang Amadeus.
Apologies for the shaky video, I didn’t have time to use a tripod or set up my camera. I designed/painted it for the streets of #Cobourg, #Ontario for the “Keys to our Town” art initiative. The piano is located at the northwest corner of Victoria Park. Sorab Bulsara carved the ears and stool for me from an old tree stump, using only a chainsaw by Katriona Dean.

And these what people are saying:

     Actually this brought tears to my eyes too! Couldn’t believe the people walking by…if only I was lucky enough to walk by in person and have the chance to stop and listen for a bit. And the smile at the end was so beautiful.

     Everything about this video is simply perfect! Yes, the quality of the sound/video too! A brilliant artist had the excellent idea of leaving a beautifully designed piano in the middle of the sidewalk waiting for some random talented person to give him/her the chance to give a little show to the people walking around. It’s amazing. Imagine it, maybe you’re stressed or nervous or simply having a bad day and you bump into this. The video makes me feel warm inside, knowing there is people with a creative mind and a nice heart that want to share something with the rest.

     I live in Texas.  Micheal is Fabulous!  I’m sharing this, all the way down here.  Love the piano and the artistry of the whole thing. I’m in awe of this piece of art. Truly moving. WOW!

And from the player: Michael McNamara:
     Absolutely incredible! Thanks everyone and, despite all the tears I’ve caused to be shed I’m happy so many people are liking my music. I hope to have more to come soon. Over a million hits!

Thank you, Imelda of My Word Wall for sharing this.

Summer ain’t finish yet until the fat lady sings

Labour day may have arrived, some children are back to school and it may have rained just for one day on the first day of school, it is still summer. As soon as the rain is over, we need an umbrella to protect ourselves from the sun. We just don’t want to ruin our milky skin tone complexion. Using an umbrella is one the best way to prevent skin cancer.

September shower

Sunny Day

Oh, the adventures of summer is never-ending. Having tea party and enjoying the cool drink under the canopy of red grapes is a delightful way to pass the warm humid days. Women talking about the latest fashion, men discussing how to solve the world’s program  and the children running around the gazebo chasing each other.

Tea Party

Grape Hanging Garden

As for the children, they need cooling, too. The water park is their favorite spot to get wet, wild and weary.  They could never run out of ideas and imagination playing with their much-loved toys the dinosaurs.

Water Park

Dinosaurs

Summer will continue until September 21. With the blue skies and no clouds on sight, who needs the weatherman? The garden will keep on blooming, the apple tree is thick with little green apple fruit, the figs and plums are in abundance, laundry will still hang outside to dry. I will carry on with my walks down the lake to enjoy the people canoeing, dragonflies hovering around, turtles sunbathing, bees feasting on the fuchsia flowers and enjoy the farmers market.

Forest Lawn

Trout Lake

Deer Lake

When I see the fat lady sings at farmers market, then I can say, Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner.

Farmers Market Festival

Pianos on the street and someone will play

It is a project by Support Piano whose main purpose is to change the world through the power of music in Metro Vancouver, BC. Canada. Music Matters!

For the months of July and August, pianos were placed in several locations for passersby to engage in playing the piano and to entertain the public.  It was a welcoming event for anyone to play, record their performance, and join the talent contest by submitting it to Support Piano.

This is the best piece I thoroughly enjoyed listening to.

*** Note from the pianist*** Please go to the link and vote for her.  Thank you!

Kathryn Roller  September 6, 2014 at 9:11 pm Edit

I am honored you decided to share my video. Any bloggers who have a Facebook, please feel free to vote here at this link! http://bit.ly/1s93lg8

Lazy days of summer, loving it

 (click to listen to the song of Nat King Cole) Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

I’ll catch the sun

Love, baby, love

Bed of rocks

Lovin it

Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Just resting

Don’t want to walk anymore

Lazy hazy day of summer

Loving it.

Taste of summer

 

It’s time to blow Truth No. 1, Truth No. 2, and Truth No. 3.

Source: click on the image

A Summer Day

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Grass, what are you telling me?

It was high noon, the sun was its peak, and the heat was scorching in an open arena in the middle of nowhere in Denver, Colorado.  There is a light breeze, not a single bird flying yet I could hear the chirping in the sound of silence.

Where is everybody?

Moving towards the hill, I could see a mirage of two people.  When I came closer to the top, there is a lake and the figure I saw where two men fishing silently.  I walked towards them, nodded my head to acknowledge their presence and walked away quietly to keep the sacredness and not to scare the fishes away.

Returning to the threshold that I walked through, I sat on the ground, leaned against the fence to shelter me from the heat.  The tall grass covers me and we settled down in the quiet of our being.

Gently I touch the blades of grass, caressing it and in return, the grass tickles me.  We are both pleased with each other’s company.  Giving and receiving the sheer pleasure of doing nothing.

What a wonderful afternoon, feeling what is that I cannot name and then suddenly, I started crying, uncontrollably.  It was so strange to feel the joy and grief at the same time.

Grass, what are you telling me?

When the emotional state I was in subsided, I said goodbye to the grass and thank it for having me.  Then I returned to my friend’s place that I was visiting.  Tomorrow, I am going home to Canada.

The following day before departing I quickly run to the fence, cross the threshold to say hello and goodbye to the grass. Shocked, I was so devastated what I saw.  The grass was cut down.  Gone.

Grass, is this what you were telling me yesterday?

Painting: Van Gogh

Summer is over

This is blocking the view.

Good thing summer is over.

Source: Flickr/CC-BY-2.0/Kyle May

Think of it this way, he has from October to May to hit the gym and start working out.  If he remains the same, Paul Sullivan has something to say about it.

You’ll have to fake it.

Turning that spare tire into a six-pack will take the whole summer and you’ll be ready for your beach close-up just in time to head back to school, fool.

There are a number of things you can do, like suck your stomach in as you stroll, all nonchalant, along the shore. If anyone asks why your face is so red, just tell them you burn easily from the neck up. Like all those other red-faced shore stalkers going by.

Then there’s the briefest-possible-moment-of-exposure tactic. Just drag your beach blanket and mummy kit as close to the water as you can without being swamped, then disrobe quickly, flashing your bi- or mono-kini, and then immerse yourself up to your neck as quickly as possible.

To get out of the water successfully, repeat in reverse. Do not, like Daniel Craig, emerge from the surf in glorious 3D slow motion. You’ll scare the little kids on the beach.

Make sure to do whatever you can to avoid the inverse beach fitness rule. That is: The less fit you are, the more flesh you expose. Don’t be that guy with the beach ball for a belly and the speedo. If that bikini didn’t look quite right in that artfully lit Swimco mirror, how do you think it’s going to look out here, in the stark light of day?

I don’t want to cramp your style, but you don’t have any, especially when your body is a gallery of all your deepest thoughts written in flesh. Tattoos, even Angelina Jolie’s — especially Angelina Jolie’s — don’t make it better. You look like human graffiti.

There are some people, of course, who look fantastic on the beach, all fresh and tousled and tanned. They’re called children. They don’t count.

Paul Sullivan is a writer for a local newspaper, Metro News.

Beat the heat

Our apartment is the only complex that has a swimming pool within a mile radius.  We are the envy of the neighbours when summer comes.    

Having a pool is a big job for the managers. I watch them labour away to have it ready for the health inspector’s approval before opening the pool. 

Of course there are pool rules.

•        Private Property
•        For tenants us only
•        Swim at your own risk
•        No lifeguard on duty
•        Children must be supervised by an adult

 Since I don’t know how to swim, I stay away from the pool. 

It’s fun to watch the playfulness of the children as they splash on the water, big boys jumping off in the deep end and the parents tuck at the corner supervising them with eagle’s eyes.  

 

As for the adults, they gently float away trying to ease the stress after work.  Some will just lie down doing the shake and bake type thing.  Some will just dip their feet in the water. 

I’ve seen crazy activities in the pool.  

Transient people will sneak in and stay overnight.  Of course, the police chased them away.  Young man will invite curvy women.  A big no-no.  The women are not tenants.  They, too, must leave.  

One day, it was really scorching hot, a tenant jump into the water clothing and all.  I suppose people do strange thing when it’s unseasonably hot. 

The strangest thing happened in the middle of the night.  I couldn’t sleep and I step out in the balcony to cool off.  In the dark, I could see that there is someone or something swimming.  

This thing was doing the back stroke, front stroke, butterfly stroke.  As I was gradually getting used to seeing in the dark, I realized this wonderful swimmer was no other than a racoon. 

I laughed and at the same time I heard laughter in other balconies, too.  I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep that night and out in the balcony. There were three of us watching this Olympic swimmer.

Summer School

At 10 a.m. the line-up is already long.  By noon, it would have criss-cross all the way to the back entrance of Starbucks and Chapters. 

I wanted to take a course for a day.  The course name is Scientist for A Day. 

Since I enjoy doing experiment, mostly to myself not on other people, it’s about time that I do it the right way. 

The course will guide the students to explore the wonders of science through the careers of various scientists.  There will be demonstrations of hands on experiments and the bonus part is I can wear a lab coat.  Not just an ordinary coat but a white lab coat.  I have always wanted to wear one, as a scientist even just for a day. 

It would be fun to explore and learn science.  Since I am a curious person by nature, this course for sure will keep me alive, rather than die due to curiosity, just like a cat.  But of course, pardon the pun, curiosity brought him back. 

As I was ready to join the line-up, I read the fine prints: “For Grades 1 to 3”.   This is just not fair at all. 

I suppose I have to carry on and just have to continue my experiment.  I better check the fridge. 

 

 

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