ghosts of moments gone by

Had a really bad night last night. Couldn't sleep.Tossed and turned. Recounted lots of my blunders, past mistakes and errors/lapses of judgement. Not an easy walk through all these years later . . .

July 27

A feather or two a day . . .

feathers, feathers everywhere

Feathers, feathers everywhere

finding my center . . .

feathers

This morning I took a walk and discovered another feather on my street . . .

I also went into work for a couple of hours and as I exited my car in the school's parking lot I came across another unexpected treasure.

It's always a pleasure . . .

I kept it . . .

I've been coming across a lot of feathers lately. I found a feather in my building yesterday.  It was still in the same place a day after I first noticed it. I normally don't disturb the feathers that I encounter as I'm not sure that they are more than mine to observe, but today was different. After a lot of back and forth about displacing the feather, I decided that the universe sent that feather to me, directly to my building, and brought it home.

Another day, another feather . . .

I discovered this feather on this morning's walk on the esplanade along the sea.  I wasn't expecting one there.  Definitely a nice surprise.

feathers galore . . .

It's hot here. Way too hot for me so no walk today.  However, I needed to go to the shops.  I love this neighborhood because everything is within walking distance.

So . . .

First feather of the day was beautiful and I came across it in the lobby of my building.

and then came across lots of different feathers on my way.

I know, I know. It's crazy, right?    It's amazing and I love it.

Maybe I'm considering becoming a believer . . .

another day, another feather or two. . .

This morning during my walk I came across 2 more feathers.

and

Wow! 

If I believed, I'd think that this is really cool. I'd think that the universe was trying to teach me something.

If I believed . . .

morning walk

I came across this feather this morning. It was in my path. Huh . . .

If I believed, I would think that someone is trying to tell me something.

If I believed . . .

If I believed . . .

Classes ended on June 26. They were remote. We started distance teaching on March 13.  It was a long term.

This was my 10th year at OIS. As I am retiring (yeah) I have been at the school on and off this month wrapping things up: returning books, organizing papers, packing up my desk, stripping files from my work computer, clearing up loose ends, etc.

On my desk in the Drama room, a small, poorly lit, partially underground room I was relegated to teaching in so often over the years that the former principal referred to it as "Ramona's room", I found a pretty white feather.  It was quite a nice surprise as there was no reason that a feather should be there. It wasn't part of a costume, display or student work.  Huh . . . Later that same day on the way to the recycling bin I, once again, noticed a feather this time grey and white on the path. Huh. . .

I've been trying to get some exercise in the mornings. I stay close to home and on a recent morning walk I once more noticed a grey and white feather in my path. Huh . . .

But what does it mean? 

According to The Centre of Excellence (https://centreofexcellence.com)  "A flurry of feathers . . .
. . . or even a single feather is thought to be one of the most familiar ways an angel messenger may attempt to connect with us. If you keep finding feathers appearing out of nowhere, often in random places, chances are it's a gift from the angels."

If I believed I just might think that I have just moved forward on a new path, a spiritual path.

If I believed . . .

Countin' the days

Term 2 began on January 6.

We were lookin' at 7 weeks of classes before our half-term break.  Hooray, it's finally arrived. This morning I had the luxury of sleeping until 7:37 this morning.  Went for a walk and stopped in a café for breakfast. The rest of the day will include a film at the mall and dinner in Setúbal.  No marking today, no prep work for the upcoming week. A very different Sunday for me.

Next break is a 2-week Spring (Easter) break. 

Countin' the days . . .

vintage European

New streets

“Chapter One of My Life. I walk down the street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. 
I am lost. I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It still takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I'm in the same place! But it isn't my fault. And it still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there. I still fall in. It's a habit! My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter Four. I walk down the same street. There's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter Five. I walk down a different street.” 
― Portia Nelson, There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

I'm looking for new/different streets to explore in 2019.

another sad story . . .

http://robshypnosis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/relationship-problems.jpg

Although the calendar says that it's fall, Portugal hasn't yet got the memo. It's warm and we're still sleeping with the windows open at night.

Last night I heard a woman walking up the street crying at 1am. She was talking with someone on her phone and while I couldn't make out exactly what she was saying, I knew from her tears and tone that she was heartbroken . . .

TAP Portugal Stopover

My 2nd voice over job - hahahahaha
TAP Portugal Stopover

Totally cool . . .

and then there was one . . .

http://img03.deviantart.net/fd03/i/2010/059/7/0/rain_street_by_bondxgirl23.jpg

On a dreary Friday night we sat in rush hour traffic on our way to Lisbon. Anxious to reach our destination but dreading it all the same. We were together but quiet and alone with our thoughts. It was particularly cold and dark. It was one of those rainy nights that there is no illumination at all. The rain and cloud cover felt heavy and the little light that the street lights and headlights cast was shadowy and threatening. But it was fitting and really couldn't have been any other way as we were going to the vet's to pick up our cat who had died. She had cancer and didn't make it through her first bout of chemotherapy.  The cancer was advanced so the point of the chemo was to reduce the mass to give her some relief and buy her some more time. Buy her some time and buy us some more time with her.  

As I got out of the car I turned my collar to the wind and took a deep breath. . .



". . .Come home just this one last time
       'cause we never said goodbye.
       Come home just this one last time
       'cause my eyes are still not dry  . . ." Tokunbo
https://youtu.be/wXZgQX1Ds98

Voice Over

http://www.rolemommy.com/Betty%20White%20Lorax%20in%20session%20artwork.jpg

I did a really cool thing today but let me start my story at the beginning.

In late July/early August I saw an ad from a business on a Facebook group that I belong to looking for American English speakers to do voice over work.  I responded by email and they asked me to send a voice sample.  I sent the sample early August and they said that they would contact me in the future if there was a need.

They contacted me earlier this week to go to their studio to record samples for a possible job.

It was very cool. . .

To hear me: http://www.voxartist.pt/pedido-de-casting/   I am Ref 735

Earthquake alert

We experienced a mild earthquake this morning at 12:26am.  There was no damage and all is well.

Magnitude ML 3.2 Region PORTUGAL Date time 2015-07-18 23:26:25.4 UTC Location 38.79 N ; 9.35 W Depth 15 km Distances 21 km NW of Lisbon, Portugal / pop: 517,802 / local time: 00:26:25.4 2015-07-19 3 km NW of Rio de Mouro, Portugal / pop: 54,695 / local time: 00:26:25.4 2015-07-19

Source parameters reviewed by a seismologist


More information at:   Instituto Portugues do Mar e da Atmosfera, Seismologia Lisbon, Portugal

Urgeiriça - July 4

http://cdn.cmjornal.xl.pt/2015-04/img_757x426$2015_04_12_19_08_59_446327.jpg

The in-service week at school finished on July 3 and a small break was due.

We traveled to Urgeiriça to have a look see. Urgeiriça was know for its uranium mines and it is said that Marie Curie was supplied with uranium from here.  According to Wikipedia control of this mine was a source of concern during WWII.

Urgeiriça is not more than a collection of miner's cottages (very well kept) and the hotel which is on the outskirts of town. It was so small that it didn't even boast a café.

We stayed at the Hotel Urgeiriça on the outskirts of town. This out-of-the-way hotel hosted many important foreigners including Clarissa Eden, Winston Churchill's niece, who married Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon. He was 27 years her senior and was the British Prime Minister from 1955-57. The hotel's old world charm set the right tone for a quiet weekend.

http://cdn.hotfrog.pt/companies/Hotel-Urgeiri%C3%A7a/images/Hotel-Urgeiri%C3%A7a_8156_image.jpg

Canas de Senhorim is a stone's throw away and with a population of approximately 3,500 people offers everything that one would need: shops, movies, restaurants and entertainment. The stone architecture in this region is of interest as are the pillories. Evidently there are 3 different routes that promote this region's architecture.

http://cdn3.igogo.pt/fotos/05/51/cruzeiro-de-canas-de-senhorim-2-2.jpg

A little further afield is Viseu, a 30 minute drive from Urgeiriça. Viseu is a thriving hub of life and culture. The city is clean and modern and the historic center is full of historic buildings, restaurants, cafes, shops and other places of interest.

http://www.luluviagens.com/imgcrop/uploads/geo_article_image/image/91/Viseu_-_Largo_D._Duarte__p__1_595_300.jpg

Jacaranda

In my neighborhood the main street is lined with jacaranda trees.  They bloom in late May and early June. They are breathtaking.

Always worth the wait . . .

Waiting . . .

http://hd.wallpaperswide.com/thumbs/waiting_cat-t2.jpg

Waiting for the jacaranda . . .

some daze . . .

http://www.ghostofaflea.com/archives/Casablanca.jpg

some days I feel very far from who I really am . . .

groundhog day . . .

It's Groundhog Day. Again . . .

I'm from Pittsburgh and we make a very big deal about Groundhog Day. I love this film and we can learn a lot about ourselves from it. I'm grateful that most days are different from one another . . . Happy Groundhog Day!

fair is fair . . .

Every 5 year old, regardless of race, religion or country of origin, knows that one of the basic principles of life has to do with being "fair."  You can hear the cries on the playground, "Not fair. Do over."  They are willing to share the only cookie with 1 or 2 or even 3 others, but they each insist that the pieces be equal. They cry out of frustration when they believe that something isn't fair.

And yet, as we grow older, most people seem to want the lion's share of whatever the hell it is.  If one receives less, they shout, "It isn't fair." But for many, dare I say most, they want more than you have and will shove you out of the way to get it.

I have spent my adult life looking at this issue.  I don't think there is a person more fair than me on planet Earth.  I tend to look at the entire situation before deciding what's fair and what isn't.  Got to say this has not gotten me very far, nor has it earned my ANY respect.  In fact, I would said just the opposite.  I would venture to say that others think I am weak because I don't have an agenda nor do I try to take advantage or get an edge up on others. The word "stupid" has even been used.  A friend of mine asked me a few years ago, "Who told you that life was supposed to be fair?"

Well, my conclusion is this.  Yeah, maybe life isn't fair but people should be. . .

no time . . .

http://regmedia.co.uk/2006/12/18/time_magazine_poty.jpg

I'm a blogger who doesn't have time to blog. Now, what's wrong with that? In the past couple of weeks I've seen and learned about things that require reflection and I just don't have the time or energy to address my life.

A couple of weeks ago on a sunny Sunday morning Luís and I decided to take a ride out to Colares to go to the market. We take the route along the coast as it's such a beautiful drive. As we were driving up the hill from Malveira to Azoia an emergency vehicle passed us with a blaring siren. By the time we reached the crest of the hill we happened upon a motorcycle accident. There were 3 motorcycles and men strewn across the road. The EMT's were helping one of the victims. He was bleeding and they had put something under his head so that his face and head were protected.  As I drove carefully through this scene, which was like something out of a movie,  I looked around me and took it all in. I focused on one body. It was still. It was soooooo still. He was dead. You just knew it. You could actually feel it. The lifelessness of the man lying face-down on the cold concrete unattended and alone despite the spectators milling around . . .    They closed the road to traffic only minutes shortly thereafter and it stayed closed for the better part of 4 hours. Later that evening this story opened the news: 2 dead and 1 hanging onto life as a result of a motorcycle collision.

So many lives changed in a split second. . .

a practical guide for living the life you want . . .

Happy New Year

journey to peace . . .

Rockin' around the Christmas tree . . .

Merry Christmas . . .

Happy Thanksgiving

You can take the girl out of the USA, but your can't that the USA out of the girl. Some traditions are keepers. Hope you have lots to be thankful for.

Sunday morning . . .

fall in my neck of the woods . . .

back to school . . .

100 years ago . . .

My morning walks have taken an interesting turn in the past few days.  It seems that someone is reminding us daily as to the events of WW1.  Each day a new declaration is added to this wall and we watch (in retrospect) as the world goes mad.  WW1 was to be the war to end all wars.

With all the problems that we are facing today it is clear that we haven't made much progress in the past 100 years. . .

the thing is . . .

http://lactimonte.pt/produtos/queijos-curados

I ran up to the corner store a few minutes ago to get some chicken and a couple little round cheeses that are tasty and cheap as chips.  When I was checking out I noticed that I was being charged a little more for each of the cheeses and asked about it. I was told the price (per cheese) which was not the price that was displayed in the dairy section. The difference was only pennies and I have no dispute with raising the price nor with the new price - the product is still a good quality/price value.  My problem is with the fact that they raised the price and didn't change the pricing in the cooler. I have a problem with the sloppiness in which they conduct their business.

As I write this, one of the families in my building is moving out.  The young woman has beautiful things hanging on her walls. Her apartment was on the first floor and you could see into her apartment in the evening. Her blinds are kept open and with the lights on inside we can get a glimpse into her life. I am watching her movers (40 something well-built guys who should have a bit of experience under their belts) load up the van (yes, it's a van not a truck) and I've noticed that they did not even "masking tape" her pictures let alone wrap them properly to help prevent breakage.  And I hope, even though I barely know this girl, that her things arrive at her new place in the same condition as they left here as her apartment was a home not just a bunch of stuff shoved into a rental unit and only serving a practical purpose.

While neither of these examples is earth-shaking or a clear indicator of the decline of western civilization, they are however, examples of our general slide into apathy or a general cultural/ethical malaise. Nothing deserves our attention. "Good enough" or "close enough" is now the standard.

The thing is that these days I find myself a teacher and I'm trying to instruct my students to do their best. It doesn't make my job any easier or the world a better place if the "good enough" attitude becomes the norm.

At the risk of sounding redundant I will, once again, stress that I hope my surgeon, anesthesiologist, dentist, banker, car manufacturer, lawyer, and pharmacist to name a few, each prove to have a healthy work ethic and strive for something better than "good enough."


Side note: Went back to my little market and found that the price of the cheese is now correctly marked in the cooler;-)

a day at the beach . . .

Mornings at the beach in July are interesting. School is out but parents are still working. The kids are in day care centers and day camps. Since we are just a hop, skip, and jump away from the ocean, the kids are loaded into cars, vans and buses for a morning at the beach.  They walk from the parking lot in two-by-two holding hands. They are usually recognizable by their hats.  We have green hats, red hats, blue hats. Well, you get the idea. The adults in charge try to mark territory using shoes and backpacks to help contain the little ones.

The beach is totally full of little kids darting this way and that.

I can think of nothing more stressful than spending the morning with a bunch of pre-schoolers at the beach. hahahahaha

FIFA

http://media.i24news.nbs-test.com/upload/cache/front_article/upload/image/afp-23c0360ec1b2566b519b7182599af0262530d452.jpg

Soccer is a VERY big deal here in Portugal.  The FIFA World Cup was on everyone's television and the focus of conversation for the past month.

The final game was Argentina vs. Germany. Although I'm not much of  a sports enthusiast, I was rooting for Argentina. They didn't win . . .

I watched the final at a friend's house.  It was fun . . .

down time

http://www.cm-cascais.pt/sites/default/files/styles/destaque-home/public/imagens/eventos/new/banner_624x312.png?itok=NMI-nE6A

Took a stroll through Cascais this afternoon despite the heat.

Lots going on this time of year. Yeah!

OMG

http://www.newmeadowslobster.com/prodphotos/Lobster_Dinner_Served_On_Plate_4152719.jpg

Guess what I had for lunch today. Yes, lunch. On a Friday for no particular reason. All I can say is OMG!

still working . . .

http://www.turzain.com/assets/images/estoril_garrett_1L.JPG

Although I worked today I made time to exercise in the morning and stop for an expresso this afternoon at a chic café. . .

let the summer begin . . .

Today was the last day of classes and school ended at 1pm.  The teachers have at least one more week of hard work preparing units for the next school year, but this afternoon was set aside for lunch in a restaurant near my home.  Sardines and Chicken Curry were a nice change from my usual brown bag fare.

Such a treat . . .

We are what we are . . .

                We are not quite novels.

                We are not quite short stories.

                In the end, we are collected works.

                                                                                               Gabrielle Zevin 

it's jacaranda time again . . .

Av. de Saboia

All is well with the world when the jacarandas are in bloom.

If you look closely you can see that even the fallen petals make the world a more beautiful place . . .

So long . . .

One of my favorite students left the school today. I'll surely miss her but she's headed home. She is an American student from the south and is all full of yes ma'ams and no ma'ams. She's also full of energy and wonder and excellence. Her father was at NATO and although they originally planned on staying in Portugal longer, he received orders . . .

Before she left, she was generous enough to think of me and brought me a bunch of flowers.  It was so thoughtful. But then again, so is Lauren. . .

She will be greatly missed. I wish only the best for her.