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The other day, one of my friends posted the following on their wall: "Your beliefs don't make you a better person - your behavior does."

For me, that made a lot of sense. It isn't what we believe that defines us, it's how we behave. I understand why the anti-religious become so incensed at some of the religious. There have been so many things done in the name of God that are so wrong and un-Godly that one wonders how people can possibly justify it to themselves, nevermind anyone else.

But, being human, we can and do justify anything and everything we do, no matter how wrong it may be to others, as long as it satisfies our own wants.

Personally, it doesn't matter to me whether someone believes in God or not. It does matter to me when someone espouses their beliefs but their behaviour is contradictory. It does matter to me when beliefs are used to restrict any freedom. It does matter to me when beliefs are used to justify war, greed, hate and separatism.

I've known people that are overtly religious that use God as an excuse and a crutch. Their lives aren't all they want them to be, because God wants it that way. It's God's will. Nothing is their fault or their responsibility - that's what God wants.

I do take issue with that. If God gave us free will, then God doesn't make us do anything - we make the choice to say and do what we do. It's not God's will - it's our own. We are responsible for how we feel, what we do and what we say. We are responsible for what we think. We aren't responsible for what others feel, think, say or do - only for ourselves. But don't you enjoy being around people that are happy, up-lifting and motivating? Don't you enjoy spending time with those that find the positives in you and don't you find that if you're around positive people, that it's easy to see the positives in others and in life?

Personally, if someone is de-motivating, negative and insulting, I don't care what they believe - they aren't fit to be in my life. I'm only here once, and if I can help make this world a better place by giving whatever I can to others and helping others to feel good about themselves and to be the best they can be, and by being the best I can be, then I will have lived.

As humans, we have the capacity to lift each other up and encourage each other to be the absolute best we can be. We can choose to see the strengths we each have, to encourage those strengths, and to overcome our weaknesses. We also have the ability to rip each other to shreds, to stomp on anything positive, and destroy each other, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.

And it doesn't necessarily take a belief in anything to do that. For me, what people believe is simply an opinion. It's neither right nor wrong, it just is. What they believe is right for them. Just like what I believe, is right for me - as long as no one else is being harmed. Spirituality is not a competition. No one likes to have beliefs shoved down their throats, regardless of what those beliefs are.

It becomes 'wrong' when they attempt to force their beliefs on the rest of society. It becomes wrong when people hold themselves as 'better' than others because of their beliefs, but behave in a manner completely diametrically opposed to what love, kindness and compassion is. It becomes wrong when some people are excluded, and that exclusion is justified in the name of their beliefs.

Those that believe in religion find what they need in it and it works for them. I respect their commitment to it. Another common meme is 'Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who've already been there.' This implies that religious people are not spiritual, which is completely untrue. As with any belief system, there are those that can quote beliefs, but don't actually practice them, and those that let their behaviour be their spiritual indicator.

Bottom line? Talk is cheap - behaviour tells all.

Is it really that difficult? How many long-term relationships have formed due to this site? I have been here a few years now and I know of maybe 2 relationships that have formed. My friend who introduced me to this site found his wife on this site. And, Daniel. I didn't know him, he was sorta of leaving as I was getting on. But, I remember him posting a blog about becoming involved in a relationship. How many other do you know of?

How can one improve their chances?



My number one and two improvements seem to be a better profile and pictures of just me...and no females.


Maybe I should write a profile with a bunch of demands? For example, don't tell me I need a different profile. Or, shut your face about my pictures. Okay, a little dramatic here at the end.

Just a little bored here tonight....isn't that something, as soon as I get done working for like 12 hours...the moment after I eat, I am bored. Sounds like I need a woman. :)

So many times I heard people saying that they will never love again as it only brings pain but are they not doing themselves short for nothing? There is no guarantee the next affair will be the same.

Surely there must be some good memories sprouting from a sunken love affair. I mean why have the affair in the first place if it brought no happiness? If it brought no happiness then you have only yourself to blame for placing an expectation on something that was not to be. A lover is supposed to make you happy.

Love is too beautiful to be wasted but it needs not to be blind. You have to love with your eyes open. When you see the signs, don’t believe that it will go away for it will only grow worse. Break it off sooner than later and make it a clean break. Rather take a small hurt now than a much bigger hurt later.

Most aborted love affairs end in (or because of) some unpleasantness. That is life. When I think of the relationships I have been involved in, I only remember the good times. The bad times erase themselves with time. Don’t dwell on the shipwrecks of the past. Take the knock, put it behind you and get on with your life. There is no need to deprive yourself of all the joys of a future love. There is another love yet to come.

Don’t miss your dreamboat when it arrives. And if you discover that it is not the dreamboat that you thought it was, there is nothing to prevent you from jumping ship at the next harbor.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved.


Have a wonderful day.!

My Juke Box .........

Last addition: let’s twist again ..... Chubby Checker

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Tiny Dancer ..... Elton John




Despite being dedicated on the album to Maxime – the songwriter’s wife – Taupin would later say on a Rolling Stone interview that this song wasn’t about any woman in particular:

We came to California in the fall of 1970, and sunshine radiated from the populace. I was trying to capture the spirit of that time, encapsulated by the women we met–especially at the clothes stores up and down the Strip in L.A. They were free spirits, sexy in hip-huggers and lacy blouses, and very ethereal, the way they moved.

They were just so different from what I’d been used to in England. They had this thing about embroidering your clothes. They wanted to sew patches on your jeans. They mothered you and slept with you. It was the perfect Oedipal complex.

I was sitting there at the bar staring at my drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig.

"Well, whatcha' gonna do about it?" He says menacingly, as I burst into tears.


"This is the worst day of my life," I say. "I'm a complete failure.” I was late to a meeting, and my boss fired me.


When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen, and I don't have any insurance.


I left my wallet in the cab I took home.


I found my wife with another man... and then my dog bit me.


So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all.

"I buy a drink, I drop a cyanide capsule in, and I sit here watching the poison dissolve..............… and then you show up and drink the whole damn thing! But, enough about me, how are you doing?"

What a fantastic morning! Finally, we see some sun again. Getting up at 5:30 am to take advantage of the cool morning air, I headed out on my bike ride around the perimeter of the town, along the river.

It took me four hours to ride today, due to the many, many stops I made, the early morning light and shadows making everything so much more appealing. I'd barely started when some flowers amongst the blackberry brambles caught my attention, dew drops glistening in the dawn light.

I have no idea what the wildflowers are, definitely not part of the blackberry vines, growing on thick stalks in the middle of the thorny jungle. Several photos later and a 'good morning' to another early riser, I headed for the dike.

I noted that sun rays highlighted a grove of trees at the base of the mountain, and just as I changed lenses to take the shot, the sun breached the mountain top, flooding the area with luminescence. Standing in the shadow of a tree, long shadowy fingers stretched across the corn fields, their top leaves like thousands of spikes piercing the sky.

Cycling past the little old house that looked like it had sustained a fire in the back, with windows and doors boarded up, I'd been tempted to take a photo for our photo club's abandoned buildings subject. Too late! A huge caterpillar was already there, on top of a pile of debris which at one time would have been part of the house.

A slough on the other side of the road is home to a myriad of animals and birds. One particular dead tree, surrounded with brambles seems to attract a plethora of birds. I'd always vowed that one day I'd just sit by the tree and wait for the birds. Well, today was that day!

I had a hoodie in my panniers, and used that to sit on, while I waited for the birds to get used to my presence and frequent the tree. I was richly rewarded this morning, and saw all kinds of birds, many that I couldn't tell you what they are. The redwing blackbird was elusive as usual, however, I do believe I got a great shot of it as it puffed up both wings and screeched. A tiny hummingbird hovered right near me before landing on the tree. Unfortunately, a truck zoomed by and disturbed them, and the hummer was gone.

Around the country roads where blue chicory lines the asphalt, interspersed with yellow mustard, white, lacy Queen Anne's lace, deep yellow buttercups, and bright yellow dandelions. Barbed wire fencing separates the road shoulder from the large expanses of field, the early morning light turning it into an appealing photo.

I sat amongst the chicory and Queen Anne's lace for quite some time, photographing bees and the flowers. Further down the road, a red ladybug contrasted sharply with her green background.

Taking the path through the tunnel of foliage, I have to take my clippers again the next time to cut back the blackberry vines that choke the trail, grasping at clothing. Past another slough, I surprised a blue heron near the road in the slough, and a duck with her ducklings. I managed to get some of the ducklings, and one of the heron, although I have lots of photos of herons.

From there, it was pretty much head home, as I realized how much time I'd spent, the day was getting warmer, and I was needing a beverage of some kind. I did have water with me, but hadn't partaken of it - I probably should have.

Although I haven't checked my photos yet, I know I have some in there that I'll be really pleased with. I'm sure there'll be some kind souls that will let me know what some of the flowers and birds are. I'm certainly enjoying my camera, not just for it's photographic ability, but also because it's such a teaching tool!

You learn something new every day!

This weekend I'm a vendor at the local music and arts festival up at the lake resort, about a 15 minute drive from me. I've never attended before, thinking my natural health products wouldn't be much of a fit.

How wrong I was! Of course it's a fit, as the hot springs are up there and it's a huge tourist draw. So last weekend was a smashing success and I was more than pleased at the end of the weekend.

The festival continues this weekend, but for three days, starting yesterday. Yesterday was quite slow, as it was really hot and windy with very few customers. Considering how slow it was, I'm still really pleased with my sales for the day.

The venue is absolutely gorgeous, as all the vendor tents are pitched on the grass along the promenade with our backs to the lake. So all one has to do is turn around to enjoy an incredible view of the lake and mountains.

Last week, I'd kicked myself for not taking my camera - and didn't make that same mistake this weekend. When I arrived yesterday, a brightly coloured parasail was floating high above the lake, the glacier peaks of a distant mountain a stark contrast to the intense hues of the parasail.



Fortunately, I had gotten there early and had plenty of time to take photos before setting up. Although it was a perfect day for it, that was the only parasail that was on the lake yesterday, and I'm hoping today will bring more out before the market starts.

As with my other blogs, this is not for everyone,
certainly not those with short attention spans,
negative attitudes, nor of low IQ.
This will best be enjoyed, by those who want to learn and enjoy positivity
to inspire progress and change for the better.

Here is the full speech given by Obama today on the 16th Anniversary of
Nelson Mandela Day.

There is a growing body of legal opinion that between his involvement and non-actiions, in the January 6 attempted coup and his statements about throwing out the US Constitution if elected President again (which is itself a tacit admission he recognizes he was not elected President in 2020) that Trump violated the provisions of Amendment 14, Section 3 of the US Constitution. Although it has been over 199 years since this clause was used to remove an elected Federal official from office or prevent their seeking one, it is still a very real part of the highest law in the United States.

The wording is:
"Section 3 Disqualification from Holding Office

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."

Several Federal judges and State election officials are maintaining this precludes Donald Trump from ever again being placed on a ballot for office.

Wow. Is about all I can say and in addition, what an eye opener to life. I have been living in blindness. Well, I have been living from a perspective of a pampered person. I have discovered first hand how growing up with both mom and dad around guiding me...being there for me....giving me a moral compass...being an open refuge at any time...showing me how to use my moral compass...etc.

What a beautiful upbringing. We were poor granted, we didn't have much....but we had a large family of 10 use and we all get along together even to this day.


Now to the eye opener.

Talking with a lady this weekend. She is 27. While sobbing her eyes out...she over and over proclaimed to me that "I have nothing, I have nothing." She wants a guy to love her. Puzzled...she was with a guy at the bar already. She explained that he was essentially a piece of crap, abusive, controlling, and he told her that he will be seeing other women also. She explained to me that she didn't know who her father was..her mother was a horrible person and she was raised by her grandparents who are now not wanting anything to do with her. She kept on saying, she is a strong woman. She does not know what a loving relationship even is...she never seen one and knows nothing about it. She had learned the street way on how to survive basically.

There are so many luxuries one has that has a strong supportive base if life happens to temporarily overcome you vs. ...somebody having nothing to fall back on.

It was a sad experience. She left with a smile with the abusive man. (putting on her happy face disguise.)

Some terrible realities out in life.