tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372850422024-02-19T08:08:09.579-06:00vagabond"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." --- Thoreauvagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.comBlogger880125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-48470332260859588432023-09-01T13:11:00.000-05:002023-09-01T13:11:10.249-05:00Looking back <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJrYn3tomhp5qh8ABBAna0u2Av2glCzIs42qJVgMs3fy5-iXXaM-WFD77HnH-szsKc9UN1qQgi_do7b3HHpusvBXhhJItW-GSqrJeGB30hJIB3kz8y6aNDRIGLlWnJzQTW2ZN0bIs0V2uzN9zGBdYC4y2ki-ptfMNW6sxyHwI0jHhVhVTZz-M/s1600/cabo2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJrYn3tomhp5qh8ABBAna0u2Av2glCzIs42qJVgMs3fy5-iXXaM-WFD77HnH-szsKc9UN1qQgi_do7b3HHpusvBXhhJItW-GSqrJeGB30hJIB3kz8y6aNDRIGLlWnJzQTW2ZN0bIs0V2uzN9zGBdYC4y2ki-ptfMNW6sxyHwI0jHhVhVTZz-M/s320/cabo2008.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ9ArVx2b1gcu0Hrca3U4Ak_JFWs_Ia0JOBxsvAWYu8lm7Q5OgOPrSFgdwN00uCwy4Y1nonD2NwyOMPq17g1FUk18tgrnBLdNlPmDWmgvNXUJ1eJONv0I2gxgILuWgfZTMqx-gJqPltZ6hVtmAnIb_KfK4UeZjGmlCkfhhVA0I9Yd_RNhVcy7/s1600/cabo20081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZ9ArVx2b1gcu0Hrca3U4Ak_JFWs_Ia0JOBxsvAWYu8lm7Q5OgOPrSFgdwN00uCwy4Y1nonD2NwyOMPq17g1FUk18tgrnBLdNlPmDWmgvNXUJ1eJONv0I2gxgILuWgfZTMqx-gJqPltZ6hVtmAnIb_KfK4UeZjGmlCkfhhVA0I9Yd_RNhVcy7/s320/cabo20081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /> I was talking to a friend who lives in Mexico and a feeling of nostalgia came over me. Well, as you know with me, it doesn't take much to make me feel nostalgic. <p></p><p>I found these pictures of the apartment I was renting when I<i> tried</i> to live in Cabo San Lucas back in 2008. What if I stayed and made Cabo my home? What if I made Cabo home and I learned to speak Spanish fluently and found a rich Mexican to build me my dream Mexican home? Would that have been a good choice? Instead of buying lands in the Philippines that would take me almost 2 days to travel compared to just 3 hours across the border from Texas. Two sad words: WHAT IF!</p><p>No regrets. I have a good life now. Not good but great.</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-67779000320704505722023-06-14T14:35:00.003-05:002023-06-14T14:39:55.106-05:00<p> I spent practically half a day yesterday rereading my old posts---all the way back to 2006. I just skimmed through each post and I was surprised to see how good my vocabulary was back then. I could tell I had fun too! My creative writing teacher used to tell us: If you want to write, read! And write every day. </p><p>Well, life or lack of it took over and I got lost in the maze of social media. But happy to say, I finally am reading good books again, and not posting everything I eat on Facebook. See? I can quit anytime. Says the addict.</p><p><br /></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-26938889865809443472023-06-06T14:08:00.000-05:002023-06-06T14:08:10.995-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MT6Z4HDBPW01mjK2agwxHH-GL_1KIGxwdEjH3YQ7xVHSX-1zUtNOrsjl7zmrd1GyQZzct14Rcna6Zn7ZdkIrL3h3l6X5mwp2QK_ye9FS6Be3cwFGgf36pvXOqto8S2AvwgAZVZM9LC6gL2xlN6zLTUjmB_8HCXt1Z4Dkl1ndplygPrMXBg/s4128/20220423_133601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MT6Z4HDBPW01mjK2agwxHH-GL_1KIGxwdEjH3YQ7xVHSX-1zUtNOrsjl7zmrd1GyQZzct14Rcna6Zn7ZdkIrL3h3l6X5mwp2QK_ye9FS6Be3cwFGgf36pvXOqto8S2AvwgAZVZM9LC6gL2xlN6zLTUjmB_8HCXt1Z4Dkl1ndplygPrMXBg/s320/20220423_133601.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Last year went back to Cabo San Lucas again and stayed the whole month of April. I love Mexico but for now I am sitting here in my crib in the woods listening to the birds. I wonder if birds get melancholic occasionally, like me. I doubt it, really.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBMGJW-OVYieEdUhlohX3wUuSMEt5-iEGPFCRM19DW_BBCeYNCOWzJ9fztCgVQE3k6TkT_4yxr3ogOZYGHoF7DAVkxVSFYUeIPOp6M4Pv-FX4QTX24imtqRRFa0zHft5NLVahMDd8qziPGNXKa22F1AW--kJBRmcZT3eOdWfVCXpo0L3ZZg/s4128/20211004_100012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBMGJW-OVYieEdUhlohX3wUuSMEt5-iEGPFCRM19DW_BBCeYNCOWzJ9fztCgVQE3k6TkT_4yxr3ogOZYGHoF7DAVkxVSFYUeIPOp6M4Pv-FX4QTX24imtqRRFa0zHft5NLVahMDd8qziPGNXKa22F1AW--kJBRmcZT3eOdWfVCXpo0L3ZZg/s320/20211004_100012.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-9901505602348510182023-06-06T12:22:00.001-05:002023-06-06T12:22:40.985-05:00Life in the woods<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_HJVUQoH_IMf8T4uI6T4CiV8T8HkUL1p6JgVI4pyFalYAW6O1dFWSETMd82pzF73ta1BDPSYy27tBHW9xFdIiTk1S-Dqsc_xXo0JqHF5vUn2yyndImGnvZze85MZapTO3-5WTgcvQQounIWVxWP2-wxCTq81K7x-V2naedXq0OB0ty-62A/s4096/20221105_173828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="2892" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_HJVUQoH_IMf8T4uI6T4CiV8T8HkUL1p6JgVI4pyFalYAW6O1dFWSETMd82pzF73ta1BDPSYy27tBHW9xFdIiTk1S-Dqsc_xXo0JqHF5vUn2yyndImGnvZze85MZapTO3-5WTgcvQQounIWVxWP2-wxCTq81K7x-V2naedXq0OB0ty-62A/s320/20221105_173828.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaHRL1AXurIvUBsIZ5ogoxCgIh2d4TxHhKbIynjXUVMUpJ5KEXCoLxGm9xr9uRfyeGRiSeD3rq_GYNx5Md4d9C5cRrvktHXPl8dcv2gcKnrYmm8iYlvG9q0JFBk0t02HPffE9Pe4JCHsMgV---BmHIcDZZW-WdoXuCbRsU6-nMEeZzlu4EQ/s4128/20210617_082941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaHRL1AXurIvUBsIZ5ogoxCgIh2d4TxHhKbIynjXUVMUpJ5KEXCoLxGm9xr9uRfyeGRiSeD3rq_GYNx5Md4d9C5cRrvktHXPl8dcv2gcKnrYmm8iYlvG9q0JFBk0t02HPffE9Pe4JCHsMgV---BmHIcDZZW-WdoXuCbRsU6-nMEeZzlu4EQ/s320/20210617_082941.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NSMF4uz6otX68zxOmego55ahhhSjWYJxVzmrYhINSxSflAKVR1l_Yh-yUHiCluBFwomWfQtkibzPbU5JzbMRmMwXq_XSDShciGOqsfm4C9PqDQJ-BJ0KnioW9ldV993hTrdIG1Y0P5FMV9eRuj5sqQ2TGKzGFt1C7przqMgYyCiOWTBLLg/s4096/20221029_173340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NSMF4uz6otX68zxOmego55ahhhSjWYJxVzmrYhINSxSflAKVR1l_Yh-yUHiCluBFwomWfQtkibzPbU5JzbMRmMwXq_XSDShciGOqsfm4C9PqDQJ-BJ0KnioW9ldV993hTrdIG1Y0P5FMV9eRuj5sqQ2TGKzGFt1C7przqMgYyCiOWTBLLg/s320/20221029_173340.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Wf_YhPVQgEWpgM9N4eVdhtaAx4WQbyYN9zsArMOvV0lX3LKvUwwGr6dGM1UgseL4NsLltv1aSB3ePastYQA36s7UkI3NrcVZongJIA_dRI9zTupX-iMWd9fofNw9FboMcbIs8byeoilAPk26jWh3AA0-4nNB5Z9kImCb6daGLiNAoNzdQ/s4128/20210617_074944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Wf_YhPVQgEWpgM9N4eVdhtaAx4WQbyYN9zsArMOvV0lX3LKvUwwGr6dGM1UgseL4NsLltv1aSB3ePastYQA36s7UkI3NrcVZongJIA_dRI9zTupX-iMWd9fofNw9FboMcbIs8byeoilAPk26jWh3AA0-4nNB5Z9kImCb6daGLiNAoNzdQ/s320/20210617_074944.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The pictures are from 2 years ago. This year my garden is very discouraging to look at because my fruit trees are not producing as good as expected, I guess because of the cold blast last December which is not normal for us in the south. It's just as well, so I won't have to worry about harvesting since I'm going to Canada in 3 weeks. <p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-6235274857698454512023-06-05T16:32:00.001-05:002023-06-05T16:32:12.051-05:00It's all about passion3<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PT3PkOO9G5E/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/PT3PkOO9G5E" frameborder="0"></iframe>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-82480638957292791782023-06-03T15:08:00.000-05:002023-06-03T15:08:44.245-05:00Amazing Japanese bakery in the mountains! Bread of life living with nature!<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/cOK3nS4t7_Y" frameborder="0"></iframe>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-42949914203784327052023-06-03T13:10:00.001-05:002023-06-03T13:10:16.555-05:00Because life is not hard enough<p> I have been enjoying my vintage coffee grinder that I found at the flea market 3 weeks ago. It's now one of my favorite kitchen toy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jAmGHlKS70efNY6jatSjBHjrceTnp7wg8uVu7Uyvaru96DjdVxXYKHgvX8AWvJanbCSx_C-mzJeyv8-HK_Cvwa5NYrt4jIrWWJ3LkQNwGSRBA-p2SMABUZiBohNoF7LCLr_FAJNz2ix5C45NzmjqsETq3_MuNCglbuh48x_ensKxMjBaZg/s2048/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jAmGHlKS70efNY6jatSjBHjrceTnp7wg8uVu7Uyvaru96DjdVxXYKHgvX8AWvJanbCSx_C-mzJeyv8-HK_Cvwa5NYrt4jIrWWJ3LkQNwGSRBA-p2SMABUZiBohNoF7LCLr_FAJNz2ix5C45NzmjqsETq3_MuNCglbuh48x_ensKxMjBaZg/s320/coffee.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-12775849300685481052023-06-03T12:35:00.001-05:002023-06-03T12:35:03.663-05:00Memories of a fig<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW0GprXWkDqlY_201Z84BSTT3PbhRX9ws_K5FNI1cDanVdwJKk2qMjFyuGELllUsHqmfTy08QFAxpgnJT89m308AdIovkfybhDe0pbesUmbIoIz_Ku6gHWbq8yjX7550RaUg6qC_kdDLntnuffoWVzvXPxbU9TPFGjR4PRa7AFWLI_Qp9aQ/s640/photo%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaW0GprXWkDqlY_201Z84BSTT3PbhRX9ws_K5FNI1cDanVdwJKk2qMjFyuGELllUsHqmfTy08QFAxpgnJT89m308AdIovkfybhDe0pbesUmbIoIz_Ku6gHWbq8yjX7550RaUg6qC_kdDLntnuffoWVzvXPxbU9TPFGjR4PRa7AFWLI_Qp9aQ/s320/photo%201.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> Figs with gorgonzola cheese. This picture does not even look appealing, but this was my first experience eating fresh figs 11 years ago at a restaurant in Allen, Texas. After that day, it was etched in my psyche that I have to have a fig tree. I didn't how or where because at that time I was living in an apartment. But I know one day I will plant a fig tree. A year later, I met the man who is now my husband who owns this land where I now have 7 mature producing fig trees. Is it that important that I should talk about it? It is to me. Or I won't have anything significant to talk about today. <p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-68637571799585228462023-06-02T10:50:00.003-05:002023-06-02T10:50:55.823-05:00if not now, when can I quit<p> I miss the old days before I got stuck on Facebook. I miss reading and writing and using erudite words instead of OMG LOL and ATM.</p><p>My departed husband used to hate the idea of lugging a camera on our travels because he felt that instead of us savoring and taking in the details and sensibilities of the moment, we instead have to be concerned about lighting or angle so we can "watch a copy of the moment when we get home" He had a point.</p><p>And this is what I have come to be enslaved in with Facebook. Whatever I do, I feel like I have to post it on Facebook without asking myself why? So many times I have come to realize this as an obsession, yet I have not been successful to quit it. It's like a knee jerk reaction to something that has no purpose except because it's what almost everyone does. Well, today is the day I'm going to stop this beast. In Jesus name I can do it. </p><p>'</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-63786786759724967692023-06-02T10:25:00.003-05:002023-06-02T10:25:50.135-05:00I'm starting to start<p> Well, hello there! I am taking a break from working in my garden and I just finished eating breakfast. My garden is my sanctuary and resident therapist. I have come to conclude that as I get older {in number} I have less tolerance to long conversations, long articles or long commentaries on social media. I used to gobble documentaries and stories about people, about places or things. I miss that old me.</p><p>And I am really trying to get out of Facebook in the hope that I will be able to go back to my reading days... reading good sensible information instead of reading foolish posts on Facebook. Today, I start.</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-34927553973288648772022-12-28T16:41:00.005-06:002022-12-28T16:41:56.629-06:00It's another beginning<p> Ok. So we made it past all the busyness of shopping, wrapping, cooking and eating. And showing up at places we'd rather not be, but has to, because it's the right thing to do. So we don't offend. Well, I am done trying not to offend. </p><p>Right now I am tired. And bloated and pissed off. Only in the last 3 days that the temperature has changed from miserable to tolerable. All I have been doing is think: What should I make for breakfast, then after I eat, I think again. I wonder what's good for lunch. Should I eat this now or save it for dinner. And the miserable cycle begins again. Eat, sleep, think. Get bloated and get depressed looking at the number on the scale. The current inflation rate and the number on the scale is oppressive. I am helpless about the economy. But something has got to change about this mindless eating. Soon. Now.</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-28827683437713740142022-12-14T12:08:00.004-06:002022-12-14T12:08:35.659-06:00I thought By Now<p> We all have felt this. We all have said this under our breath or have shared this with friends and acquaintance: I thought by now I would have this house, I thought by now I would have this job promotion, I thought by now I'd be married and have children. I thought by now....</p><p>Well, don't give up. Don't stop hoping and don't stop believing. You're on the edge of your breakthrough. It will happen before the year ends and all is well in Jesus name. </p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-47624608649048435962022-12-07T12:22:00.000-06:002022-12-07T12:22:31.143-06:00Christmas 2006 Post <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I see two trunks of banana trees with real fat bananas ripening on the tree tied on both sides of our doorway, I know it is Christmas. That was our Christmas tree. The bananas were so fat it was splitting the skin. We picked and ate anytime we want one; that was how my dad celebrated Christmas when we were growing up. No Christmas dinner or dressing up for church and definitely no gifts. We had one rich relative who would come and give us a calendar and t-shirts advertising his business.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The rich probably celebrated Christmas but I would not know because I did not have any rich friends. I was 24 years old the first time I received a Christmas gift for myself and for myself alone. It was from the wife of my boss; they are Americans. When she handed it to me, I unwrapped it right away, and she told me, I was supposed to put it under the Christmas tree and wait til Christmas to open it. But we didn't have one.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As the years progressed and my families mindset improved, my sister started making a Christmas tree made out of tree limbs covered with some white soap bubbled to look like snow. Then she would put empty boxes wrapped in red and green japanese paper under it. That was the only improvement in our Christmas celebration. Of course we did not open the boxes because there was nothing in it. I did not question the snow, considering that the only snow the Philippines ever saw is on tv. We did not feel depressed in December because we did not expect any gift from anyone. And we did not feel tired in January and the rest of the year trying to pay for the gifts we were forced to give and could not afford.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Fast forward to now. We have big things and we don't sleep well at night. I live in America, and Americans are "freedom loving people" but I am so polarized I have lost my freedom trying to be free. Free from sarcasm. One group says we should boycott any store that does not mention Christ-mas in their greetings. Another group says, it does not matter -as long as we get a day off for the "holidays." I like both ideas but I have 2 equally precious friends who's polarizing me. I tell them it's not Christs' birthday we are celebrating anyway but rather a celebration of pagan origin. It is the merchants who entices us to buy.., not Christ. Christ wants us to celebrate </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><strong>everyday</strong>. </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How do we do that? By being Christlike. And I have yet to see one around this time of year. If you don't believe me, try cutting in front of a shopper who's eyeing the last X Box on sale.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I hate Christmas because it creates too much traffic. Christmas brings on a lot of depression. It brings out the best in people and also the worst in people. At work, this is the time we gather around cookies and flavored popcorns and talk about our bosses. We talk about our bosses everyday, but Christmas brings on the biggest complainer in us. What do you mean 100 dollars? Dave gave us 200 plus fruit cake. (Dave was the boss 10 years ago, and we compared him then to the boss before him too.) And when we ran out of complaints towards our bosses, we start complaining about the gift from our men. Which leads to pondering ...he does not care as much anymore.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A coworker walks in to work after Christmas grinning ear to ear and prods.."So what did Santa gave you?" Those with stable marriages have no problem giving the details. Those of us who are alone pretends to be ok with it and lies about imaginary gifts we received and imaginary things we did with family and friends..(it is a lie of course but we told this lie over and over in this Christmas season, that we started to believe it is true.) And some of us just pretends to be sarcastic about Christmas and say we don't like it, when in fact we love it, but hate the fact that we have no one special to spend it with.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #000033; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So before I get so sarcastic here, let me stop so I can drive over to a friends house. My friend is trying to reach out, " Do you think you can stop by and visit for a while?" The depressed voice on the other line could as well be mine and it is only 10 days before Christmas.</span></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-34989877974347667342022-12-05T11:54:00.001-06:002022-12-05T12:16:30.336-06:00Of snow and maple leafI'm in the land of the maple leaf again. We arrived 2 days ago in 6 below zero temperature but it was nice because the sun was bright and sunny. Today is snowy and gloomy. <div><br /></div><div>This is my first Christmas here since the grandkids were born because I avoid being here in the cold, but when the lockdown happened during the pandemic 2 years ago, I got concerned that I might not see my kids again. I made a decision then that this year I will have a place of our own to spend Christmas here for the first time. We got this condo last August and it is worth every penny we spend on it regardless that we're not here every month. Thank you Jesus!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-8515982009971456382022-11-23T13:40:00.002-06:002022-11-23T13:40:43.367-06:00Simmer down, it's all good.<p> Neuropathic scientists backed by medical scienced are saying that only 13% of our illnesses are caused by diet or environment, but 87% of it is caused by toxic thinking or mental depression. I wish I knew this way back when, before I had to pay a lot of money to recline at the couch of 2 of Dallas famous psychiatrists. It was and still is common belief and teaching that a person is depressed because of a chemical imbalance, instead of the reverse--a person has chemical imbalance because he or she is depressed or thinking wrong. I tried several different pills only to end up more imbalanced than before I started. Several attempts at changing my lifestyle and moving from place to place did not help at all. The mind was still sick. Until I went back to the Word of God and took His Word seriously. " By Jesus stripes you were healed, He bore your sickness and carried your pain" {1 Peter 2:24 Isaiah 53:4-5} was staring at me, waiting to be believed and received, not just read. I renewed my mind to the truth of God's Word and I started to see the light, and the wrinkled soul and the sick mind began to heal. When toxic thoughts knock at the door, I don't open it, I tell it to focus on whatever is pure, whatever is true and lovely and whatever is of excellence, concentrate on it. {Philippians 4:8}</p><p>Now let me go, so I can thaw my frozen pecan pie and serve me some good, nice slice of heaven. </p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-81445824167759182862022-11-18T11:05:00.004-06:002022-11-18T11:19:38.324-06:00Happy Friday ya'll<p> I'm here. This past 2 weeks my internet has been sluggish and dragging like an old dog with a wounded leg. It's very frustrating to watch a 1.5 hour movie drag to 4 hours because every 3 minutes it stops. I'm not complaining, I am angry. </p><p>Anyway, nothing new here in the woods except the cool weather is starting to remind me I'm not in the Philippines. I love the 4 seasons but I really miss being able to enjoy my farm all year long, where the plants and trees stay green and vibrant. In a few weeks here, the woods will start to thin out its leaves and my garden will be buried in dead leaves while my fruit trees stand at attention, bald and brown. They will look like no one lived here, like I never loved them or cared for them. I miss them terribly during this time of quiet hibernation. But they will be back. For now, I am grateful for my gift--the gift of life, health and serenity. And the capacity to accept and enjoy the changes in my garden. And in my life.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIdlck2wBo4eFCg6LoiQlQyUEvb4Vtn_jCNfM2DDESmAAdrYLvPPkYUzOXUqTJXN4dPddw94C_-q2QR2_7d9w-0wQWEh_85Jzxzy-TAB4MvKXV6pKofWBYuYIv5ihBNxguts09G2zfQhA20hcCS0AkwTE7Mt9eGM_3QFAkn1cwHJZzR8f4g/s2048/cabindeck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIdlck2wBo4eFCg6LoiQlQyUEvb4Vtn_jCNfM2DDESmAAdrYLvPPkYUzOXUqTJXN4dPddw94C_-q2QR2_7d9w-0wQWEh_85Jzxzy-TAB4MvKXV6pKofWBYuYIv5ihBNxguts09G2zfQhA20hcCS0AkwTE7Mt9eGM_3QFAkn1cwHJZzR8f4g/s320/cabindeck.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-21503072935654026742022-11-02T09:28:00.002-05:002022-11-02T09:28:57.683-05:00No woes Wednesday<p> Wednesday, 9 a.m. here in the woods. The morning started out gloomy but the sun has started to peek out in between the trees. There is no such thing as darkness---there's only the absence of light. Yes, you can create darkness by taking out the light, taking out the bright hope of tomorrow and blurring out your vision with fear and worry. Melancholy, nostalgia and forgetting to enjoy the little things before you makes for a depressing mood. No I will not let depression rule my life again. Yes, I will be grateful for the little things in front of me....like this good cup of sikwate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZvbNlYeFhuAju8K5G4AXFnSd13jNt94qzEH7hU1YTYi8NFoD6ZC0hzJuNSGRwJ5pwYSoV7pteD_lcwc_yXesh2bweS465wLhXYfbj-dou5GvpMN9F-sCCfT5WsDrXGROSnQcAX4hczjc3ipL0x_fdTcKqEI5gmx-aj51Fk9bcb_tjzf71Q/s1280/sikwate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZvbNlYeFhuAju8K5G4AXFnSd13jNt94qzEH7hU1YTYi8NFoD6ZC0hzJuNSGRwJ5pwYSoV7pteD_lcwc_yXesh2bweS465wLhXYfbj-dou5GvpMN9F-sCCfT5WsDrXGROSnQcAX4hczjc3ipL0x_fdTcKqEI5gmx-aj51Fk9bcb_tjzf71Q/s320/sikwate.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-8508779924146781322022-10-30T17:16:00.005-05:002022-10-30T17:16:49.021-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkoxATFCNBcD-xYoXTOaTk9b42_AbLOebZoUChtEVUmcYni3o2Umc4omwjC3eJ-sRAkyLhYJp9AgTpUrqkX04mb_s2fxb5CyZ-hLQgE53Brh56XUL-PKF_p4SY_YVzZxgGl_rMeboCH_WBIBbJBTIoQxKOzJcsrx67cvoHYO4OEYMRtVScg/s2048/cabin6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkoxATFCNBcD-xYoXTOaTk9b42_AbLOebZoUChtEVUmcYni3o2Umc4omwjC3eJ-sRAkyLhYJp9AgTpUrqkX04mb_s2fxb5CyZ-hLQgE53Brh56XUL-PKF_p4SY_YVzZxgGl_rMeboCH_WBIBbJBTIoQxKOzJcsrx67cvoHYO4OEYMRtVScg/s320/cabin6.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1ozkYK8bD-zewLrt58ytoCIlMCoSI3i2pCBbzRHvxVtJQ_QTwsK25rJ776tOyfigIyAWaQuTrACP50PiHMe8N_i2kwUczAK3BT6BMSPEveL2-Gx8eoWc9r6ZVK0jHwDTKHn5F0nX7Hj24ztSMjTABIysYHpOnu67gaFHcXlfKvaYmCrpiA/s1280/cabin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1ozkYK8bD-zewLrt58ytoCIlMCoSI3i2pCBbzRHvxVtJQ_QTwsK25rJ776tOyfigIyAWaQuTrACP50PiHMe8N_i2kwUczAK3BT6BMSPEveL2-Gx8eoWc9r6ZVK0jHwDTKHn5F0nX7Hj24ztSMjTABIysYHpOnu67gaFHcXlfKvaYmCrpiA/s320/cabin2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzUqd0ClnsvgYDUem2B8Gh6rcUODsFlyxin_l_rNl-Hbp-o4JHy3PYpIFP6YeU31sv_PDdzrNUUsL2OPWKklEjm9LioCIGjomAsCiiXBRXJknKqd-4qSJcXXsqldS0sPhcdFHs9iHIefELChI0B8XiPU-d9d_c3iXAHj6N5_ZPoJqfxsCtw/s1280/cabin3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzUqd0ClnsvgYDUem2B8Gh6rcUODsFlyxin_l_rNl-Hbp-o4JHy3PYpIFP6YeU31sv_PDdzrNUUsL2OPWKklEjm9LioCIGjomAsCiiXBRXJknKqd-4qSJcXXsqldS0sPhcdFHs9iHIefELChI0B8XiPU-d9d_c3iXAHj6N5_ZPoJqfxsCtw/s320/cabin3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYmcTqgO4hm2j2za1NHfe78cSti10_8_Vo2-ajDvCCLDJ4s_JNwkxjmma7ObZFf9DhOtDNwq1v7QR_JaDTK6lDjPG80Ol-WkuAS6lsiRyMFrM0SdSlClvdEMPtPATsvOFFH4PfvgrBtsinCVIAyDVI6bLm-BbwgqmQDxJGM0cdsYAwZ9Ogw/s1280/cabin5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYmcTqgO4hm2j2za1NHfe78cSti10_8_Vo2-ajDvCCLDJ4s_JNwkxjmma7ObZFf9DhOtDNwq1v7QR_JaDTK6lDjPG80Ol-WkuAS6lsiRyMFrM0SdSlClvdEMPtPATsvOFFH4PfvgrBtsinCVIAyDVI6bLm-BbwgqmQDxJGM0cdsYAwZ9Ogw/s320/cabin5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I'm back in the cabin in the woods and this is what makes me come back....my food forest.<br /> <p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-4204004326756303732022-10-26T12:56:00.001-05:002022-10-26T12:56:08.776-05:00<p> Day after tomorrow we will be flying back to the US. I miss my garden and my tiny life in the woods but I'm weary of having to deal with airports and flying. I love to imagine travel and being in some new place for a change but the actual execution of it has lost its glitter for me. Could it be true what someone said that an imagined life is better than life lived? Of course it is. Imagination is limitless. Imagination is the most powerful tool a person can use to make things happen. The bible shows if you can imagine it, you can have it. </p><p>I have been imagining of a ranch somewhere in West Texas in the hill country, where I could have animals running all over the landscape of over 100 acres. It will have a stream running through it with small cottages to house people who is trying to rebuild their life and start over. West Texas is close to the border of Mexico so I hope to employ Mexicans or Latinos to till the land and grow food. It will be a sanctuary for the downtrodden and needy but most of all it will be a place to know God and His Son Jesus; and live the life He died for to give us. Exciting? Yup. I'm excited. </p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-32676565559279483922022-10-21T14:16:00.004-05:002022-10-21T18:18:19.069-05:00<p> We've always heard that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the body, but I read an article stating it's the other way around--a person has chemical imbalance because that person is depressed. I believe the latter to be true based on the book I read by Dr. Caroline Leaf, titled, Switch on Your Brain. It's a Great easy read....just as long as you read it slow; after a page or a paragraph, pause and go wash the dishes or the windows while pondering a statement. Seriously I love it!</p><p>I have always struggled with depression after I left the pure innocence of childhood and entered the threshold of bills and broken heart. Until 6 years ago when Jesus healed me. Well, the last 3 days I've been feeling low ---not depressed, just not up to par with the truth of what God said. God said: Jesus, His only son, died for us so we can have an abundant life. Abundant life means financial prosperity, physical/mental/emotional healing and when this body is ready to leave this earth, we will put on an incorruptible body and are guaranteed to live with him and not in hell. IF, we <b>believe</b> this truth and <b>receive </b>Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are eternally redeemed from the curse of hell. We all have eternal life, that's not the question, the question is where will we spend it? I am not going to hell, so 27 years ago, I made a reservation already through Christ. If you haven't, do it now.</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-59474572270540102002022-10-16T11:15:00.007-05:002022-10-16T11:21:42.447-05:00Bait and Click<p> There are Youtubers who produce contents that are inspiring, funny, helpful and very well presented. I love it and subscribe to them. But when they start running out of meaningful content they resort to tricks, to get more viewers. That's where I draw the line, when they start using deceptive captioning. <br />There's this American woman who is married to a man from Thailand. I love her stories but when she started using tricky captions: "Leaving my Thai Husband" sure will make anyone curious, especially when you find the husband nice and attractive, but then you find that she meant she's leaving him because she has to go to another town. I just could not like her or her stories anymore. But hey, whatever works, right? Maybe. Maybe not.</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-57075094733078967132022-10-15T13:40:00.001-05:002022-10-15T13:40:25.823-05:00I need your help<p> Every day is a good day, except some days are better. Today is in the better category because I learned how to customize my You Tube channel without screaming "I'm too old for this". </p><p> I promise I will have better content and better quality sooner than soon. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSUfazENZ1aky-h2KQJO45A">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSUfazENZ1aky-h2KQJO45A</a></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-2511397314854319782022-10-13T13:31:00.005-05:002022-10-15T15:14:42.338-05:00 Learn to laugh at yourself<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTP0ixhBNzkNxAExoYqjZwheK8DVOX8ZiPJAizCvyNlczBgYzh9lc0t9J0b5EYUUllcBknYwgXsSH2uCTkrEZgoy5gSgPjfCh99z85-YZ3mb58ZiDJZ0HO_16wuneD85Ip8el8-Ku8yNIGSJM-RjExxqhti-iuzkBCDk-5fESuwt9xAkRlg/s4128/20221012_180457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGTP0ixhBNzkNxAExoYqjZwheK8DVOX8ZiPJAizCvyNlczBgYzh9lc0t9J0b5EYUUllcBknYwgXsSH2uCTkrEZgoy5gSgPjfCh99z85-YZ3mb58ZiDJZ0HO_16wuneD85Ip8el8-Ku8yNIGSJM-RjExxqhti-iuzkBCDk-5fESuwt9xAkRlg/s320/20221012_180457.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0pDpfKtuu8d8DuwoeBK_Iz5-bSfmyQfzoCIfDBRqtwnlHibtndOaDe9DFbHi2bo3fCpkZ-VyPCF9rLluC3y2J-rzF9xt5SbS8ynY3bk0eXdBAl2sco9etrEf9D7-ygIJmmOXM0nIb28Yh1QQ886sXYY3qgs95GzGpXGKzJZBxZbMmTSvbg/s3244/20221012_120603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3244" data-original-width="2433" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0pDpfKtuu8d8DuwoeBK_Iz5-bSfmyQfzoCIfDBRqtwnlHibtndOaDe9DFbHi2bo3fCpkZ-VyPCF9rLluC3y2J-rzF9xt5SbS8ynY3bk0eXdBAl2sco9etrEf9D7-ygIJmmOXM0nIb28Yh1QQ886sXYY3qgs95GzGpXGKzJZBxZbMmTSvbg/w150-h200/20221012_120603.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Finally. After 6 years of just using my cell phone for everything, there's so much to learn again. Like, transferring photos from my cell phone to this laptop. Yesterday I made this tapioca/mango dessert and crab apple jelly from Chats apple tree in her backyard. Atta girl, right?<p></p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-65368308547804302052022-10-11T18:36:00.001-05:002022-10-14T13:53:57.741-05:00Facebook who?<p> I was trying to create another Facebook account on this laptop, but Facebook keeps telling they "can't process my request". I have created a You Tube account, but I am not on any other social media platform. Well, I'm not in the mood to keep trying and beg Facebook. I don't beg for crumbs. Not from Mark. I don't even care to ask him what a lot of you wants to know: What's the one thing that made him choose a Chinese wife? I'll tell you the answer---who else could count all that money? 😜😜😜</p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37285042.post-75315760225593272452022-10-11T10:44:00.003-05:002022-10-11T16:29:55.303-05:00Market Crashing? Inflation? Depression?<p> First there was the covid pandemic scam. Well, not totally a scam because the virus was real. China is famous for counterfeiting luxury brand bags and other useless stuff, but this covid mess was genuinely Chinese. It was the mediation of it that was a scam. Money driven therapy for a virus that has a 99.9% recovery rate, yet it was sold globally as a virus that could wipe out a country. And everyone bought the lie, except the ones who didn't read the news or watched tv. </p><p>Now here's another dark cloud hovering over people--the market crashing and the coming of another great depression. [if it has not arrived already] But being born and raised in the Philippines I'm not afraid of depression, recession or inflation; we ate all 3 of these when I was growing up. And now that I know who I am in Jesus, the worlds' economy does not concern me. I have guaranteed stocks with the following symbols: Luke6:38 and Malachi3:10 </p>vagabondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02679917726836535518noreply@blogger.com0