Saturday, November 29, 2014

What's Left?

"The whole world can become the enemy,
 when you lose what you love."

~Kristina McMorris
Bridge Of Scarlet Leaves


 Yesterday was Friday, but not just any Friday... Black Friday. A day Alan and I cherish as much as any other holiday celebrated during the year. We look forward to this day, because we are avid people watchers. People are interesting, and Black Friday can bring out the best, worst, and eccentric in the people who clammer for bargains! So, Alan and I make the trek to our favorite place to watch the Black Friday holiday tradition, Union Square in San Francisco.

 
We had planned to leave the house at 10:00 am, but we ended up sleeping in. As midday rolled around we decided to make our way over to the city. When we got there, we found that the crowds in and around the city were larger than we had seen in recent years, so much so, that finding a place to park proved impossible. That, coupled with more than one grouchy driver, also looking for a place to park, made us come to the conclusion that we had just left the house too late to find a place to park. So, with a bit of sadness, we left Union Square, and headed instead for the Embarcadero Center.


 Embarcadero Center is also a wonderful place to shop, but it's parking is always easy to deal with, and with the added attraction of the Holiday Ice Rink, it made for a much calmer day. The trees that line the plaza are all lit up with Autumn color, and the happiness of the folks enjoying the ice rink was downright contagious! Oh my, I love it there! I even took a short walk through Sue Bierman park in search of the famous San Francisco parrots, but they had decided to fly elsewhere in the city, I will have to try again next week. 



Anyway, we decided to leave the city and head home for dinner around 4 pm. When we got home, about an hour later, we heard on the news that Union Square had been overrun by protesters just after we left. Protestors still fighting the injustice that happened earlier this week in Ferguson Missouri. Ferguson... a heartbreaking situation if ever there was one. I remember being told "policeman are our friends" as a child. I remember being told, "If you are ever scared or lost, find a policeman and he, or she, will help you." Sigh. I don't believe that anymore. 

Children are dying. The enemy... what does the enemy look like? Is he black? Is he white? Does he look like a cop? Does he wear a mask? Does she carry a stick? How about a stone? Does the name he or she call me really not hurt me? How about the preconceived notions about who I am and what I am about based on the most superficial information? Will that hurt me? Will the enemy scream in my ear, nearly breaking my eardrum, because I am wearing a leopard print coat, like I was wearing that one year? No... wait... Peta are the good guys, fighting the good fight, right?

Who is the enemy? 

Who is the friend?

As I sit here writing this, it has already been reported that just after the Union Square tree lighting ceremony had finished, windows had been knocked out at Macy's. Protestors were walking to the square with hammers in their hands. Workers at a nearby jewelry store were cowering in the corner of the store. Protestors were shouting... "Black Friday Doesn't Matter, Black Lives Do!"

I couldn't agree more. I haven't purchased a single thing on Black Friday in over 20 years. Not one thing. My heart aches for Michael Brown. I understand the need for protesting your beliefs and will defend it with my dying breath, but not the violence. Not the breaking of windows and looting. It's sad, and desperate and the message gets lost in the violence. 

That's the saddest part... The Message Gets Lost In The Violence. 
And when that happens, what's left?

Leaf Of The Day



Mood: Quiet

~Me :)


Friday, November 28, 2014

CHARGE IT!

"Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Woman enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ectasy of the purchase."

~Erma Bombeck

It's Black Friday... GAME ON BITCHES! 

Stores on my list include...

Old Navy
Macy's
Bloomingdales

Union Square... Here I Come!

But not until the afternoon. As I write this it's just about midnight Easter Time, so while it is technically Black Friday, there are 3 more hours in Thanksgiving Pacific Time, and I am doing nothing more ambitious than falling asleep in front of Netflix. I am too old to run out in the middle of the night, just to save 10% on a toaster. But come Friday afternoon... GAME ON BITCHES... if there is anything left. I don't know, do you think there will be a big run on spoon rests, pizzele makers and thermal shirts?

God I AM Boring!

Leaf Of The Day


Mood: Grateful

~Me :)

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving

"The whole of the life... even the hard... is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole. These are new language lessons, and I live them out. There is a way to live the big of giving thanks in all things. It is this: to give thanks in this one small thing. 
The moments will add up."

~Ann Voskamp, 
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are

 Haiku ( Autumn Emotion )
By OndineMonet

Thanksgiving Is Here
Warmth Love Joy Happiness Cheer
Autumn Leaves Will Fall

From Our House To Yours...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Grateful

~Me :)
 


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Giving Thanks

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart,
 it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."

~A.A. Milne
Winnie-The-Pooh

I am so thankful for my life. I am one of the lucky ones. Alan, my fur babies, my friends. The roof over my head. All the experiences I have had in life. All the pictures I have taken, and the lessons each one held. All the good moments, and the sad ones too... 
All these things led me to where I am right this moment! 

With A Grateful Heart I Say...

Thank You!

Leaf Of The Day

:)

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Solice In The Golden Sunsets

"It is the hour of pearl... the interval between day
 and night when time stops and examines itself."

~John Steinbeck
Cannery Row

I appreciate sunsets, especially the golden ones like this. 
And just think... tomorrow... it will happen again!

"It's all fine to say, "Time will heal everything, this too shall pass away. People will forget"... and things like that when you are not involved, but when you are there is no passage of time, people do not forget and you are in the middle of something that does not change."

~John Steinbeck
Cannery Row

Leaf Of The Day
Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

Monday, November 24, 2014

October's Oddities

"I only sing in the shower. I would join a choir,
 but I don't think my bathtub can hold that many people."

~Jarod Kintz
Who Moved My Choose?: An Amazing Way To Deal With Change
 By Deciding To Le Indecision Into Your Life

Last month, while on vacation, and loving October completely, I came across many different sights and sounds that were awesome, but that I just couldn't seem to fit into an Ellipsis post. But yesterday, while going through last months archives, I decided that it would be a shame to not let these photos be seen, so here is a little more from October. Random Yes! But oh so fun!

Enjoy!

 I Couldn't Agree More!

Yes, Go Giants! But TMI!

 It Gets Cold In San Francisco

Me Too!

SSSSSSSSSssssssssssssss!

Pretty, But Odd. Pretty Odd. 

 I Wonder If Her Name Is Ondine?

I love photography, I love seeing things and capturing their image forever...
 or until my computer crashes! LOL

;)

Leaf Of The Day


Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Turtle And The Leaves...

"Truly Autumn is my season," the scarlet beast chortled. "Spring and Summer and Winter all begin with such late letters! But Autumn and Fall, I have loved best, because they are best to love."

~Catherynne M. Valente
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making

Just leaves... bouncing along...

But look closely, there's also a turtle... 

 I wonder how he got here, and where he is going?

It's a mystery.

Leaf Of The Day
 


Mood: Happy
~Me : )