Booming Banter

Today is a big day for Banter. This is Blessing #365.

It has been easy some days to find a blessing on others there has been a need to dig a little deeper.

Quite honestly at the beginning it was just a bit of fun. Progressively it became more of a mission to see if a full year could be achieved.

There is no real focus to the Blog apart from finding a blessing. Maybe that’s enough!

What’s your opinion? Is that the way to go on or is it better to find something more specific to concentrate on?

Maybe the funniest event of the day? Maybe the progress at the store and the cutest little finds.

Let me know please what you think and what you like best. Variety or one theme?

The exercise has certainly kept me on the look out for things to talk about and trying to find a Blessing beginning with B has been even more interesting.

Should I stick with B or should I move to another letter?

Z might be a good one. That should be a mental workout and a half. We might even get a little Zingiber!

Blessing # 365 – Hitting the Target

Having taken pride in my tactics to control them the beasts have returned to humble me once more.

Each bud of the Day Lilies that had grown like weeds was removed with such precision that you could believe it was done by a gardener.

They were just about to bloom too! As if to taunt me they left the stalk as if to say we only want the sweets you can keep your stupid salad.

All the mint and Irish Spring soap in the world is no deterrent to these rascals. They ate every bud from the mail box all the way to the front door.

While surveying the wreckage a few neighbors passed by. They were all suffering from the same overnight rampage. It must have been a Big Bucks wedding party or maybe a  celebration of that fawns birth.

One neighbor had captured the ring leader just before dawn today on security camera eating a hibiscus from a planter right on his front door step.

Another had lost every lily bud too and having tried ever solution known to man had given up the battle years ago.

Yet another fearing the next round of damage will be the hostas has applied enough liquid fence that she needs to keep her windows closed to keep the stink out.

We decided that the only thing to do is chill. The critters will come regardless. The only way around this is to stop planting anything other than plants they won’t touch.

Mint tea anyone?

Blessing # 364 – Community Challenge

The week got off to a great start. The WordPress link with Facebook is fixed. Made me feel guilty as I’d pointed the finger at Aaron when it turned out to be a global Facebook issue. They didn’t explain the bug but I did say sorry.

When Aaron got back from work he went out with Dad to get new charger cables for the iPhones. Those things are about as robust as a stand of spaghetti.

Aaron has tried and tested an infinite number and reckons there is no difference between them. He buys them at a store called Five Below that he and his girlfriend frequent on a regular basis.

Today he got two cables but only realized when he was back home that he had grabbed one that was not for an iPhone. So a quick turnaround to make an exchange was needed. This time I went with him to discover the store he talks so much about.

It is really fun and very well organized just the sort of place teenagers would love. It’s filled with funny T-shirts, beach gear, things for phones and of course makeup, sports stuff and candy!

It has that brightness and sparkle that lifts the spirits, gives you a laugh and doesn’t do too much damage to the old Budget.

We did a bit of shopping for the upcoming event this weekend but cannot disclose what it is. We hesitated on a pink Buddha but decided we’d hold that for a religious occasion!

Blessing # 363 – Fixed

Today was our monthly reunion with the Kairos graduates at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

All of us who participate enjoy this time together reflecting on our faith and encouraging each other.

Some of the ladies have been incarcerated for many years. Typically when asked how they are doing their response is I am Blessed.

As volunteers we are humbled by the grace and faith of these women. Never more so than today.

One of the graduates is a woman in her seventies maybe even eighties and I have come to love her very much. She is an African American woman and has been in prison for many years.

I have no idea why she is there. It is most unlikely our paths would ever have crossed had it not been for Kairos. What I do know for sure is she is truly inspirational and it is an honor to know her. Today I sat with her which is always a joy.

She has been battling cancer for the past three months and today had a catheter in her arm with two ports. Her chemo is going well and she says she is confident that it will be successful because she has beat cancer three times before!

Each time I meet her I wish she could speak to all those outside the walls of this prison who are going through similar experience. Of course she can’t but I trust her determination and experience will be an inspiration to others on the same journey and will give them confidence to battle bravely and win!

Blessing # 361 – Soul Sisters

A celebrity’s post this week about TV shows of the 70s made me think of a lovely little cartoon show that ran at that time in the UK.

It was sandwiched in between the end of children’s programs and the main six o’clock news. People of all ages watched it.

The theme was about a group of little creatures called Wombles whose mission was to keep Wimbledon common clean.

They were way ahead of their time when it came to messages about recycling and reuse.

Making good use of the things that we find things that the everyday folks leave behind!

The Wombles were cute and cuddly and each person had a favorite. Their fearless leader was Uncle Bulgaria and he kept those critters in check.

As we headed out today to a few rummage sales we are doing just that. How many things are dumped that could be reused? How much joy in finding a new home or new use of each little treasure.

We, like the Wombles, were organized and worked as a team. We found quite a lot of cute things. Even Aaron snagged a sail boat that he is going to restore. Well that is the plan will let you know when it happens! Dad surprise surprise got books!

Hope you enjoy this first episode from the first ever season and that this weekend you Womble Free

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gn70a66Ning&feature=share

Blessing # 360 – Roly Poly Role  Models.

The coverage of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings has been extensive.

Many veterans who were so young at the time of the invasion, some no more than teenagers at the time have returned to France for the occasion.

Those who have been interviewed  seem reluctant to give details of what happened. The recurring message from relatives of those who are no more is that their loved ones who experienced the turnaround of WWII just didn’t want to talk about it.

No movie or TV can capture the extent of the loss of life that took place. Only a visit to the place itself can adequately do that. We went some years ago on a bright sunny day.

We weren’t wet and in the dark we saw the beauty of the extensive golden sandy beaches and everything thing was still.

There was no bombardment or sea turning red only cemetery after cemetery and thousands of acres of graves that went on forever.

Horrific and humbling. Terrible and touching. Unimaginable and unforgettable.

Blessing #359 – Lasting Impacts

The rain and storms have beaten my summer plants down a little but everything is still alive and there hasn’t been a single day when I’ve needed to water.

That’s just fine by me. Bring it on around dusk please so it cools the air too before bedtime!

Usually on the back porch we have  annuals like petunias but this year for the first time the perennial Coreopsis went into the big pots.

The reason for this selection was simple they were on offer at Aldi and looked like a good way to save a lot of work planting.

They also are said to have very low maintenance and a great color. Even Better, thanks to a few break offs in the storms we discovered they’re very robust as a cut flower and last a good ten days!

Now to the best bit of all. They came with the promise that they would attract butterflies and bees and they have delivered nicely.

We’ve had a slew of bees as big as young birds and the butterflies have started too. Hoping this will continue all season as they are such important critters to cultivate for our beautiful blue planet.

This brought back memories of a little song that won the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest called All Kinds of Everything 

It was sung by a teenage girls from the Bogside of Londonderry one of the most troubled areas of the time. Her stage name was Dana and she was and is a sweetheart. She did so much good in our province and everyone from across the divide was delighted she won.

Dana went on to be a successful recording artist and later a politician. A robust performer in many ways just like our little patio flowers.

Blessing # 358 – Unexpected Winners

 

Does technology ever drive you crazy? There are few things make me more mad than not being able to get something to work!

This morning Krishna mentioned that he couldn’t see my blog post from yesterday on Facebook.

For some mysterious reason the connection that has worked faithfully went belly up.

My nose tells me that a certain teenager may have had a hand in this but he claims total innocence.

No matter what I do I cannot make  Wordpress and Facebook talk to each other again.

Was I sleeping when Facebook made some big changes? Anyone know what the error might be or how to fix it?

This is not a good omen or birthday gift for Booming Banter. The WordPress people have a link where you can chat with them and they tried to help but it’s a Facebook issue and they are impossible to reach!

Looks like the only solution I can find for sharing is a multi step approach.

So if you happen to see posts with the same content just ignore them. Put it down to age related wandering aka ancient surfing.

Blessing # 357 – A Long Way Home

The Queen rolled out the red carpet today for President Trump. She is certainly very experienced in such diplomacy. Just wonder how she feels about such events.

Of course it is part of her role as head of state to play host and it must be with a sense of pride in her kingdom that she oversee every detail.

Does she enjoy the big dinners though or would she rather have a BBQ or a plate of cheese on toast?

The first big dinner I ever attended was the sixth form formal at school. It was held in a lovely hotel and was full of fun! All around were people I loved and laughed with. That was such a wonderful evening. Relaxed and memorable.

As a student I got to go to a few conferences and meetings and these usually entailed a fancy event that was very exciting too.

Later, thanks to work, many a banquet came my way in many parts of the world. The food was always fabulous and the settings palatial.

Many people would give their eye teeth for such an experience but give me informality any day.

There was always an element of anxiety within me before one of these work events. Who would I have to sit beside? What would I say? How long would it go on?

You’d think with experience it would get better but if anything it got worse.

It may sound ungrateful but it got old. Like it or not for the duration of the meal you were sandwiched between two people you may or may not know or like. Sometimes you got lucky and got to sit with some people who were hysterically funny. More often than not it was heavy and serious.

When it was over there was usually a short nights sleep thanks to too much food and drink before another day of work.

So much more enjoyable were the nights spent at a friends eating a home made meal or the treat of a night alone in a good hotel room with a tray of room service and the TV remote control all to yourself!

What’s your experience? What do you prefer?

Blessing # 356 – Casual Dining

 

A few days ago a funny cartoon made me think a bit about bitterness.

It’s one of those words that has multiple meanings.

Applied to character it generally has negative connotations associated with resentment and an unwillingness to forgive.

We encounter it from time to time in literature. Dickens was a master of developing bitter characters but who can surpass the Grinch? Fortunately most make a turnaround and end up sweet as pie!

This brings us to the bitter sensation we taste. It is often associated with danger and is a warning signal that there may be some risks in eating a bitter material. Many cannot stand anything bitter yet others like it.

Why is that?

For sure it has nothing to do with ability to taste bitter. Working in product development we were trained to detect sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami and I was highly sensitive to bitter taste.

Yet beer, black coffee, limes, the quinine taste of tonic water you name it these are some of my favorite things. They all give a kick and light up the old brain!

Is this a genetic trait or is it an evolutionary carryover? After all there must have been some cavemen who were the taste testers. Just as long as I don’t keel over and die too soon!

Blessing # 355 – Refreshment