Your Challenge

Death is a challenge.  It tells us not to waste time…  It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.
—   Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia
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On This Day In:
2019	The Tragedies Are About To Get Worse
2018	Plunge
	Time To Meet God
2017	Wealth Within
2016	Soaring
2015	Gone To The Library…
2014	Choose To Lead
2013	Not Sent Yet
2012	Wall-Crawler Reboot
	Learning To Count
	On Worshiping God
2011	Emancipated Differences
2010	A Little More Technology, Please…

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Me Too

Friendship with oneself is all important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else in the world.
—   Eleanor Roosevelt
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On This Day In:
2019	No Regrets
2018	In Times Of Crisis
	Genes, Desire And Luck
2017	The Voice Of Experience
2016	Who And When
2015	Change Process
2014	What Is Still Possible
2013	Strength Is There
2012	Beyond Reasonable Doubt
2011	Celebrating Values
2010	Is it just me, or is it suddenly dark around here?
	Dance!

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Call Me!

And always remember….
when life hands you Lemons,
ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!
—  Anonymous (multiple citations on the internet with no direct attribution)
[As always, if someone knows of the original source, please let me know and I’ll update this post.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	A Perfect Description Of #IncompetentDonald
2018	Beating Feet Again
	A Bad Bet
2017	Living Memory
2016	December
2015	That’s Gotta Leave A Scar
	It’s All About Me (…Not!)
2014	Bull’s-Eye Next
2013	Change ÷ Time
2012	High Anxiety
2011	To Be, Do
2010	In the Arena…
	Not An Island, Today…

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Violating Guidelines

Yesterday was the 4th of July, so Hil and I broke the rules (“guidelines”) and went out to my sister’s house for a BBQ.  We know it’s poor form, but sometimes you risk more than you should to be with family (Gemutlichkeit) – if only because these moments will be fewer in the future than they’ve been in the past.  It doesn’t make it “right”, but we ate outdoors and, when inside, the rooms had the exterior doors and windows open.  Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny and warm day with a steady, cooling breeze coming off the Bay.  Oh, yeah, and except for the time it took to take these photos, we were mostly socially distanced.  Anyway, here’s three photos commemorating our throwing caution to the wind…  (And one for history.)
Me in my “flag” cap…
With the hostess… (2020 version)
Kev & Carm at 4th of July 2016 BBQ
And with our mom (who now lives with my sister).
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On This Day In:
2019	I Walk Faster (Too)
2018	Modern Day Behaviour
2017	On Misogynist Tweets From #DumbDonald
2016	Cowboy Boots & Missing Teeth
	Or Electricity
2015	Oh, To Be Vulnerable
2014	Neglected Horror
2013	The Price Of Illusions
2012	Once Again
2011	And The “Market” Isn’t Always Right

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Nearer My God To Thee, By George

Hil’s Mum and Dad with Big Smiles
Early this morning, my mother-in-law, Doreen Carter passed away from COVID-19 back in Liverpool, England.  She was predeceased by her husband, George Carter, by some twenty-years.  They are survived by their three children and five grand-children.  Below are some photos to remind us of her journey through life…
Hil’s mum (as a little girl) and her mum at the beach.
George and Doreen in their wedding limo…
The newlyweds with their parents…
Doreen and her three at the beach… (Hil on the left)
Grand-dad (Doreen’s father), Doreen and the three on picnic…
A (Brit-side) family portrait…
The American side…
George, Doreen and our Sarah (back when we lived in Liverpool)
And more recently…
“Nana” and Hil in Mike and Viv’s back garden…
A recent Facebook post…
Together again…
In our hearts, thoughts and prayers…
Way back in 2011, I posted a conversation I had with “Nana” Carter:  Things I’ve Learned From Life – Nana Carter
Her thoughts on “Life’s Lessons” may give you some insight into our loss…
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On This Day In:
2019	Laugh With Me
2018	Both Sides, Mr. President?
2017	Republicans Better Wake Up
2016	Truth Telling
2015	To Be Effective In The Modern World
2014	A Little Cover
2013	Binding
2012	Lift
2011	Another Good Movie, Another Excellent Book
	miSFits
	I’m Just Not Sure

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Make A Fuss

If one is going to change things, one has to make a fuss and catch the eye of the world.
—  Elizabeth Janeway
[Happy Birthday, James!  —  Mum and Dad (KMAB)]
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On This Day In:
2019	Hopefully, You’re Learning To Forgive
2018	Enjoy The Sunsets As Well As The Sunrises
2017	Enjoy
2016	I Got A Feeling
2015	Fiction Leading To History
2014	A Self-Correcting Process
2013	None But He Knows
2012	99% Are Demanding
2011	All In The Family
	Take Your Pick

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To My Idealistic Sister

Ideals do not determine what we do to make a living in life; they govern what we become as we do it.
—  Joan Chittister
[Happy Birthday, Sis!!   You inspire us by always remaining true to your ideals.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Respect For My Sister
2018	I Trust Cows
	No Boundary
2017	Don’t Sink Now
2016	A Burning Passion To Teach Freedom
2015	Before Debit (And Credit) Cards
2014	Herding Cats
2013	Ooops!
2012	Understand A Great Truth
2011	Start Here…
2010	Random Acts of Vandalism On Easter Weekend…

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Hanging In There

I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.
—  Yogi Berra
[When my mom comes over to “visit”, after saying hello to everyone, she sits in the Lazy-Boy, pulls a blanket over her lap and lets the TV watch her sleep until she’s ready to go home.  She particularly enjoys sports and news.  Still, she loves visiting us (at 93).  Happy Birthday, Mom!!
We love you!  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Her Job, Too
2018	Just Another Song I Like
	Earlier Still
2017	Ten To Go
2016	Unstable Emergence
2015	88
2014	Some One-Liners Are Too Easy
2013	Greatness
2012	Memories Of Arlington
2011	Wake Up

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Still Measuring

Basically, when you get to my age, you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.
—  Warren Buffett
[Happy Birthday to me!  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Living On The Couch
	Who Am I – One Interpretation
2018	A Gardening Goal: Feed The Flowers
2017	Freakishly Happy Cowboy
2016	One More, Please
2015	Infinite Adventure
2014	Unpaved
2013	Headstones
2012	Keeping Young
2011	Lessons Well Learned

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Especially You, Bro

We all need each other.
—  Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia
[Happy birthday, Bro!  Hang in there.  We still got a long road to travel…  Love, ya.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2019	Enjoy!
2018	Happy Birthday, Bro!
2017	Love Can Change The World In A Minute
2016	60, Little Bro!
2015	Vision and Courage
2014	58 – Little Bro
2013	New Adventures And Old Hopes
	Caving In
2012	Bits And Bobs And Birthdays
	Always Hope
2011	Wet Snow And Long Hills

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And In The Back

My wife loves to putter in the front and back yards.  She claims it’s because she’s English, but I think she just likes to add little touches of her personal beauty to the world – or at least to our small part of it…
In addition to the “normal” daffodils we have in our front yard (as shown in prior posts), we have a couple of plantings of “minis” and, most recently, a little purple “something” (she’s forgotten the name of) which are located in our back yard.  We are expecting the neighbors’ cherry (and other fruit trees) blossoms any day now…
Mini-daffodils
Two daffodils with their respective turtle guards
Small purple flowers…
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On This Day In:
2019	Sunlight Stream
2018	Wars Without Taxes
2017	Multiplication And Division
2016	I Went To The Woods…
2015	I’ve Got To Run
2014	Which Is It?
2013	Making You Stronger
2012	Sick Of Being Sick
	Greater Than Power
2011	Clear, Specific And Measurable
2010	The Runner’s High
	Into The Dark…

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Pat, Pat, Pant, Pant

Every couple of months Hil and I take a short drive over to the marina in Martinez (CA).  Most of the time we take our dog (Shiva) along to give her some fresh smells.  Shiva is over 10 years old and her most active days are well behind her, but she loves going out in the car (as well as the fresh smells).  Here’s a picture of Shiva and me (taken by Hil), giving her a rest and a chance to catch her breath.
The marina faces north towards the Carquinez Straits which connects the Sacramento River with the north end of San Francisco Bay.  Because it’s right on the water, when the tide shifts in the Bay, the water flow speeds up or slows down, the air flow increases or slows and there is almost always a cooling breeze.  Plus it’s a great view!  Oh, and by the way…  mid-February and it’s low to mid-70’s.  I didn’t “need” the sweatshirt, but I brought along in case the wind was too much.
Martinez Marina on the Carquinez Straits
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On This Day In:
2019	You (Too) Are Related
	A Blind Squirrel Finds An Idiot
2018	My Hope
2017	We All Lose
2016	Wants
2015	Let Us Join
2014	Feeling Kept?
	Chillin’
2013	The Lucky Few
2012	A Post-Valentine’s Day Message
2011	Risk, Lyrics, Starting Over, And My Trip To The ER
	Lucky Choice

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Happy Valentine’s Day – 2020!!

A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.
―  Leo Buscaglia
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
―  Sir Isaac Newton
[Happy Valentine’s Day, Hil!!  You are the daffodil in my garden and the diamond sparkling on my sandy sea-shore.
All my love, Always, Your Kev XXX 00 X]
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On This Day In:
2019	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2019!!
2018	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2018!!
2017	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2017!!
2016	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2016!!
2015	To My Special Lady
2014	Awakening
2013	Drowsy In Comfort
2012	Happy Valentine’s Day
2011	Own Your Bible

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Me Too

When it comes to love, compassion, and other feelings of the heart, I am rich.
―  Muhammad Ali
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On This Day In:
2019	#45: Whitewalkers Tremble, Treason Is Forever
2018	Light Or Darkness
2017	Doubtful Education
2016	Absolute
2015	Still The Best Teacher
2014	Inside The Soul
2013	A Toe In The River
2012	Believe It Or Not
2011	The Road To Recovery (And More Myths)

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My Thoughts About The X-mas Turkey…

You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.
—  Yogi Berra
[Merry Christmas to all… !!  Hug everyone at your table and say a prayer of blessings for absent friends and family.  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2018	Merry X-mas – 2018
2017	Focus On Christmas — 2017
2016	Merry X-mas – 2016
2015	Merry X-mas – 2015
2014	Merry X-mas – 2014
2013	Merry X-mas – 2013
2012	Merry Christmas – 2012
2011	I Have Seen

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