Pain and Suffering and Growth

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Mood: ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ by Steppenwolf

Pain

This last week has been a rough one; for quite a while now my right knee has been degenerating to the point where the meniscus has broken down to the point the knee joint is bone-on-bone. Some 30 years back, the same knee had an ACL replacement and this is ‘normal’ after such a time.

The weather always
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fredhincanada:
And peace to you, too.  Excellent blog, as always and a positive overall message. Thank you, my friend.

Half & Half, Spring Has Sprung and We’ve Lost An Hour

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Mood: ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ by Dr. John

Vernal Equinox

Ancient astronomy has been an interest of mine for so many years. It has fascinated me how almost every ancient civilization had some form of astral calendar, from the Medicine Wheel in Wyoming to Stonehenge in Great Britain to the orientation of the pyramids in Egypt and Central America.

The first records of the term
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fredhincanada:
Interesting post!  Love hearing about Spring and how it is approached. Still hate Daylight Savings Time, though.

Is Your Heart Into Mardi Gras?

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Mood: Ain’t Nothin’ But A Party by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Just Enjoy Thyselves

For a few years now I have taken a Thursday night out of the month and had what I call an After Work Thursday Social at the Bradicombs, my humble abode. The idea has been to have people I work with drop by after work is done, stay for the
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fredhincanada:
This is an exceptional post, my friend. Interesting, heartwarming and hunger inducing. I am honestly impressed with your Socials and would truly be interested in hearing more. Thank you for sharing.
bradmax:
@fredhincanada Appreciated! I enjoy cooking and baking, as you might guess, even as it gets a little tiring working 10-hour days, but so worth it when company arrives and fun ensues!

The Bookish Life

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Mood: ‘A Wink and a Smile’ by Harry Connick, Jr.

Good Golly, Great Gifts!

This last Christmas, I received a gift I did not give enough credit to at the time. I definitely thanked the person who presented it to me, as it was something dear to my Collector’s Heart: books. Not just any books, but vintage books! Even the ‘wrapping’ was great, as it...
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fredhincanada:
Thank you for this totally bitchin’ blog. Well done my friend!
crystalparadis:
I love having a bookshelf too. but I almost never read ahah

An Update on Health, on Writing and Ephemera

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Mood: Lux Aeterna by Christopher Tin

A Month of Hardship Traversed

Firstly, an update on the health issues of last blog; two and a half weeks out from her aortic valve replacement surgery Mom is going great! No lasting effects, though she has yet to visit her heart specialist for the after-surgery check-up, but al this point there does not seem to be much worry...
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libris:
I'm so glad your mom is doing well.  There's really nothing worse than watching loved ones decline in old age, but I suppose that's a mixed blessing being that they lived long enough to be a senior.  I hope you get the green light for your knee replacement, I know you're ready to get back to your life without pain.  Much love!

A Wild Whirlwind of a Week!

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Mood: Gregorian Chants, any and all.

Stay The Course

Last Week: My Dad has been dealing with a UTI for a few weeks and did not seem to be getting better with a course of antibiotics. On top of which, there were a few mornings of slurred speech and even one where he was hallucinating! So, not knowing a better plan, Mom and I took
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VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
bradmax:
@libris Thank you; the words are appreciated, especially when there is nothing more I can do for the parents and feel there should be. It’s rough on the psyche, even when I absolutely understand I have done what I need to and all that can be done. Dad is in the rougher state and we have another nurse in house today so Mom can have a day of downtime. I tell her she can call anytime she needs me upstairs, but she protects me so I can sleep, like a good mother, so it wears on her. I am rambling now, so let me say again: thank you.
libris:
@bradmax You're doing the best you can!  I'm sure your parents appreciate it.

What Happened To The Dream?

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He Had A Dream

He said: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners
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libris:
Wonderful blog as always!  Hate is definitely a contagious disease.  I think most people try to have a good heart; and that comes through when disaster strikes for others and they rally to help others.  I have faith in humanity for the most part.  My faith in the government though, ehhhhhhh.
bradmax:
@libris Yeah, I try hard to keep my faith in humanity, but it is always tinged with the truth of human nature. Still, even that is eclipsed by the ability of humanity to overcome and make great strides in lessening hate and discrimination. We have come very far in this country, but will likely always have more to go. It has been a while since I have felt any great faith in the government other than their ability to fuck things up.

Love; Loss; Love; Life.

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Mood: ‘Lovely Day’ by Bill

Reflections On ‘Lost’ Love


I do not know how long it took or when it happened. Understanding that death isn’t the end of emotion, isn’t the end of Love (or other long-held emotions). Understanding that, like many hardships in Life, that the flames of pain must needs be walked through to the end, to survive them and learn from the
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fredhincanada:
This was a well crafted and beautiful message and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to write it out. You are most certainly a romantic, but not hopeless. You have a good heart. Et tibi.
bradmax:
@fredhincanada Thank you, sir. All we can do is keep on keeping on as best we can, and I intend to keep on doing so!

Another Solar Revolution Celebration

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Mood: “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf


No Worse For the Wear

Not yet quite into my sexagenarian years, with reasonably good health but with a damned traitorous knee which requires replacement, another Solar rotation still finds me enjoying the life I have.

The octogenarian parents were not feeling up to a 40 minute drive, so an incredible Bavarian meal was not in the birthday cards,
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libris:
Happy  birthday, I hope you have a wonderful year!

The Twelve days of Christmas, Saint Feasts and Sherlock Holmes

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Mood: ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain

Why Twelve Days?

I do not know why it surprises me that many people do not know the significance of the number of days, but it is very simple in the explanation: from the birth of Christ to the arrival of the Three Wise Men, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, was a span of twelve days, now known as
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libris:
My favourite holidays are the ones that revolve around food!  Yesterday while on my way to work I heard on NPR a story from a family of orthodox Christians  preparing for epiphany's feast.  Of note was the animals of the home get fed first representing the animals that surrounded the manger.  So sweet!
bradmax:
@libris I appreciate your reading of my blogs. It is fun for me to do the research I do for some of them, but more so that there are those who appreciate the writing. There were so many traditions with some of the feast days, it would be fun to organize a few of these Christmas feasts with never-before-tried recipes!
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