I am late again meeting the midnight deadline. Maybe I can talk fast and slip in under the wire.
I’ve spent most of the day watching live streams and reading a book. The one thing I am loving about the People’s Convoy currently in California is their live streamers. They are so willing to share information to help and encourage new people starting out. I am soaking up the wealth of information. The problem will be to remember it all. I’m hoping my grandson’s will help me out with getting set up.
On the one hand it looks like it’s not that hard and on the other hand it appears highly challenging.
The live streamers on the convoy have a limited shelf life. Some of them have become wildly popular while they are on the road. When they leave to return home, for whatever reason, their popularity seems to plummet.
There are so many beautiful places to see as we’ve traveled the province but many of my friends never have experienced them even though these places are in our own back yard so to speak. Beautiful British Columbia. It would be nice to show them what they are missing out on. Tempt them to get out and see the world.
My head is brimming with ideas. This must be the way it feels for people wanting to write a book.
The goal was/is to post everyday but I messed up, again. I was distracted, playing a computer game while listening to a live streamer.
Oh no!!!
Five minutes wasn’t much but I gave it my best shot. I moved fast but apparently not fast enough. Hitting publish at 11:59 didn’t do it for me. Oh well, there would be no worrying about today’s post being on time. (big smile)
While I would like to have a perfect record, the world won’t end if I don’t manage to post everyday. The new plan is to cut myself some slack, still try but don’t stress. It’s much too late to change some habits. Besides I like being lost in whatever is going on in my little world. Usually a book or a three hour podcast.
Three hours sounds daunting but I really like hearing about things that are new to me. Some of the posts are fresh every time; like Carey Nieuwhof, his is usually only an hour long but he has interesting guests and he is an exceptional interviewer. No two podcasts of his are alike and even when he has repeat guests it’s because they have more to talk about. Carey is a long time favorite.
Then there is the three hour podcaster who is new to me, his You Tube name is Viva Frei. He is quite the character and he hangs out with other interesting characters. He is a lawyer turned hopeful politician and since he didn’t win his first try at an election he has turned serious attention toward his online presence. Most of the conversations center around politics and legal situations. His co-host is an American lawyer who is also his friend and business partner. These guys are both characters and will, in small ways, be shocking to some, I’m sure. That’s all part of their charm. Wild haircuts, blind dogs and cigars they can’t light up. They are highly intelligent and knowledgeable. “Boring” quickly kills my interest but so far I’m still watching and enjoying these guys and their guests.
The third one gaining the most attention from me is a podcaster I’ve mentioned often. She is from Ottawa and covered the Trucker’s Freedom Convoy there, never having done such a thing before. Her brother started the channel and enlisted her help with streaming 24 hours a day. Charlotte was out on the streets late at night in freezing weather walking blocks and blocks so we could see what was going on. To warm up she would find truckers or others on the ground to hear about their stories and why they were there.
As events in Ottawa wound down the American effort was started. Once their convoy reached Maryland Charlotte traveled down, for an indefinite period of time, to report on what is happening with them.
Her abilities have blossomed with the experience she is gaining as a live streamer. It’s not as easy as she makes it look. Charlotte is nineteen and a university student with a deep well of resolve and determination. This morning she left Maryland to return to Toronto to write exams. This gal is amazing. She has acquired a loyal and devoted audience who pay attention to where she is, what she eating (or if she is eating), and who in her presence is paying attention to her. She has a ton of moms and dads watching out and worrying over her. They do it because she has captured their hearts. She appreciates and relates well to her audience. Actually, even the in-person people she is hanging out with everyday are vigilant in making sure she is OK.
The channel shared with her brother is ZOT. The plan after exams is to cover the story in the next place that needs it. The US convoy may even see her again.
There are a ton of live streamers out there and ZOT is one of the best, both Charlotte and her brother Matt have worked hard to make it successful.
There is much going on out there that is never mentioned in mainstream media. This is an amazing opportunity for potential journalists. Right now it’s easy to break into the industry and gain experience and a following with the new and modern ways of reaching people. Grass roots people want to know what is going on in their world. It’s amazing that polls show some of these podcasters have larger audiences than mainstream media. This is totally mind blowing.
Charlotte is unsure of what her future holds but journalism is definitely on her radar and we all know she would excel if that was her choice.
So there you have it, another unplanned fixation. lol
It was fun.
I wonder is this qualifies as scribbling? (this weeks weekly prompt from Sunday Scribblings)
Is it OK if I don’t have anything momentous to say this morning?
These days, my thoughts are consumed with several heavy duty subjects but it doesn’t seem appropriate, for many reasons, to talk about any of them. The trouble with immersing myself in these off-limits but important topics is a shortage of time spent pondering things I would be comfortable talking about.
At the moment, it is quiet in here, deadly quiet. All of the normal voices have been turned off.
The temptation to turn some of them back on will be high, I’m sure, but I want to spend time listening to discover what my mind is telling me on acceptable subjects. Sometimes, most times actually, our mind needs input, to help prime-the-pump so to speak.
This is a “why study math when you need to study literature” sort of moment.
I have several non fiction books I should be reading, I’m sure inspiration would be found in that activity.
I was toying with that idea but decided it might be good to start the day a little lighter. So I picked another book instead.
This choice sounds like it will be a fluff book but it’s likely not. This author writes books with meat on the bones. I think this one will be a positive influence on my thought life and who knows, maybe I will be inspired to write something momentous. Maybe not momentous but a smaller scale seems doable. I’ll keep you posted about my progress toward inspiration, later.
Catch of a Lifetime – Low Country Love (Finding Love in the Low Country Book 3)
From an early age, Adella believed that love brings only pain. First her mother dies, and Adella struggles to deal with her grief and care for her younger sisters. When the young girls decide they don’t need Adella anymore, she concludes she can’t trust anyone but herself. With few options, she determines she will use her good looks and intelligence to catch a handsome, wealthy man who can give her the security she craves. Derek Goodson appears to be the man of her dreams, and at first their marriage is wonderful. After a few years, however, Adella discovers a restlessness that nothing seems to satisfy. She is bored with exclusive parties, clothing, and vacations. When introduced to a handsome stranger, she wonders if he is the answer to her secret longings. Adele must face some tough choices, along with a tender tug on her soul. She married Derek for his money. Why can’t she love him for it?
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I’m looking forward to seeing what this day had to offer by the time it’s over.
I’m wishing a good day for you too. Whatever your day may look like.
Nature is amazing. It’s mind boggling sometimes to see how intricately plants, animals, birds and even people are designed.
It’s an Amaryllis plant that has me watching in wonder these weeks. I’ve never had one before so the way it works is all new to me.
The bulb was fairly large, about the size of an orange. It came with a nice pot and soil, along with instructions. The bulb had already started to sprout but it looked like it was coming out the bottom of the bulb which was a little weird. I didn’t know what that meant or what I should do so I left it and now we have some extra leaves showing up.
Back to the bulb proper though, the first sign of life on the top was an standing-upright stack of leaves. Not very big, about 1/2 inch wide and a couple of inches tall. It took a few days for them to grow and then they just sat there doing nothing. This confused me. What are you doing?
Eventually something began to sprout right next to the little bunch of leaves.
To make a long story short, very quickly, once it got started, the bright green sprout grew to be a tall stalk. The stalk had a pod on the top and it was curious to see what it was planning on doing. Before long it began to break apart. Everything moved so fast you could almost see it grow.
The pod kept opening until there were five beautiful flowers.
Meanwhile the small vertical stack of leaves began to grow.
The flowers are almost done. There is one left and the leaves at the bottom are growing quickly. The instructions say to cut away the stock when the last one is done.
We will be left with beautiful foliage for the rest of the season.
It is like an orchestrated dance this plant goes through.
Which leaves me wondering. How do the parts know when it’s their turn to grow?
It’s a mystery and I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of the dance.
Click Bait. A skill I have not mastered but really should. It would help draw in unsuspecting new people, or even lure back some I haven’t seen in a while. Click bait has a good reputation for attracting attention. On the other hand, it has a bigger reputation for being a total liar. I have first hand experience so fact checking will not be necessary. All those times I took the bait, listened to the very end only to realize I’d been had. If any attention was given to the person or subject promised, it was but a blink of the eye and I missed it entirely. While I wouldn’t mind grabbing more attention myself, my guilty conscience for lying to make things seem special would be a killer.
So what is taking up thinking space in my head this week? Ukraine is on the minds of the whole world. I like keeping track of what is going on. Click bait stuff has been going on. People in a hurry to put something out when they had nothing were forced to improvise. Oops. Who knew someone would recognize those pictures from another place in another time.
I’m not so sure anyone has really figured out the truth of what is going on with this situation. I’m hearing many voices with as many “expert” opinions but I’m not hearing consensus, even on a small scale. When the truth finally comes out, if it ever does, there will be more than a few people saying the same thing. So far we are not hearing it.
When I ponder this for a while, it seems there are a whole lot of things going on, most of them under the table. I’m sure we would be shocked if we learned who the real players and influencers were in all of this.
It’s easy to worry about where the world is going but when it comes right down to it there is nothing in my power to do that would make any difference to the outcome. Worry will do nothing but destroy my life. We need to care, pay attention, and pray earnestly for the innocent people caught up in the flying debris, but we can’t let worry consume us. What good would we then be if trouble ever did come knocking on our door?
I have to give myself this lecture on a regular basis as I walk away from one more podcast on the whole scenario.
I’m focusing, briefly anyway, on my everyday life and I’m finding it gives me a mental boost in the right direction.
My frig, after many months, is now free of the long haired residents I was loath to deal with. (my grandsons will be impressed.) (procrastination is my middle name) A few closets and shelves have been sorted through and are looking better once I tossed some things I haven’t used in years. (I’ve found expiry dates as old as 2014!)
There is something about accomplishing tasks I have been avoiding forever that makes life suddenly seem good, very good in fact.
Who knew such mundane and inconsequential things could be an outlook changer?
Another of my current fixations. My first time ever growing an amaryllis.
A little beauty is another unexpected game changer.
I’m wishing some unexpected game changers for you too in these turbulent times.
Each weekSunday Scribblings issues a prompt looking to inspire submissions, it has been awhile since inspiration last hit me. Today the prompt is strawberries and I have a TON of strong memories for these little balls of deliciousness.
Earliest memories have me in a large field picking for a farmer who needed help getting his crop in. The plants grow close to the ground and it’s not the easiest job n the world but it was good experience for a young kid. My first official job, other than in the field picking, was on the belt in a processing plant picking the unacceptable berries off the line before they were washed and frozen. At least there we were standing, much better in so many ways.
Over the years I’d still visit farmer’s field but to pick for myself this time. We’d freeze them for winter. Some whole, some sliced ready for strawberry shortcake or ice cream with strawberries. So good. They didn’t all make it to the freezer though, they were wonderful fresh and we couldn’t resist eating our fill. The best of the berries went in the freezer but the rest went into jam jars. There is nothing like homemade jam.
I did a lot of canning and freezing over the years but life moves on. Now it’s easier to pick them up at the grocery store with seasonal availability no longer an issue.
Raspberries were a big part of my life too, for all the same reasons, but I liked strawberries so much better. Still do. Probably because raspberries were so much easier to grow and the abundance was a burden sometimes. And they aren’t as sweet.
So many good memories. I could go for some right about now. All this talk is making me hungry for sweet strawberries.
You Tuber Ottawalks, is live streaming at the Trucker protest in Ottawa Canada, thousands are dancing and having a good time despite the cold, There were many more people this afternoon when it was warmer, even so, there are still thousands spread all around the area.
This guy has a good camera with sharp picture and he is doing an excellent job.
19,419 currently watching. He has 117K subscribers. Well worth watching.
This event will go down in history. Such a gathering is unheard of.
Another snow storm raged overnight and this morning we were met with polka dot windows. The sun is shining brightly after yesterday’s gray day. The cheerful rays filtering through the pretty windows make me smile. An excellent start to the day.
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My current read is coming to a close and I’m anxious to see how it ends. Will the vile man with an evil plot win? This is my first time with this author and it has been a good experience. I look forward to seeing her again.
A Vessel of Mercy
An impossible marriage. An unforgivable act. A story of redemption testing the bounds of forgiveness and the depths of God’s grace.
1842, New York. Abigail Wyndham, daughter of English nobleman turned investor, Sir Rathburn, has crossed the ocean to be reunited with her father. As she comes of age, however, she discovers she is only a pawn in her father’s schemes, fated to secure a business deal and preserve the family reputation.
Charles Henderson appears to have it all: a thriving shipping company and the hand of the prized Lady Abigail Wyndham. But he is a broken man who commits the unspeakable—an act that threatens to ruin all he has built and puts Abby’s very life—and faith—at risk. In a prison of his own making, Charles grapples between guilt and God’s grace. Can a sinful, self-seeking man ever believe in the hope Abby so desperately wants him to receive? Or will scandal send him to the gallows?
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I haven’t checked for book suggestions yet this morning, if anything shows up I will be getting back to you later.
They have arrived. Yesterday I mentioned one of my sons and his family had lifted off from Asia on their way home after too long (restrictions and all that.) They have landed! We are excited, I’m sure you can’t tell! Since I’m in the middle of Canada and they landed on the west coast, we need picture proof once they are finished with customs. They will be exhausted after weeks of preparation and then the long flight, but joy at being home safely with family will overrule all that, at least until they see their beds. Those of us here in middle Canada are content with having them back in the country even if it will be a number of weeks before we get to hug them in person.
Meanwhile, back here in my reality, I will have to fetch one of my local grandsons from his friend’s birthday party soon. He wants to spend the night at my house and I couldn’t be happier. The promised snow storm is underway and I need to grocery shop for today and tomorrow. It’s cold and snowy but at least I will have help packing and carrying. He doesn’t know the plan just yet. He may groan a little but he’ll help. Especially if I promise pie and ice cream.
He doesn’t know I’m hoping to take him out for supper, weather permitting. I have a Christmas gift of dinner for two and this is my first chance to find an available “someone”. He is good company and we will have a good time.
Tomorrow his brothers and parents will be here to install my new kitchen tap. The old one developed a leak and I am excited to have a working tap and hot water in that sink once again.
Today has turned out to be a good day, even if it is grey. No brilliant sunshine in sight.
The snow is so dry and fine, it’s difficult to see it falling but trust me, it is.
I haven’t noticed much of interest in book suggestions this morning but I will double check again later just to be sure.
The beauty of dry, fine snow is the small accumulation. No deep drifts to drive through when I’m out and about. What a blessing.
We had lift off. I’m excited and relieved all at the same time. We can never be sure things will go well until the door closes and the plane starts to move. It was comforting to have a text saying we are on board.
My son and the rest of his family are on their way back home to Canada. So looking forward to seeing them. It’s been way too long, mostly because of all the restrictions of the last two years. Mind you it will be awhile until we actually get to see them. Canada is big and they are not landing anywhere near me.
In the meantime one of my daughter’s sons will be at a birthday party near me and he asked his mom if he could stay overnight with me. How cool is that for a young teen? The rest of his family will be here Sunday to install my new kitchen tap, replacing the leaky one. It will be a treat to have hot water in that sink again.
My current read is very different, that’s for sure. Different centuries involved. I’m still trying to figure out where she’s going with this.
Maybe I’ll have time for more tomorrow. Maybe not though with a grandson to enjoy.
For the Love of Books 