"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

DO NOT LET GO

There have been times in me life that I did not want to face another day, let alone seize it.  That was then and this is now...

The first time I tried to kill meself I was a little boy, the last time was a man of 40 plus.

Truth be told, I am right glad that I did not get it right.  Just think of all I would have missed.  True, there have ups and downs, and life has not always gone as I would have wanted it to.  I have lost folks dear to me and I have had some dark moments when the tears out numbered the laughs.  I am sure that be true of many.

I am a work in progress.  Of late things have been pretty grand.  Am more at peace with meself than I have ever been.  I like me.  More important, I know that there are folks who think I am pretty special and like me as well.  That is a good thing.

Rather think John would be proud of the man I have become.  John would be right pleased that I have gone on living.

DIET AND EXERCISE

‘If I had known I looked that big before I may have done something sooner.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2633675/Man-loses-19-stone-called-Jabba-Hutt-wife.html#ixzz32GE6LEnv
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RAINBOWS WORK MAGIC

It may not always work out that I hit the mark with me posts.  Matters not, I try to face each and every day with a positive attitude.  Tragic only plays well in the theatre and who needs to start the day on a downer?

I must fess up to the fact that it makes me day to get mail from folks telling that I brought a smile to face in the morning.  With some it is a real belly laugh and with others it is a forced giggle...

If there is one thing learned in life, it is that clouds can be chased away.

KINDNESS

As is oft the case, I was in bed wondering what was going to be the theme of this morning's post.  Out of the blue came a single word., 'kindness'.....  Lovely word, is it not?

KINDNESS.  I am not talking about the silly kind.  I am talking about the random acts of kindness we have in us that make a difference in the live round us and in our own.

If you stop and think on it, bet there have been many, many you may have overlooked.

"No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."

I know that I am the sum total of all of the kindness received.  Were it not for the many kindnesses received, this old geezer would have turned out quite differently.  Now an again, I have to stop meself and remember that.  It takes the bite out of me words and makes me strive to be a better person.  That is not to say that kindness is always well received.  Either be me, or the person I am trying to be kind to.  

I like to think I am a work in progress.  As time goes on, the 'kindness' in me will get stronger and stronger.  I hope I never forget that were it not for kindness received, me world would be very mean.

I was going to list acts of kindness.  Name folks.  That would be silly, would it not?  Do you not think that the people known to me, already know?

Funny thing about 'kindness', it makes you feel so damn good.

ABOUT MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

 Truth be told, the old geezer is not much of a drinker.  Having said that, it can be revealed that last night was not one of the times the 'grape' was passed up.

Four very large glasses of lovely red wine.  There was a warm feeling in me entire body.  Not to mention a certain 'glow' to face.

Am quite sure it something to do with the 'fabulous' supper companions at me celebration.  The conversation and good wishes flowed like water.

The 'birthday' clock says it all.  Time flew by and one did not want the evening to end.  So much good time was had that the old geezer stayed up well past bed time.

Am quite sure that much more about me birthday will come out.  Just wanted to get a little out before the glow of the fun time had wore off.