My Favorite Color is Blue

My favorite color is blue still if blue were the only color on earth what a boring world it would be..Diversity adds color and dimension to our world. It is the tapestry of life. Differences in perspectives provide us with the stimulation and motivation to grow and learn about all things. 
These challenges make us strong and allow us to examine our lives, our values and our convictions. 
The day to day interactions of men and women with different perspectives, values and ideas is the stuff that we all can be grateful for. 
Make yourself known, be heard, stand your ground and always understand the value of your opponent. Although my favorite color is blue if all things were blue it would be an unattractive world indeed..

G. Jones

Hey Joe! My Adventures In The Philippines by Richard Cantrall

Full test and blog can be found at:

http://richcanadventure.blogspot.com/

Catch Adventures in the Philippines through the eyes of author and teacher, Richard Cantrall.
A romantic in the true sense of the word Richard shares his  wonderfully touching experiences, inspirations and travels.  http://richcanadventure.blogspot.com/.
Richard is the facilitator of City Of The Palms Writer's Club and we are proud to feature one of his latest and most intriguing works..

Awaken Thyself - Excerpt: Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Henry David Thoreau

Essay

It matters not what the clocks say or the attitudes and labors of men.  Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me.  Moral reform is the effort to throw off sleep. . . . We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep.  I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.  It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do.  To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.  Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.  If we refused, or rather used up, such paltry information as we get, the oracles would distinctly inform us how this might be done.

Our Magnificence – Our Right

Our Magnificence – Our Right

In this age we are always mindful of the political correctness of our style, our language, and our innuendo whether intentional or not. We have become a people of super sensitivity to race, gender, disability, age, religion, the rich, and the poor, educated, non educated and sexual preference. It seems we have become a species that may not be allowed to have a preference about anything. After all if we express our opinions or preferences than there will always someone, somewhere, who might be offended by it. I wonder if we will stifle generations of free thinkers by society dictating how we may express ourselves. Where will be our next Leonardo  di  Vinci or Michelangelo?

Will we recognize the great thinkers of our time or will these men and women be so weighted by the appearance of impropriety that they will not reveal themselves to us; at least not in a way they we can fully appreciate them.

It appears that we are to be so homogenized that individualization is unacceptable. I ask to what benefit is all of this machination. It seems not to have benefited blacks, whites, people with disabilities, or races or nationalities and religions. There is still on the streets and the news the same rhetoric about the oppression of the black community, in the USA, and other minorities; are they happier? it appears not to be so.

Every category of people continues to experience the same dissatisfaction with their life that makes me wonder about what is existing  internally rather than externally.

I now understand more the humor of George Carlin when he shouted from the stage every unacceptable word that he could think of. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and his thoughts on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects. The audacity of Carlin’s  "Seven dirty words" comedy routine used to get me  a little miffed.  I understand now that he was rejecting, at that time, what countless citizens are just becoming sick of;   the oppressive, nonsensical,  supra sensitivity of our age.

It is my hope that we all, irrespective of our corner of the world, do not bow to the pettiness that has forced upon us and is currently indoctrinating our children; That we always will embrace the magnificence of creativity and freedom of thought in our journey of life. 

The exercise of individuality is reflected in our expressions and opinions. Let us nurture, respect and revere this independence, this Magnificence,  OUR right...

By..C. Gilman Jones

Expat's Life in the Philippines~Your greatest luxury is not money or anything money can buy

Really????????

Expat Life

Everybody who has spent time in a different country knows that expat life is not quite like anything else in the world. The confusion of the first few days and weeks, the slow, but steady process of acclimation, the little peculiarities and quirks that might strike you about your new surroundings: almost any situation you encounter can make for a great story.

A store clerk who had to leave the department where I was shopping in order to check on the availability of merchandise in which I was interested. Instead of saying, “Please wait” or the equivalent Fil-English “Awhile”, she asked “Can I hold you?” I felt like replying “But will you respect me in the morning?” Instead I just held my tongue and nodded.

From shrimp paste to ox tongue, I’ve had my share of exotic foods here; but nothing could prepare me for balut – a fertilized duck embryo that's boiled alive and eaten in the shell. One night out at the bars, a street vendor was selling it. My friends convinced me to try it, saying “how can you live in the Philippines and not try our national food!” How could I say no to that? So, I went for it. I will spare you the details, but let’s just say my reaction involved gagging and some tears. After that was over, my friends laughed, saying “I can’t believe you actually ate it….we don’t even eat that stuff!”

Which three tips would you like to give future expats before they embark on their new life in the Philippines?

Be prepared to double or triple your time estimate to getting things done, and be prepared to stretch your patience like it’s never been stretched. People will seem very incompetent at first (and probably for a long time, quite frankly).

Guidebooks are wrong in two major areas: “Filipinos speak English”—most Filipinos outside Manila area,like Tagum City, only know a handful of phrases and can’t understand rapidly spoken American English comfortably.

You will find yourself struggling in this area in the provinces. “Filipinos are friendly.” FEMALE Filipinos are “friendly” to American males, and small beggar children are “friendly” to tourists

But there is a BIG difference between “polite”, “hitting on you”, “begging you for money/ trying to get a sale”, and “friendly”. There is a definite emotional “wall” that you as an American will most likely not penetrate until you have lived there for many years or marry into the culture.

Your greatest luxury is not money or anything money can buy, it is now privacy and silence, which you will most likely not experience for more than 3 seconds at a time (even in the CR) until you leave the islands.

Every expat knows that expat life comes with some hilarious anecdotes and funny experiences. Care to share one with us?

Gilman Jones