IT'S GREAT TO BE ALIVE

POST # 324

I came across this sign recently, and it got me to thinking, which is always a good thing, in my opinion.  Because of the fact that I rarely watch television any longer, I have more of my precious time to spend on other activities.  These days, I like spending time with boneheads and furballs, and a few human beings, and if possible, I like to spend a majority of that time in nature.  Because I live my life with a very short view of the future, I am able to appreciate the fact of  just being alive, way more than I have ever done in years gone past.  Personally, I find it a wonderful and joyous way to live, and I will continue to attempt do so until my last breath.

Along with "killing the television", I am fortunate to have kept intact the child-like quality of a basic curiosity about things, and that, perhaps more than anything else in my life has allowed me to pursue topics that the average person may not take onboard.  Curiosity, plus my interest in reading, which I will be forever grateful to my dear friend, Ted for encouraging me to do, way back in 1978, have allowed me to continue to learn more and more about so many interesting topics.

At the top of the list these days is my interest in the topic of abrupt climate change leading to the near-term extinction of our favourite species.  That would be homo-sapiens.  Not to be political, but this topic most definitely "TRUMPS" everything else and that includes Donald Trump.  If one does finally grasp its significance, then it has the effect (at least for me) of making everything in my life that may have seemed to be a problem or a  big issue in the past, pale into insignificance.  It also has the effect of helping me get so much more out of each and every moment, with the knowledge that any one of those moments could be my last one.

Of course, those who have read my blog over the years would know by now that the person that has been most influential in providing this knowledge, is my dear friend, Dr. Guy McPherson, whose work I came across way back in about 2010.  We first met in person on February 5th, 2013, and have remained friends since then.  For that, I am unbelievably grateful.

Guy and his partner Pauline who is also a dear friend, were on a recent speaking tour in the USA, and he just posted a video of a presentation he did in Woodstock, New York on August 22nd.  He states that it will probably be his final presentation, and after listening to it, I can highly recommend it to anyone who happens to read this blog.  It covers in detail, just where we are at, and if the viewer can watch it with an open mind, then I think that it will help them understand the predicament that we find ourselves in, here in 2018 on planet Earth.

Here is the link:

https://guymcpherson.com/2018/08/presentation-in-woodstock-new-york/#more-17279

And here is a link with a graph of the collapse of civilization which is interesting.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mdlZfMdDxPAIF39R2P9309Sq0UAyDLwXaOuiWHgXzsifVfx3vUW1WXe2VzTeFgAtoTEn0NIrzVt0BPwcehp-83XfBmsMsopbeUYNQNtzVqh2Hz4P78tM9xhK7FKMHS9D414M5pSc19nJ/s640/cope.jpg

How  you deal with this information will of course be up to you.  For me personally, the information only helps to reinforce the notion that my time, your time, everyone's time is rather short, and as a result, I spend it, being more grateful for each and every breath.  I am also truly amazed that I was even born in the first place.  That fact alone, is more than enough to put a smile on my face each and every day.

Dora-dog's expression, mirrors my inner feeling.  It's great to be alive.

living in acceptance,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

POST # 323

Smoke gets in your eyes, and lungs and everywhere else these past couple of weeks.  In the last few days, it has been particularly thick.  I have a feeling it will get worse before we see any improvement.
It seems like the entire northern hemisphere is on fire these days, and one doesn't have to dig too deeply to find the main culprit.  Abrupt climate change is well and truly in control now, and all we can do is be observers at this late date.  All the more reason to appreciate the precious moments as they pass,  in spite of the smoke.

HAZY SUNSET

HAZY MOONRISE

But speaking of appreciating the moments,  on Saturday, the sky actually cleared for a few hours just prior to sunset, which made for a magnificent photo.

To wrap up for today's short blogpost, here is a link to a site called "Climate and Extreme Weather News."  It is updated fairly regularly, and it gives a good synopsis of what's going on around the world.  The only question that needs to be asked after watching any of the now 133 videos is, "Does this look normal?"  The answer would have to be "no".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgI3YYyH7o8

living in acceptance,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

POST # 322

With the aid of my special bonehead "reading between the lines" glasses, I suspected that something was up a couple of days ago.  

The first, and most obvious clue appeared when I saw Bert curled up asleep on the house sitter's lap.  Now don't get me wrong, Bert is a friendly furball, but this sort of behavior is highly abnormal . What did he know that I didn't know?

Sure enough, today, I was proven correct. The house sitter is now history.  I was sad for at least one moment of my life, but now that my owners are home, I'm focusing all of my attention on them. It's what I do best.  It's what I did when the house sitter was here, and because of this, I imagine that he's missing me.  I seem to have that effect on humans.  Maybe we'll get to spend time together in the future?  I would like that, and if I were a betting bonehead, my guess is that he would like it as well.  After all, he sure appeared to be happy when he was here, and it was probably because of me. OK, so Bert  had a bit to do with his happiness as well.

 That's enough writing.  It must be time for a game of frisbee by now.  It's even more fun, when I am wearing my special glasses.

Mac, the " Mac " nificent

PS: I can only agree with Mac's account.  Today, I am back on the road.  And I miss him (and Bert) just as he stated.  However, whether it's missing a bonehead and a furball, whether it's the near-term demise of our species, ( see this recent essay from my friend, Guy:  https://guymcpherson.com/2014/10/only-love-remains/ )         

or even my own personal extinction, I do try to live each moment as best as I can, and accept everything that life throws my way.

OUR FINAL WALK TOGETHER

TIME FOR A REST

Living in acceptance,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

"MAC"NIFICENT

POST # 321

A FAITHFUL BONEHEAD, A GREAT BOOK, AND A COLD BEER

(IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS)

What a bonehead. Mac really is "Mac"nificent.  I've had the great pleasure to get to know plenty of boneheads along this house/pet sitting path, and there are a few that come to mind that rise up to the top.  Mac is DEFINITELY one of those boneheads.  Right from our very first meeting, I knew that we were going to get along famously.  I haven't been disappointed.  He really is something.

The days are just flying right on by, and it won't be too long before I have to say goodbye to Mac, but in the meantime, we just try and spend as much time as possible in each other's company.  It's one of life's little pleasures.

So what does a typical day look like for the two of us?  Let's see.  As mentioned in the last post, our day begins rather early, thanks to the reliability of the resident furball alarm clock named Bert.  Mac follows me outside, and we both get to perform our male function of "watering" the ground as it were.  With that duty out of the way it's time for his breakfast of kibble, while I settle in with my morning coffee.  (Bert is up long enough to have his kibble, before returning to bed.)

 Then it's time to head out for our daily walk (3km) along the lonely country road that I am currently living on.  This is where Mac gets to teach the human how to stay in the present moment.  He does it with such ease.  I have to work at it constantly, but it is so worthwhile when I am there.  I can highly recommend it to one and all.  Mac concentrates with his nose, and I try to do the same using my eyes.  We usually come across an occasional bonehead on our journey, but Mac seems to be way more interested in what smells are wafting up from the road than with other boneheads.  However, once in a while we meet another human, and when that happens, he comes out of his trance for a few minutes and makes sure to introduce himself to the new two-legged.  He is just so friendly, that I am quite sure that if I handed over the leash to the stranger, Mac would be more than happy to wander off to his new home.  

Once we're back home, Mac has some time for a morning snooze, while I have breakfast.  After that is accomplished, it's Frisbee time.  We head back outside for a round of Frisbee, while we roam around the property, so that Mac can do his morning inspection to see (smell) what other critters may have wandered in on the previous night.

Some afternoons we drive into town for supplies, and on other days we head to the local provincial park, and stroll through the magnificent forest.

Mac gently suggesting that he drive.

Home again, and it's time for the daily round of chuckit, and when Mac has settled down to rest in the grass, I can get back to reading about Mark Twain, and maybe enjoy a beer as well.

Afternoon slides into evening, and after we've all been fed, the three of us have time to hang out together outside, as we watch the sun set, and later on enjoy gazing at the stars as they begin to appear in the night sky.

Finally, I don't subscribe to the point of view regarding reincarnation, whether it be for humans, or any other creature on the planet, however, if boneheads  could be reincarnated, then Mac would be the updated version of my old buddy, Breaker from the Yukon. * Breaker died in 2016, however when I stare into Mac's eyes, I could swear that it's Breaker who's staring back.

*Here is a link to my post about Breaker. In a strange coincidence, it was also posted on August 7th, from two years ago.  Hmmm, perhaps there is something to this bonehead reincarnation business after all? :-)

http://wherespaulnow.blogspot.com/2016/08/breaker.html

Saying so long to Breaker for the last time.

MAC, THE MACNIFICENT 

Living in acceptance,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer