Author Archives: Christine

Chi the breath.  Had fun making this one.  I used the same technique as the word ‘dream’.  Think I got this one down.  Learned it on YouTube.  

Had lunch at Panera today. Clam chowder soup and green goddess salad. Both are ok but not great. Soup isn’t really creamy, it has separated. And I forgot to ask the bacon on the side. I never liked eating bacon. I like cooking with its grease but the texture and the taste of the bacon never attracted me against popular opinion.

Walked Benny and his friend Abbey was out too.  She always hurried over to say a quick hello and walked on.  Loved the clouds.

Watched James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke with Paul McCartney. It was very well done and moving.  We have a glimpse into Paul McCartney’s life growing up and the background of some of his songs.  This one moved me the most when he told us his mom who has passed away at the time came into his dream and said to him, ‘let it be’.

Most things in life that bother us comes from our insistence on having it our way instead of letting it be.  Whether we have the good intention or our ego talking, the wisdom of ‘letting it be’ applies 99% of the time.

This is from Ram Dass’s book.  I get bits of wisdom from this book when I listen to it on audible.  Yet, the disadvantage of listening to a book is that your mind wanders and you miss what can be profound by daydreaming or worries that want to grab your attention.

Having a book to read though, you stop reading when your mind starts wandering.

Took a picture from the San Diego album at sunset and added the word solitude to it.  I got quite a few good pictures on that trip both of sunset and coast line.  Looking for one that speaks to the mood of the word and I think it is good.

Usually there are tons of tourists or visitors to the beach to watch the sunset and I was lucky to capture a few good ones that has nobody in it.

Had the eye doctor’s appointment today for one month follow up.  He was quite happy about the progress and took a picture of the retina to show me the blood has moved away from the center of the phovia and the liquid has been absorbed a lot too.  Even though I still can’t focus on that eye, he was almost saying I should be able to see.  Maybe I can in the next few months.  I hope so.

Was having a bit of trouble writing this one.  Probably because I was tired with a bit of a shaky hand or my mind was not in the space.  But still it’s good that I did it.  It’s the grind.  And it’s the only way to improve anything.  Even though you don’t feel like doing it, just do it is the key.

We went to Olive Garden for lunch after picking up my new glasses.  The glasses were a bit of a disappointment.  The receding part of the progressive lens is only good in one part close to the nose.  I have to tilt my head.  The lady said to wear it for a few days and they will call to see how it goes.  I know already that it is not going to improve by wearing it.  They are just hoping that I’ll learn to adjust to it and tilt my head when I need to read.

Our server at Olive Garden wasn’t very attentive.  She was pleasant enough.  But she never brought us water.  She didn’t notice we were out of salad.  I saw one table that arrived after us got the bread and salad before we got our bread.  The other table that came before us and their server asked them if they wanted more salad.  I had to ask for mine when she passes us the second time.  I don’t think we are very critical of our waiting staff.  Just basic needs.  I didn’t ask for water thinking I have tea in the car.  But I shouldn’t have to compensate for the lack of attentiveness.

But we still can’t complain.  We went out to eat, and we didn’t worry about cooking or how much we spent.  We are blessed.

Dream big and live large.  Do as much as we are here to do.  Do not leave feeling sorry.

How genuine can we be?  How true can we be?  Can we really be ourselves in every situation?  It requires letting go of an identity we assumed that demands certain attention and love.  Sometimes, we sacrifice who we really are in order to obtain that acknowledgment or respect we need to be a certain person.  So only when we have enough self respect and confidence can we start to be ok with ourselves even if we do not meet certain expectations of others.

Rather like this one.  The butterfly’s landing on the flash of light.  Didn’t plan it that way when I created it.  It just happened.  So is creativity from us or in us or at us?  Can we claim it is our own?  I don’t think so.

Ideal is “idea” “l”anding on us, illuminating us of what perfection can be.

It’s easy to say but hard to do.  It has to do with our self confidence and how much we want to please others or being praised than criticized.  My personal struggle all my life.  I was a timid kid and father was a dominant figure and had little patience when he was younger with a volcano like temper that erupted without warning.  So I grew up learning to try to please him and other authorative figures.  But my rebellious personality always found a way to escape his “rules”.  however, escape is not building the correct character.  Now, I need to do the right thing the right way.  Learn to build that belief in myself, that ever elusive self confidence, letting go of judgements and criticisms either from within or without.  Life is filled with learning and improvements.  I am never finished.

Devote yourself to your passion, your belief, your loved ones. Devote to prayers, journaling, practices. Do those things with a sincere, loving spirit and offer it to your higher self.

We went to Wild Goats for lunch today. Boy we loved our orders. Leo had the usual Avocado Chicken sandwich and I had the California sandwich. The difference is mine doesn’t have the chicken and the bacon. Just alfalfa, avocado, tomatoes and on a grilled bread. His is on a chiabatta bread.  They are both delicious.  And their waiting staff are all very nice and cheerful.  You can see our waiter took time to chat with his customer instead of rushing away.  A good place to go.