• coffee shops,  lifestyles

    The act of creating …

    July 31, 2019

    I am a man of solitude who enjoys and relishes the silence I find away from the crowds. Yet, I’m aware the journey through life is not to be traveled alone. There are times in life we will need to walk alone while at other times we will travel with others. Some of those travelers will be family, friends and some will be strangers. Some will share similar visions and dreams. Some will support us in times of need while at other times we will support them. My hope in this time of unrest that is we do not see one another as “other than” and erect walls. For when we’re free from the shackles of our fear of others we will not need to build walls.

    “May we believe that as we create relationships with all of creation we are also in the act of creating our world.”

    This is Annette’s latte art. Not too shabby!

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  • Art,  lifestyles,  Sculpture,  spirituality

    More about …

    July 14, 2019

    The Mercy Center non-profit operated by a Catholic group of people called the Missionaries of Mercy, which offer sabbaticals, retreats and workshops for religious and lay. It is made of tow houses converted to a accommodate several people in each house with private rooms and baths. They have a Mercy Center that has 5 rooms upstairs and conference, training and counseling rooms on the lower level. Another house is a kitchen and dining area as well as a meeting room above. This figure of Mary is outside of the dining room.

    Have some homework and laundry to do this afternoon which works since it’s suppose to rain.

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  • coffee shops,  lifestyles

    She made it look beautiful

    July 10, 2019

    Well, I have a few minutes to write something up. This is the mocha latte from a small coffee shop called Rosco’s Coffee that’s a mere 4 minutes away. Love the large sofas and lounge chairs and am pleased with their music choice. It’s my kind of music to read and write with. I’ll make a few more visits. I noticed they have been given a 4.5 rating by yelp and tripadvisor.

    My laptop decided to bite the dust last week and refuse to boot up. I finally was able to take it to an authorized apple service repair center yesterday afternoon. The tech pushed a couple of buttons and magically it all worked. I have also upgraded to Mojave OS and all seems fine. Keeping my fingers crossed.

    The training has been good for me. Learning more about myself, creating a connection with the other seven students and instructors, getting in some good reading and eating way too much good food. They are giving me some tools that I’ve wanted for quite some time. I now have to learn more about them and then practice. They offer short and precise lectures then let us put the tools in to practice by role playing, also through art and class sharing.

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  • architecture,  Cityscapes/Urban,  grass,  lifestyles,  Plants

    Order and Chaos

    June 28, 2019

    Nature creates with chaos and man creates with order, or so it seems. Both make use of lines and curves to create. Architecture feels mostly ordered, static and has a rigid feeling to it. Nature feels more flexible, relaxed, in constant movement, never static and is free flowing.

    I leave in the morning for my sabbatical to spend time in reading, writing, studying, prayer/meditation, quiet, learning to listen to the other within me. I have been uncovering, discovering, discarding the stinking thinking I had about myself and the world around me. Hoping this time with others on similar paths will continue in that process. Nervous and yet excited. What will I discover? I’m heading into this with as much openness as I am capable of. Yesterday was my 69th birthday so this is like a gift I’m giving to myself.

    I do not expect to post much or read many of your amazing posts but will check whenever I can. They have a couple of computer on site for checking email so what access to the internet will be with my phone’s cellular data or some coffee shop I may find on a weekend. I’m actually looking forward to some time away from the internet, much like our friend Cedric just had for 2 months. I’m aware I spend too much time on it. See ya later.

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  • lifestyles,  spirituality

    A Few Books

    June 27, 2019

    This is some of the books I’ve read or going to read for this retreat starting on Saturday. There are going to be 17 books used in these five weeks where we will cover a chapter or two of the book and no written essays. There will be a lot of practicum in this retreat, actual participation, rather than just gathering more knowledge and information.

    Today is my 69th birthday. The coffee shop, Mugs, gave me a free mocha and a chocolate éclair, which made my morning. I also receive the sweetest phone message from Julie and Tom as they sang happy birthday. Brought me to tears and not because their singing was bad. 🙂

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