What a View...#fridayflash

What a View...

   What a view. I can see for miles from up here. I have never really appreciated this view, never really looked at it. I was always too busy to take the time. It's only by accident that I am enjoying it now.

   I can see the deep navigation channel from here.  The water changes from the light blue of the shallows to a deep navy. Those small islands look like bright green paint spatters.

   Over there you can see the chemical storage tanks. Hey some of them do they do have floating roofs, would you look at that.

   In this direction you can see the skyline of downtown. Boy that sure has grown since I first moved here. Just look at all that traffic. I sure am glad I don't have to drive in that.

   I always knew there were a lot of ships on these waterways, but I never realized the variety. The big cargo ships, loaded with shipping boxes that look like a child's building blocks. The flat barges with everything from machinery to piles of ore or dirt or what ever that is. Boy would my kids like to climb those hills.

   There goes a tour boat. Man they do they keep that thing clean, the sun reflecting off that white can blind you. I can barely make out all the people waving at me. Might as well wave back, Hi.

   And of course, all the tug boats are running around trying to heard everything in their way. Kinda like that new blue heeler puppy we got that herds everything with legs no matter what the size.

   There's the Coast guard cutters. The authority of the waves. I have a lot of respect for those men and women. They are out there everyday risking their lives and limbs to keep us safe.

   Ah, here comes the fire boat. Would you look at those water guns. Man I would love to get my hands on one of those. I could think of a couple of people I would like to soak. Looks like they got a big latter for rescues too.

   Yeah the view up here is great. But, since I had 4 cups of coffee this morning I sure hope they hurry and get me untangled from this damn crane.

©2011 Pamela Jo

Houston Ship Channel

Happy Birthday ME...

   No it is NOT my birthday. It is my baby sisters. I will be nice and not say which birthday it is...She knows where I live and can out run me.

   When she was born, my mother told me and my brothers we would have to help her learn to spell her name. So when we called her we would spell it out. That quickly got shortened to just the first to letters, and she became M.E.

   Well for my baby brother's birthday I threw a virtual party...so...

HAPPY SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY, SIS!!!!

Here is the cake. Go ahead and blow out the candles....

Have a glass of wine....

I had a sushi bar set up for you...

And I brought in some of your favorite musicians...

What a concert... Loved it...



Dedicated to your modeling...remember the hair show...




Just for the fun of it....

Road trips from College to the dance hall...

Vince is always right....


And one more from Bon Jovi. This is from me to you...

As you can tell my sister loves good music of all kinds.

Happy Birthday Sis... Enjoy your day...

Happy Father's Day to all you Daddies...

Image by Jim, the Photographer via Flickr

   I would like to wish all the Dads of the world a Happy Father's Day. I am not sure if it is celibrated around the world or on the same day, but it doesn't matter. The Fathers of the world deserve praise everyday of the year. With out you we would not be here.


   I would like to wish an extra special Happy Father's Day to all the Daddies out there, after all it takes someone special to be a Daddy.

   A Daddy is the person who raises you to be who you are, even if he isn't you biological father. He wipes your tears, teaches you to ride a bike, how to fish, and how to drive (though I will never know how he could hold his breath that long).

   It's your Daddy who chases away the monster's under your bed and out of the closet. Daddy is the one to squash the big icky bug that chased you. He is the one who makes the best hamburgers and bar-b-q.

   He is also the one who taught you right from wrong, even when it hurt him as much as you. He is the one you never wanted to disappoint. The one you want to live up to.

   Yes, just about every man can be a Father, but there are a special few who can be a Daddy.

 

This Picture of my Daddy was taken by my Sister.

 

One year today...

   Oh goodness.... I started this blog one year ago today. Can you believe it? I made my first anniversary.

This calls for a celebration!!!

   During the past year I have met so many interesting people on line, Mothers, Fathers, daughters and sons, city dwellers and country people, photographers, musicians, actors, directors, and of course authors. Lots and lots of authors.

   I have been able to travel and learn about the world, through the eyes of those who live there. I have seen so many wonderful places and things, through the lenses of some really amazing photographers. (India...Coffee Rings Everywhere and Australia....Publish or Parish, just to name 2 of many)

   I have been entertained daily with the humor, and the insightful stories of great story tellers. (I never realize how many people out there spent their days thinking up ways murder someone and getting paid for it, instead of arrested.) I have also discovered that Death loves peanuts and drives a Harley.

I wonder if it is this fire bike???

   I have learned I am not alone in this big old world. There are others out there just as crazy as I am. (What a relief. I will know a lot of people when they finally lock me away.)


   To all of you out there who take the time to read about little old me. (Humbly bows head) Thank You.  I don't know what I would do without you to keep me sane...ish.

   If you would like to read my very first post, you will find it here.


   (I wonder if I could knock off the IRS and call it research....)

Mermaid or Whale...

   I got an email from a friend who passed along this story. After I read it I knew I would have to pass it along. Take a moment to read this, then decide.

Would you want to be a mermaid ...




Or a whale....





        Recently, in a large city in Australia ,
        a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in 
        the window of a gym.
        It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
        
        A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not 
        match those of the woman on the poster,
        responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
        
                         
        To Whom It May Concern,
        Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins,
        sea lions, curious humans.)
        They have an active sex life,
        get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. 
        They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing
        themselves with shrimp.
        They play and swim in the seas,
        seeing wonderful places like Patagonia ,
        the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .
        Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.      
        They are incredible creatures
        and virtually have no predators
        other than humans.
        They are loved, protected and admired
        by almost everyone in the world.
        
        Mermaids don't exist.
        If they did exist,
        they would be lining up outside the offices
        of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity 
        crisis. Fish or human?
        They don't have a sex life
        because they kill men who get close to them, 
        not to mention how could they have sex?
        Just look at them ... where is IT?
        Therefore, they don't have kids either.
        Not to mention,
        who wants to get close to a girl who smells
        like a fish store?
        
        
        The choice is perfectly clear to me:

        I want to be a whale.
        
        P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads
        the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, 
        but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids,
        a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, 
        and a piece of chocolate with my friends. 
        
        With time, we gain weight
        because we accumulate so much information and wisdom
        in our heads that when there is no more room,
        it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
        So we aren't heavy,
        we are enormously cultured,
        educated and happy.
        Beginning today,
        when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, 
        ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

Image via Wikipedia

When was the last time you saw a mermaid leap for joy???

   She makes a good argument, but she had me at chocolate and ice cream. Let's see you get to travel, see exotic places and marine life. Have lots of friends and not have to worry about your diet....
   
    I want to be a whale. How about you?