"Flowers really do intoxicate me.

Robert - 2010 -  Lord, I was HUGE

Robert - 2010 - Playing in the dirt

Where did I get them shorts?

2010 STORY RE-VISITED

What a difference 4 years make.  Hard to believe I was so large back then........



"Can we conceive what humanity would be if it did not know the flowers?" Maurice Maeterlinck

My dears, for far too long the path leading to the rental office at the Linda Villa was a patch of barren soil, devoid of life and colour.  The whole world saw in a tick that there was no life at the Linda Villa, save a hard mean existance, populated by folks who did not care and had no pride in selves.

Murray Kay's dream for the Linda Villa was as moribound as that patch of earth.  The only thing of note were the rocks placed to keep the dead soil contained there.  Mind, the rocks could have been handy missiles to be hurled at windows of the office by tenants who had been sold a horrid place to live as well.  You pick the purpose.

No more!  After much think on, this old geezer did what had to be done.

Getting down and dirty, MOI, with paid help, dug up soil, added plant food, and started placing plants in front of and round office.  Being full of the spirit, MOI did much to bring life back to the area in front of.

Where there was once dearth, now gathers a plethora of God's smile to man.  Plants!

There be Verbena, Pansies, Marigolds and soon to be added stock.  Bags and bangs of brilliant bark set off the majestic Magnolia tree in the middle of the newly planted gadren.  On both sides of, there is more brilliant bark.

"I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance."
William Wordsworth

You, the dear reader, may well feel that this old geezer has gone 'gooey' over a few plants.  You be right.

The Linda Villa is leading by example.  Sponsoring a "Tenant Garden Contest", to be judged by Supervisor Vasquez and Sheriff Durfor on May 8th, the day of the "LINDA DRUG OUT BLOCK PARTY", this old geezer is passionate in belief that what speaks louder than the actions of.

Evil folks who do drugs, cheat benefits and lazy layabout scroungers are no longer welcome at the Linda Villa.  Planting life in the soil tells one and all that a new day has dawned at the Linda Villa.  The evil creatures of the past need to pack and move on.

My dears, there always be the risk that some evil creature will destroy the lovely garden planted.  Why allow a few evil folks rob one of the joy of beauty?  Why allow yobs to dictate how one will live?  What is life lived in fear and in a prison built by fear?

I will go to me grave believing that one must place one's self at risk to fully appreciate the freedoms placed about.

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." Terri Guillemets

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

The old geezer thinks that a half priced cake to give to folks known is good enough.  The thinking being that I can not taste it, what do I care if the cake is a little stale...

Right, you have got to imagine the old geezer sitting down to the birthday cake and seeing the fire that will happen due to all of the candles lighted on the cake.

Do you not just love thoughtful birthday gifts?  All of the items that make getting through another year more easy.

There will some who will find this cake a bit much.  Rather think it suits MOI perfectly.  When I saw the cake, it made me laugh...

More items to mark the big day.

There be a group of mates who feel that having a birthday celebration at the graveyard is perfect.  Sort of a dry run for the day when the hole in the ground is me final resting place.

Truth be told, all of the snaps are a bit of a giggle.  I am going to go to supper with a group of friends and am quite sure that the celebration will rank right near the top as a perfect birthday happening.

How the years fly by.  Someone told MOI that it was horrid to grow old.  Rubbish.  I may not be able to do some of the things that could be done when younger but now have more tools to cope with life.  Each day is an adventure.  What wonderful people I have met during the last year.  Friendships have become stronger.

Just think of all the wondrous things that await me in the coming year.

I am so happy this day as I am reminded by folks dear to that I am special.  I like that feeling very much...

I AM NOT DEAD YET

Robert enjoys birthday dinner

Right, the College of Cardinals did not see fit to elect me the new pope.  I rather thought I would have looked quite grand in red loafers...

The election of Pope Francis was not the only highlight of March.  March is also the birth month of the old geezer.

The year of my birth, March 28th was also Easter.  That could explain much about my life.  I have done a lot of hops during my time on earth.

My special day was very special.  It started with MOI being taken to breakfast by a lovely friend.  We went to Denny's.  Why Denny's?  Because they still give you a FREE breakfast on your birthday and the old geezer did not want his friend to go broke doing breakfast.  Mind, that did not stop MOI from ordering a massive glass of orange juice, which was not included in the FREE breakfast.  It is always a pleasure to share a meal with my good friend James.

The post had delivered a very nice card from dear friends living in Reno, along with a bit of cash.  Always lovely to get cash.  Alan and Paul are ever so nice to the old geezer and it is comforting to know that the long distance has not dampened our friendship.

Friends from round the globe went messages to email and there were lovely comments left on my Facebook page.

During the day of my birthday, Ron, who I share digs with in Honolulu and is a long time friend, had placed a brightly coloured package out for me to find and open.  Was gobsmacked to receive a rather nice personal DVD machine to play films on.  Due to hearing loss, is nice to be able to play the sound at a very high level without bothering anyone else.

Since the old geezer does not eat cake anymore, Ron thought cupcakes would work well.  Gave me the opportunity to share my birthday cake with one and all.  Ron is ever so clever, he thought that since my birthday had fallen on Easter, the yearn born, cupcakes with Easter themed frosting would be quite nice.  The were ever so colourful and all who got them thought they were very tasty.

I also got a bottle of gin.  Boodles, very British...

The day ended with a new found friend taking the old geezer to dinner at the Waikiki Beach Hotel.  There is a restaurant there that feature a three story aquarium, with a mermaid and loads of very colourful fish.

The main draw at the restaurant, besides the massive fish tank, is a buffet.  Regular Babette's Feast it is.  There is quite the selection of food.  Crab legs, three different kind, seem to be the bit hit.  There is also Prime Rib, chicken, pork, pasta, endless salads, fruits, and impressive selection of deserts.

MOI was quite careful in eating, as you can see from the plate in the photo.  Mind, the old geezer did taste quite a few items, but really hit the salads and fruits.  OK, so I might have had a little Prime Rib and past, but it was my birthday.

The host of the dinner party treated to the massive drink you see.  Have to see it when first placed before, when the dry ice is causing it to look like a volcano.  Lovely.  Also had a massive dink in a tumbler called a Tropical Itch.  Comes with a back scratcher...

Needless to say, the old geezer was full of good cheer at the end of the day...

What yesterday made me realize is that life is never over or dull.  There is so much to enjoy.  To be thankful for.

To one and all who made my special day so very special,  my most heartfelt thanks.

DO NOT LET LIFE PASS BY

However LOUD you want to be, do not let Life pass you by...

NEVER FEEL LEFT OUT

Caresse sur l'ocean

Call this old geezer sentimental old fool but this song touches me soul and gives me renewed hope.

Kamehameha Day on June 11 is a public holiday of the state of Hawaii. It honors Kamehameha, The Great, the monarch who established the unified Hawaii.

The most important ritual performed this day, dates back to 1901 after the Territory of Hawaiʻi was established. It is the evening draping ceremony in which the Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliʻiolani Hale and ʻIolani Palace on King Street in downtown Honolulu is draped in long strands of lei. The same is done at the Kamehameha Statue on the former monarch's home island, the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Outside of the state, a similar draping ceremony is held at the United States Capitol where the Kamehameha Statue there is also draped in lei in the company of federal officials.

Being an old geezer, I rather miss the celebration of events on the actual day.  Giving folks an extra day off by making the Friday before a holiday, makes the day less special.  TODAY is Kamehameha Day...