Brooklyn Bridge
2:06pm

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This will save Rocky’s life, and he is 12 years old now. This is Isaac’s cat from a Sunday School teacher, and he has had him all through high school,and college. So this is the first one, and Rocky is getting a little older.

I wasn’t there to make the decision, but this seemed to be the better thing to do, rather than having to pay a huge amount for frequent difficulties with the stones. Poor cat. He was howling before he left the house with Isaac, and Ed. Isaac tends to, and feeds the cats faithfully. Most are strays that showed up at the house. This family has pity on them, and there we go. We have an outside,cat that just showed up one day. She is beautiful!!

I guess we are destined to keep cats, and make them feel comfortable in life. They are entertaining, and really loyal to us. So when Ed, and Isaac, came home from the Vet, and from eating lunch, they were not hungry.

I found some hamburger, and began making Old Fashioned Meatloaf Hamburgers. Here is the recipe.

1 package of hamburger for three people.
two or three slices of onion cut up fine.
broken bread….two or three slices
1 egg
salt, pepper
(For meatloaf, I would add 1/4 cup of milk)
I added 5-6 crackers, because I don’t eat bread. 

Form all the ingredients listed into a ball, one at a time, after mixing. Then flatten it with your hands. I wore plastic gloves to keep the meat where it needed to be……..out of my nails and off my hands.

 I made 5 burgers, and because of the filling with the meat, I had plenty of meat to make them good size. Add some olive oil to the frying pan. I used an iron skillet. My little one is just right for me. The heat stays in the iron skillet, and soon the burgers were completely done. They were juicy, thick, and tasty. I didn’t eat them with bread. I am off bread. I add,ed ketchup, and just ate two hamburgers……..no chips, or bread, mustard, or pickles, or tomatoes.
might think, “This was a plain meal,then.”

I say, “Yes, it was plain, but the taste of fresh, hot off the skillet hamburgers was wonderful! They were not too juicy, but they were tasty, and scrumptious. They were a comfort, and Ed nor Isaac were not willing to eat them with me. They were too full from lunch out.

Isaac needed some room for grieving with Rocky. He was surprised that Ed would let the cat be operated on. It is just a cat, but we can make payments. He is too dear to put to sleep!!Isaac hasn’t said much to me since he came home. I have been writing, or eating. He did a little something in the yard, and that is all. I hope Rocky will be alright.

LATVIA:

PeR – ‘Here We Go’

I said: “(T)he song has a fairly big chorus but is far too irritating to really be looked upon favourably by either tele-voters or jury members.”

SAN MARINO:

Valentina Monetta – ‘Crisalide (Vola)’

I said: “‘Crisalide’…starts off like a highly-strung ballad and emerges from its cocoon…into a upbeat disco tune…And it’s actually pretty good…I don’t know whether it’s just the extreme contrast from last year…but I could see this entry marking San Marino’s first appearance in the final itself.  (P)erhaps out of guilt for referring to Valentina as a ‘not so lovely horse’, I’m actually rooting for this to pull off a shock in its semi-final.”

FORMER YUGOSLAVIAN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA:

Esma & Lozano – ‘Pred Da Se Razdeni’

I said: “Certainly one of the most interesting duets we’ve seen at Eurovision in a long time – and a tune that’s growing on me every time I (hear) it…(A) top ten finish wouldn’t be too big a surprise for this song…”

AZERBAIJAN:

Farid Mammadov – ‘Hold Me’

I said: “The song itself sounds like an insipid, pathetic Jason Donovan ballad…and no, that is NOT a good thing…Because it’s Azerbaijan and because he’s reasonably good-looking and inoffensive, I’m sure this’ll do okay.”

FINLAND:

Krista Siegfrids – ‘Marry Me’

I said: “ Krista Siegfrids has all the dubious vocal talent of half an Avril Lavigne and the feminist credentials of… a whole of an Avril Lavigne, to boot.”

MALTA:

Gianluca – ‘Tomorrow’

I said: “I have a sneaky suspicion that this will buck a trend and be the best-performing of these light, catchy songs that are in the contest this year…There are much, much better songs above this, but I’d go as far as putting it in a possible top 10.”

BULGARIA:

Elitsa & Stoyan – ‘Soma Shampioni (Only Champions)’

I said: “I don’t really know which is more amusing – the complete lack of production put into that video…or that Bulgaria has followed up Sofi Marinova‘s relatively mainstream pop-dance tune ‘Love Unlimited’ with something straight out of the dungeons of ’80s Situationist pop.  This is going nowhere, I tell you.”

ICELAND:

Eythor Ingi – ‘Ég Á Líf’

I said: “(O)ne of the most soporific listening experiences of this year’s contest…After a relatively successful showing last year (well, they got out of the semi-final at least) Iceland are another country who seem determined to go backwards.  I can’t see this catching anyone’s eye, and will be highly surprised if it gets into the final.”

GREECE:

Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis – ‘Alcohol is Free’

I said: “(T)he song still isn’t all that much cop, but it’s not as truly abysmal as I was thinking…(but) I very much doubt this will make the final.”

ISRAEL:

Moran Mazor – ‘Rak Bishvilo’

I said: “One would have to assume that this is Israel’s attempt to stop the rot after two successive failures in 2012 and 2011…The winners of the competition, particularly since telephone voting was introduced, have to be slightly over-the-top.  ’Rak Bishvilo’, I suspect, will be slightly above-the-bottom if it makes the final, and that’s a big if.”

ARMENIA:

Dorians - ‘Lonely Planet’

I said: “(T)here’s always a chance for these kind of universalist anthems.  But…sung very far from flawlessly in English, a bland sound and a bland look – this is going home early, methinks.”

HUNGARY:

ByeAlex – ‘Kedvesem (Zoohacker Remix)’

I said: “I recognise the place for sad songs but we’re trying to communicate to an entire continent here people!  Subtlety…won’t cut it…This might do alright with the juries – they seem to like the slightly more heart-on-sleeves song but it won’t resonate with audiences.  Hungary were something of a surprise finalist last year, but they surely won’t repeat that trick in 2013.”

NORWAY:

Margaret Berger – ‘I Feed You My Love’

I said: “Pop in 2013 has a new Queen and it is Margaret Berger…‘I Feed You My Love’ comes off like the hybrid spawn of The Knife and Björk,  as it fizzes with Scandi-electro power.  (Odds of) 8/1 (make) Norway 2nd favourite…The song might just be too unusual for the Eurovision audience…but then wasn’t ‘Euphoria’?  For every reason I can find that this won’t win, I find one to make me think it will.  In any case,…whether it wins or loses, I’ll be playing ‘I Feed You My Love’ at Suburbia Towers for many years to  come.”

ALBANIA:

Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - ‘Identitet’

I said: “I really can’t see it progressing past the semi-final – or reaching the upper half of the scoreboard if it does.”

GEORGIA:

Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani – ‘Waterfall’

I said: “(T)his is a passable attempt at a pop song – if these guys can really sing and if the song comes across well on the night…This’ll probably make the final and be in the bottom ten, but at least it’ll be heartfelt.”

SWITZERLAND:

Takasa – ‘You And Me’

I said: “The song is bland (and) it’s not especially well-sung…Every part of this entry – the backing-track, the lyrics, the production and the video – feels cheap and I find it very hard to believe that it’ll stand up live, on stage, especially against some of the bigger tunes that are gracing the competition this year.”

ROMANIA:

Cezar – ‘It’s My Life’

I said: “‘It’s My Life’…is an interesting experiment, but nothing more than that. ..I suspect he might attract a certain number of votes – particularly from the juries – and that this will get out of its semi-final by the skin of its teeth.  After that?  ’It’s My Life’ isn’t hard-hitting enough, not affecting enough and, actually, not quite ridiculous enough to win on any terms and I would put it down as a dark horse for the top 10, if I were feeling generous.”

“

I’d like to suggest you read the nifty novel about me!
It’s a mystery that looks like it’s going to be a whodunit but turns out to be a who is it.
Of course it’s THE SECRET VIKING, by author (my pal), Martin Myers.

The ebook is free, his gift to you. This whole weekend. Starting tomorrow!

Stay tuned, and all shall be revealed.

Thorsten the Rude (your pal!)

P.S.:
Whodunit? you may ask.
———————–Well… duh!

And who is it? 

———————–Hahaha! You may well wonder.

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No post for the past 6 days only means that it was a rough one. I couldn’t see through the dark. I felt as though I was being kicked repeatedly while I was down. I simply could not see the good. But somewhere deep inside of me lives an eternal optimist and ‘i will try again tomorrow’ was its mantra….

When today becomes yesterday

When tomorrow becomes today

When today will just be a memory

When tomorrow is the reality.

A time will come

When the people who are around you now 

Would be far away, living their own lives

When the laughter you share with them

Would be just a happy memory in your head

When all the fights you’re having today

Would seem trivial and silly

When all the times you thought of spending together

Would be spent apart.

A time will come

When your fast stride

Will be replaced with a slow walk

When your wide smile

Would be hidden beneath your sorrow

When the spark in your eyes

Would be concealed in tears

When the youth you have today

Would be just a wistful dream.

A time will come

When you will wish to live today again

When you’ll want to live your happiness again

When you’ll want to erase all of today’s follies

When you’ll want to live today with no mistakes.

Today is the only day you’ve got

To create happy memories

To erase your mistakes

To not live with regrets.

Do something soon

Before is too late

Before today become yesterday

Before you live tomorrow with regrets.

Don’t you see?

Today’s all that you’ve got

Do what you intended for tomorrow, today

Laugh, have fun, love and be loved

Mend broken hearts, forgive and forget

So that you can live tomorrow with no regrets

And live today to the fullest.

Gradual shifts, Nikon D3100, 55mm, ISO 200, f/7, 1/500

As we finally begin to see days were light and dark are brought out of balance and warmer climes suddenly erupt upon the landscape, but with it, do we take for granted the climate we have and the temperate balance we enjoy.

For wouldn’t it become all to complacent if we never witnessed these changes?

Fly, fly away from all your troubles and sorrows,
Fly, fly away, and just hope for better soon,
Fly far away, and return only tomorrow,
Just in time to see the moon.

I’ll forget all the little things,
The things that make me cry,
The things that make me want to sing,
Are all I’ll need to get by.

Fly, fly away from all your troubles and sorrows,
Fly, fly away, and just hope for better soon,
Fly far away, and return only tomorrow,
Just in time to see the moon.

I want to fly forever, to never have to return,
I wish that of all things my memories to burn,
And than maybe, just maybe, it will all be fine again,
And that’s when,

I’ll Fly, fly away from all your troubles and sorrows,
Fly, fly away, and just hope for better soon,
Fly far away, and return only tomorrow,
Just in time to see the moon.

You might cry for a friend with whom you fought, but he might have already moved on

You might want to forget the mistakes you have done, but results of those mistakes are ready to enter in your life

You might wish to speak those unspoken words to your hubby, but he might have made up his mind to not accept it

You might regret to not convey your thoughts to people, but they might have already followed thoughts of someone else

You might want to spend time with your kids, but they might have grown adult and do not have time

You might want to study hard to reach to extra milestone, but you exams might have already been finished

You might want to say “I Love You” to your parents, but they might not be there to listen to you

You might want to appreciate someone for their efforts, but they might have already gone

You might want to be thankful for whatever you have, but you might have lost many of what you had

You might want to pursue that long last wish, but your priorities might have changed

You might want to understand your partner better, but he might have already found someone who understands him better

You might want to take charge of situation and show up your leading skills, but those situations might have settled down

You might want to laugh like a toddler, but circumstances might have changed

You might want to attend family functions, but your family might have accepted your absence

You might want to kiss on forehead of your spouse and let him know how much you love him, but he might not be around

LIFE – this four letter word is a magic.

It gives what you want.

It gives you numerous opportunities to live fully

It allows you to reach to the sky

It asks you to overcome your limitations

It makes you jump into sea when you don’t know how to swim

It makes you a human being…you ever wanted to be.

So just grab that opportunity. Listen to your inner voice. Sit and think about what you will regret tomorrow, if you have not done it today. Just do it. Let your ego, hesitation and fear go down and just do what you want to DO.

After all,

Its always a single chance for all of us. Its up to an individual, how he shapes it up.

Lets shape the life in a way that tomorrow GOD might be proud of us, the way we have lived the most beautiful gift from him.

Don’t leave anything for which you have to regret tomorrow.

Just live the LIFE fully.

Translation:“Everything has its time & season & today is the season for an answer! Therefore keep speaking in faith as your tomorrows shall [also] come 2 pass as today with many testimonies! -Acts 14:3″

Expose: …

Translation:“Today was once as a promise of tomorrow. Now coming to pass implies answer to expectations! Therefore what are your expectations for the many tomorrows that shall also come to pass? -Proverbs 24:14″

Expose: …

Reblogged from InkPaperPen:

I Stand

Ready For Tomorrow

To Say I Do

Together

Tomorrow seems to be the most popular on Thursdays and Fridays, as it signals rest and relaxation, time with friends, a jaunt up the coast or a meandering drive through the countryside.

“Tomorrow could be the day,” we think. It’s a word that sometimes sustains us and encourages us to hold on — just a few more hours. “Tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow has to be better.”

Tomorrow can, believe it or not, also be a dirty word. A shameful word. It’s a word that we can fall back on and by which we rationalize our complacency.

“There’s always tomorrow,” we tell ourselves.

“I’ll start tomorrow,” we vow.

“Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” the joke says.

When Sunday rolls around, we are rarely fans of tomorrow. Tomorrow is looming, and it’s full of tasks.

Regardless of whether it’s good or bad, there’s something that’s always ready and waiting for us. What is it? Tomorrow. Sometimes it’s like a predator lurking in the brush, other times it’s like a dog, ready with unconditional love and excited to see us. Tomorrow is never a given, sometimes a burden, but always a new chapter.

What’s worthy of our attention and dedication? Tomorrow is — because in attention and dedication, we can learn to live more fully today.

For tomorrow, and for the unknown that’s just around the corner, I am thankful.

Which way, Lord? Dealing with uncertainty in our future can feel overwhelming.

Alright, Lord, I could really use Your help deciphering the plans for my life. You know, maybe give me a little insight as to what these next few weeks are going to look like and what I should be prepared for, that’s all I ask.

This is an example of one of my prayers to the Lord. I’m sure we all ask Him similar questions that pertain to His plans for us. We may even wonder if we are going to like those plans He has ordained for us, which may seem kind of silly to question that, but, hey, sometimes (at least for me anyway) I think I know what’s best for me.  

I’m going to be honest with you. I agreed a while ago to help out with writing blog entries for this Awakening page, and I was really excited about that. I just finished up college with a degree in English, so I thought that I could put my degree to good use, especially since I’d have more time on my hands. But then other things started to pile up on my plate, other “more important” things, and I never got to writing the article. I thought job applications were more important. How selfish, right? Well, anyway, I felt really convicted this morning about writing the blog post. I have an interview in a couple of days, and I really wanted to work on preparing for that, but then I felt Him saying that I needed to quit thinking so much about my wants and needs and concentrate on encouraging others, which, of course, led me to writing the blog post.   

I was so caught up in my own desires that I let other significant things fall to the wayside and I forgot about His promises for my life. The prayer that’s mentioned at the beginning was what I prayed this morning. You see, I’m in a very uncertain state right now as it pertains to my job, and that has laid very heavily on my mind lately. However, I hope to encourage you all with any uncertainty in your life, whether it relates to jobs, families, finances, and so on. Instead of focusing on the issue at hand, remember Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is something I needed to be reminded of, and I love it because it helped me realign my focus on His Truth. And from obeying his command to write the post, He has provided me with an overwhelming sense of peace, which I wouldn’t trade for anything!

 So, if you’re asking God what plans He has for you, just remember to SEEK HIM and He will provide.  

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34

“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
― L.M. Montgomery

Tomorrow: a word I find myself often saying, maybe to set a date, a goal, or even as a means of excuse. Scarlett O’Hara famously used it to instill a hope in herself, as I do so often.  Isn’t it lovely to us it in a sentence?  ”I’ll see you tomorrow.”  ”I will do [insert incredibly important thing that actually needs to get done this moment] tomorrow.” or most popular, “My diet starts tomorrow.”

I am definitely guilty of the last two, but I think Miss Montgomery had it right, tomorrow does have quite a nice ring to it. Tomorrow means a new chance, a 24-hour clean slate to do what you need to or at least what y0u can. This is where my site name comes in: Adventures of Future Maureen. You too have a Future self. I’m sure they are better than you have ever been, they have already accomplished the dreams you have, they have already reached that goal you have been so strenuously working towards.

What happens if your tomorrows are strung together? In my mind, this tends to resemble an endless field, whatever that field consists of is entirely up to you. But a field with no end, full of opportunity and wonder, and oftentimes fear, of the unknown.

A lavender farm in Hokkaidō. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Exports, Nikon D3100, ISO 200, f/5, 1/80

Everyday we come across; cultural imprints which affect and influence our perceptions, views and forms of daily life. That cultural import, however small it is, is something which is imprinted upon our minds and form a certain geo – cultural definition for future recognition.

International stereotypes which are formed by our daily routines, in pushing the motions of our perceptions of inherent regionalism in a world of meeting cultures.

Those small steps for brighter tomorrow, those tiny paces and those larger than life cries of emotional black mails all come to the twenty and so years of life I am living now.