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Please play [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] This will be the Final Entry into Brother's Blog - (uproarious applause)  Size: 436 Entries · 15,766 views Created: August 24th, 2011 at 3:16pm Modified: March 5th, 2017 at 11:37am In addition to Brother's Blog I created a few other blogs, but I decided at the beginning of 2017 to redirect my writing efforts, at least for the time being, and I placed my blog efforts in a folder I named 'Graveyard for Blogs' which can be found in my port. I didn't plan for a final entry, but then the "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS"  [13+] Blog prompt for March 5, 2017 arrived, and I just couldn't leave it alone.I hope Fivesixer  and the participants of this month's challenge don't mind me barging in on the challenge to share my opinion on the topic, because... Here I go.30 Day Blogging Challenge Prompt for March 5, 2017 The Sunday News! Everyone's favorite category! And so much has happened in the last month+ since we've done one of these! As people who write things that can be seen on the internet, we understand how important grammar is. The real question that remains, however, is http://theslot.jezebel.com/i-hearby-demand-donald-trump-hire-a-copy-editor-17929... how sick are you of this guy?? Pace yourselves, 'cuz there's a lot goin' on in there. The Sunday News... How Sick?... Indeed! When Donald Trump announced his intention to run for the Presidency of the United States of America (for me) it was like that scene from the movie Roger Rabbit, when detective Eddie Valiant enters Toon Town, and the world is transformed forever. [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] When Donald Trump announced his intention to run for the Presidency of the United States of America it shattered the global hold on reality. The impossible became possible - wrong became right - sad became funny, and funny became sad - truth became fiction - news became fake - mistakes we made, which we thought we learned from, were forgotten, and we're ready to make those same mistakes again. - The entire global population simultaneously completely lost their minds. I knew it instantly, it's my element, but there was nothing I could do to save you all. Welcome to my reality. It was no surprise to me that Donald Trump won the election, no surprise. So let's forget about trying to figure out what went wrong, or trying to figure out how to fix this. We can't! It's broken, and everyone is insane. If you're not insane, then you're not insane YET. Believe me... This is how it is, this is how it's going to stay, and we can't go back. Well there is one way to fix this, but it's probably too late. The future doesn't look good. It's not just America and Americans effected by this... This is global... The whole planet is fucked, to put it bluntly. Because I'm something of an authority (now) on this insanity based unreality, I'll tell you what we have to look forward to. America will not be great again, (sorry Americans) it will implode and self destruct, taking the rest of the free world with it including Canada. Start making a survival plan now if you want to survive in the crazy new world. Interestingly enough - ISIS controlled communities will be the safest and most prosperous places to live. I have to stop now, because every point I think of mentioning is too frightful to share. (Things are not going to be good folks!) Some might argue that I am stating impossibilities, and that may be, so I'll give you that, because I can't present definitive proof on my knowledge of things yet to come. Let me try a more positive approach here and talk about what needs to be done to fix this, (if we can) before it goes too far. (if it hasn't already) The first thing that has to happen (for America) is... Republican congressmen have to look inward and take a stand for what's right. They have to say, "I can't be a part of this insanity, simply on my political stripes, I have to do what's right for the people, and for the planet. I have to make things right and stand up for common sense and decency. I have to work to oppose, and impeach the Trump administration. I have to put a stop to this nonsense before it's too late." Then... The people who support Trump have to search their hearts and minds and search their minds one more time so they can come to the conclusion that they lined up behind an empty headed and soulless leader. Then they have to reconcile with those that support a vision of a common sense approach to governing and living in a global community. They have to come to the realization that inclusion, sharing, and love for your fellow man is the only way forward to a great, peaceful and prosperous future. The people who let this happen in their apathy, have to wake up and act. They have to take responsibility for their inaction, and raise their voices in opposition to the lunacy. And finally Donald Trump has to come to the conclusion that he can't be the leader of nation, because of his lack of experience, intelligence, and compassion. He should find a way to step down, and let a more qualified leader step in to try fix the mess he has already created. He should do this, then go enjoy his remaining days out of the public eye. So... as you can well imagine, none of this is likely going to happen. That's why I said earlier, "We can't fix this." I must return to my earlier statement, The whole planet is fucked!" Yep, we're in Toon Town now! How long can this go on? Not that long, or maybe infinitely. Take a deep breath and ride it out. Think of it like living in a cartoon, try not be on the receiving end of a Bugs Bunny prank. Unlike Brother's Blog, which has come to an end, life goes on. Thanks for coming out!  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada  |
Pack your bags  We're leaving December 1, 2016  Headed to the land down under  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Day 4 Early start today, though the non-drivers can sleep in the car. Chances are, we can rent 2-3 8-9 seater vans and cram everyone and their stuff in it. Hopefully you're all travelling light! Once in Port Augusta, we'll be staying at the Majestic Oasis Apartment Port Augusta and checking out the arid lands botanical garden . There'll also be an outback day tour from a local for those interested. We'll leave later tonight to avoid other cars on the way to our next destination. December 4, 2016 - Brother's Blog So... I'm standing in the lobby of 'The Playford' on North Terrace in Adelaide, South Australia. I'm waiting for a ride. I've been waiting here for hours and ain't nobody come for me. (sounds like lyrics to a blues song) I'm hoping someone will offer me a ride. I keep checking my new phone for email messages on my WDC app, but notta. I sure hope Ms. Dragon is hiding   wasn't talking about ME when she said, "Hopefully you're all travelling light!" I travel pretty light. It's not like I bring a bunch of stuff I'm not going to use in some way. I suppose if I didn't bring my own pillow everywhere I go, I'd take up less cargo space, but the rest of my stuff are all things I need...plus my own pillow I have to have that, and my laptop of course, all my stuff is in my laptop. Most of my stuff can be carried in my pockets or compartments of my bags, so that leaves me with just two bags, and a pillow. So I have my wallet and my new phone (everybody has a phone right,) my Passport, a stack of travelers' checks, a stack of credit cards, a stack of cash, and another stack of cash. I also carry my ipod (it's very very very small) Perhaps if someone offers me a ride I will play nine hours of my favorite songs for them. I like to bring my sub and two satellite speakers with me too. I don't think you should have to sacrifice sound quality just because you're on vacation; Besides it only takes up one third of the space in one of my two bags. A harmonica doesn't take up much space at all, so that's why I carry half a dozen of them with me. I can't forget to bring a guitar along - never know when you're going to run into AC/DC while you're in Australia. So that's traveling pretty light, right? Two bags to carry all my stuff, plus the laptop bag, guitar, and pillow. Then there's just a couple items I carry along with the other stuff, like my camera, bag of hats, and my porta-party bag. (Don't leave home without it.) I just had to bring Clown Boy and Mr. Monkey too... I promised them I would! checks his new phone for messages... still nothing. [deep sigh] I know one thing for sure, I'm not getting a ride anywhere with that chimpanzee in the chauffeur's cap whose been downing vodkas (neat) in the spacious and breathtaking lounge over there. Hey check out this picture of Dragon is hiding I took at the Beaumont.Ms. Dragon, traveling in style ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** checks his new phone for messages... still nothing. [deep sigh] I'll go wait in the lounge - Might as well have a few for the road. checks his new phone for messages... still nothing. [deep sigh] Shakes the phone to possible fix the obviously broken and now blurry clock.[That didn't work... groan] Well Awn [hic] Andre, ole fren. I can't sit andrink all day. I gotta get to somewhere. diyoo know how to gethere? %$*@#?~! Grrrraaaate Mate! Go fire up the "ute"! I'll will have another drink [hic] while Mr. Monkey and Clown Boy load my gear.[hic] Hey, Bardneder... I'll will ha ave an other one of drink and I'll will alllll so... buy that bag o boomerangs off ya too. Thanks mate! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
Pack your bags We're leaving December 1, 2016 Headed to the land down under ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Day 2 and 3 It's day 2, and we are in Perth! Perth is still in WA, so we won't be changing time zones just yet. We're checking into Adina Apartment Hotels nice and early today, because we're going on the Fremantle Lunch cruise from 9:45 am to 2:45 pm. Hope you got some shut-eye on the plane! If not, you can always use the time after our cruise to catch up on your Zs, or explore the city and buy more souvenirs. Just make sure you're back by evening so you don't miss the flight to Adelaide! Hope everybody is having a good time so far! Our next destination is Adelaide. We are staying in the Playford Mgallery in Adelaide, South Australia for today. We've got a free morning for exploring the city, and lunch will be a packed picnic at {x-link:https://www.bing.com/search?q=kingston+gardens+park+adelaide+&go=Search&qs=n&form=QBRE&pq=kingston+gardens+park+adelaide+&sc=1-26&sp=-1&sk=&cvid=BAC8A15B947A45EF9B689F3255E6B2FF }Kingston Gardens{/x-link} on our way to the Beaumont House from 2-4:30. Make sure your watches and phones are set in the correct time zone- Adelaide is 2 1/2 hours ahead of Perth and Broome! We'll spend the night in Adelaide, but tomorrow is an early start- we're driving 3 hours up to Port Augusta at 6 am, to get there by 9 am. Hope nobody gets carsick! December 3, 2016 - Brother's Blog Here we go with the clock vs reality battle. If I do this right I might be able to catch up to the rest of the 30 Day Bloggers. I actually have a brand new phone, a Samsung Galaxy four (not the one that blows up in your face.) I hope I can set it to the right time, well...Look at that, it set itself, before I even had a chance to press a wrong button. It's like the phone knew what I was thinking. I don't think I like that. When the phone salesperson asked what Kind of phone I wanted... I told him, "I want a black wall-phone, with a rotary dial, and extra long cord, so I can pace while I talk." The guy just looked at me like I was from another planet. Anyhow... Good thing I brought this phone with me, because it has maps and navigation and apps, and such. I also brought Clown Boy and Mr. Monkey along, because they love to travel. I meant to leave Andre the Blog monkey at home, but once again he followed along, by posing as a pilot. It was sure a mistake to try play a little BINGO while Andre is around. He likes to play a little game at bingo, where he grabs the money from someone who just won then gives the money to someone else, then he does something very rude and naughty, while shouting, "Here's your bingo Mavis - here's your bingo! He's legally banned from most BINGO halls in Canada. Now that I have the time change thing figured out, and Ms. Princess Megan Snow Rose   has chased Andre off. (I hope that works out somehow) I can get a look around, and take some pictures.Thanks to my new phone, Andre's running off, and Clown Boy's and Mr. Monkey's urging, I've caught up to some of the others at the gardens park and gallery. I took a bunch of pictures, and I'll share a couple in my next blog entry. I need a little rest before the evening's activities begin. I'm going to see if one of the other 30 Day Bloggers will offer me a ride tomorrow to Port Augusta. I'm all tuckered out from driving through the Canadian Rockies last week. G'day Mate! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
| Pack your bags - We're leaving December 1, 2016 - Headed to the land down under - Dec 1, 2016 Just when I was struggling in the weeds of purposelessness, and envisioning a somewhat somber celebration, or lack of celebrating the Christmas season. Dragon is hiding comes along with this blogging adventure vacation in Australia. That's the ticket! Just what I need. A break from the cold remoteness of a winter long winter on the Canadian prairie. I would love to spend Christmas on the beach sipping whatever it is they sip on the beach down there, or watching the bush fire outback, while dining on Dingoes and roos. Maybe I'll learn how to play a Christmas carol or two on the didgeridoo. But... A funny thing happened to me on the way to Broome, Western Australia, (you know I always travel in my private jet) My pilot thought we were going to Austria (Who goes to Austria?) Anyhow he said he would fix things up, and he flew a loop the loop then a barrel roll to correct our course and we finally made it to Broome. When we entered the country the Australian Border Force checked through my bags, they had a lot of questions about my gear. But they had even more questions for my pilot, who was packing a large amount of vodka, well a large amount of vodka for a pilot, anyway. So, by the time we got done with bribing the ABF, and were allowed into the country, the other 30 Day Bloggers had already left for Perth. We missed an airplane ride, but had one of our own, as is the usual. Guess we'll catch up with everyone in Perth. (You sure are drunk. We'll pretty drunk for a pilot, anyway) ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
| Did you have an after Thanksgiving or Black Friday tradition when you were a child? From:Prosperous Snow celebrating  for November 24, 2016Great Grandma Pollard would always say, "If you can't be thankful for what you have, then be thankful for what you don't have." I'm a thankful sort all year round for the most part. I celebrate both the American and Canadian Thanks Giving Days. I love the Macy's Thanks Giving Day Parade. I knew I wouldn't be at home to watch it on TV, so I set it to record, and I'll watch it when I get home. I don't have any traditions on the days surrounding Thanks Giving Day, I've never been a shopper, I could care less about Black Friday. I enjoy the challenge of finding new and interesting things to do with left-over turkey, in the days following Thanks Giving Day, but that's as far as it goes. I'm spending the night in a motel room in Grand Forks, British Columbia. It's not too far from the US border. I'll be spending the day with my mountain dwelling friends tomorrow. Happy Thanks Giving, Americans! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
| Prompt for November 23, 2016 I think it might be a good idea to lighten things up a little. Spellbinding: Write a magic spell. Being honest, I have to tell you folks: This entry is going to be a stinker. I wouldn't be offended if you bailed now. I sort of almost, pretty near, already might have wrote something close to , or just about exactly like the requirements of today's prompt. I'm back on the road in the morning, I'm leaving Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. I'm going to go visit a few friends who live somewhere on the side of a mountain near Nelson BC. The trip includes two ferries crossings, and six hours of mountain highway driving. So... To all you less than courteous drivers I encounter in my travels may a plague of screaming children inhabit your vehicle for all eternity. Oh yeah... Abracdabra shazzam! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
| Brother's Blog - November 22, 2016 30 Day Blogging Challenge - Real life - Free Style Groovey Tuesday! Things are not great, But I am fine, and you are too. You can knock me don't, but you can not keep me down. This time last week I was jolly time blogging in the 30 Day Blogging Challenge Group. A bunch of us were having some fun and enjoying some spirited conversation: SandraLynn Prosperous Snow celebrating Apondia  the Wordy Jay  NaNoKit  BlueMoon WakeUpAndLive~doingNaNo'24  Seffi Acme Dragon is hiding And a few others too.As far as the blogging was going, personally, I was doing pretty damn awesome - Never missed a day, wasn't even late, every entry I wrote was a literary masterpiece. I was looking forward to finally winning one of these things. But... Behind the scenes, in the real life novel in progress of my memoirs, a shit storm was brewing. (pardon the expression) I can bring you up to speed by recreating the conversation I had with my dentist the week prior. My dentist keeps notes, and draws on these notes to have a personal conversation with her patients. (I knew she kept notes when on my second visit, she began our conversation by recalling all the things we talked about on my first visit) This is how our conversation went... DENTIST: How was your trip to Winnipeg? ME: I hit a deer on the highway. I wasn't hurt, but my truck was a total loss. DENTIST: Oh nooo! DENTIST: How's your mom doing? ME: She passed away on July 6th. DENTIST: Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear this. ME: Thank you. DENTIST: How's your wife's mother doing? ME: Her Alzheimer's is advancing, and she's just been diagnosed with stage four cancer. DENTIST: Oh my God! That's terrible. ME: yeah [sigh] DENTIST: Well, how are your basement renovations coming along? ME: I haven't had any time to work on it, and now I won't be able to complete it, because Leslie is quitting her job, and moving to Vancouver Island to take care of her mother. So, I'll have to sell the house and moving to Manitoba, before we run out of money to pay the bills. DENTIST: Oh no, You had a pretty rough summer. We better get started. Open wide. After a minute or so she had to stop poking my gums with a sharp stick to give me a moment to let out a little chuckle. What could possibly making this guy laugh? (She must have thought) So she asked me, what's so funny? "I was just wondering what we'll have to talk about on my next visit." That struck me as funny. Today I'm writing this blog in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. The drive getting here was pretty good except for the final five hours, where we ran out of daylight, and it began to rain heavily; Made for some dicey driving conditions as we navigated the mountain pass. I was hoping to write a blog entry Sunday night, when we stayed with friends in Calgary, Alberta. but there was no prompt that night. When I discovered the reason for that, the next day, then all of my problems seemed to be "not so concerning." There is a saying that goes... If a group of people put all of their problems into a basket, and everyone drew from the basket the problems of someone else - Everyone would wish to have their own problems back. I wanted to talk more on the topic of depression, but I'm getting the "put your laptop away look." I'll post what I have for now, and I'll get back to this later tonight. I'll put something together in regards to prompts later on too. Watch for it in the forum, because I won't be able to mail it out. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
My thoughts and prayers are with our friend, and leader of the 30 Day Blog Challenge, Norb Aikin, who we all know as Fivesixer , and his family.I never knew, Norb's brother Doug, but I do know that they are close. I can't even begin to imagine the pain one would feel, learning of the sudden loss of your brother. I'm completely lost for words. Except for my continued freindship and support the only offering I could think of is for me to continue writing a daily blog entry through the month of November, leaving Sunday November 20, 2016 blank in memory of Doug. I think it is appropriate to ask my fellow Writing.com members and bloggers to also continue posting to the 30 Day forum. I'm certain that Fivsixer will return to leading this group, some time in the future, and I think it's important for us to be here for him, when he returns. Peace and love one and all. Rest in Peace, Doug. Sincerely Joel - aka: Brother Nature. |
| Brother's Blog - November 19, 2016 Day 19 of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge. Creation Saturday! When someone says "And this is where the magic happens!", what are they referring to? Take this prompt in any direction your imagination lets you. "And this is where the magic happens!" I've heard this said on a couple documentaries I've watched on TV. In one instance it refereed to the writer's war room for the late night TV show, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In another instance I believe it referred to the Jim Henson design studio, creator of the muppets. I think it's a great compliment. I would be over the moon with pride if someone, anyone! ever! referred to my laptop, or desk, or anything I touched and said... "And this is where the magic happens!" But that has never happened. I did get close though. A couple of years ago when my daughter graduated with honors with a degree in environmental sciences, we held a small reception for her with a small group of family members and a few close friends. A group of my daughters friends arrived, (a group that I had never met before) My daughter introduced the three girls and two boys, then went around the room saying, "this is my aunt, and this my uncle, that's my brother, this is my cousin," and so on. When she got to me as the last introduction she said, "and this is my dad," then she turned to one of the boys and said, "That's where I get it from." I'm not sure what she meant by that exactly, and I never asked. I took it as a compliment. Off Topic, Real Life Update... I'm on the road today. (driving) Leslie and I left Regina at 6:00 A.M. - We'll be spending the night with friends in Calgary, Alberta - Then continuing on to Vancouver British Columbia on Sunday. We're spending Sunday night with Leslie's daughter in Vancouver. We should reach our final destination sometime Monday afternoon - Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. Not a holiday, not a good news story. I'll be leaving Leslie on the Island and returning to Regina alone. Leslie will be staying with her mother. Leslie's mom is in poor health, and the prognosis is not good. Leslie is going to be her mom's care provider to grant her mom her wish to stay in her own home for as long as she can. I debated myself for several days now whether or not to say anything about this. I started to write then backed it out several times. Now that I have a complete thought out there, I feel better about saying something. I'll keep you posted going forward. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada |
| Brother's Blog - November 18, 2016 Day 18 of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge. Fun Fact Friday! On this day in 1928, Walt Disney's "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey Mouse was the first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon. What is your favorite cartoon? I don't imagine anyone is going to be shocked, or even surprised to hear that I love cartoons. I love, loved the old cartoons. I search them on Youtube and watch them all the time. I watched a lot of the cartoons produced during the 90's with my children, they were nowhere near as funny or genuine as the old cartoons from my childhood. The cartoons of the 90's are more geared to promote toy sales than they are to entertain. There are also a number of, what I'd describe as 'adult' cartoons these days, such as: Southpark, Family Guy, The Simpsons; I enjoy these, and although they have some funny stuff in there, they'll often tackle serious issues, they're more like animated satirical dramas IMO. (Still, I enjoy watching them.) Nothing beats the old cartoons, some come close, but the oldies will never be out performed in sheer entertainment value - Pure, wholesome and funny. [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] I could never pick just one as a favorite, I do enjoy them all equally. Some of my favorites are: The original Popeye, Yogi Bear, Bugs Bunny - Road Runner, The Flintstones, Pixie and Dixie, Deputy Dawg, Animaniacs, Bullwinkle, (Before VRC's were common place, I would set my alarm clock for 6:00 A.M. Saturday mornings just to watch Bullwinkle re-runs) The list goes on. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I entered this contest awhile back. The contest is now closed. The challenge of the contest was to write a story or poem, and use the title of twenty or more cartoons in it. (I wrote a poem) I was the first person to post an entry into the contest, and there was only one other entrant to follow. Saying that I won first place doesn't sound so great, but I did. I'm really happy with my work on this, and I wished that it would have gotten more views, so I'm re-posting it here, in the hope you might take a minute to check it out. Don't feel obligated! It's not like I'm going to be checking on the number of views it gets.
Finally, I have to add... I love Disney cartoons, old and new. The wonderful world of Disney is the world of choice for me. If I only had a choice. [sigh]  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Made in Canada Wait! Don't go! There's more. [Embed For Use By Upgraded+] |
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