Friday, December 31, 2010

My Greatest Accomplishment of 2010

Out and About Again

If I had to choose one thing I have done that I have done that has been to my greatest benefit, I would have to say that I have finally gone from barely being able to put one foot in front of the other while using my cane, to being able to walk for more than five and a half miles without my cane at all.
I have finally been able to get a handle on my slowly worsening disabilities, to feeling more like myself again. I actually feel better than I have felt in about twenty years.  Since I am feeling better, I am also feeling like preparing more healthy meals, and have lost about twenty-five pounds, as well.

©2010 PK Hawk
©2010 PK Hawk
©2010 PK Hawk

Friday, December 31, 2010

Winter Morning in Inland Empire
©12/31/2010 PK Hawk
Well, here I am in southern California, at about 1,300 foot elevation in the Inland Empire.  It is now 7:40 AM, and it's 29.3 degrees outside.
Finally, I am again able to add my own photos to the site, as you can see from the photo I took this morning of the sunrise.  While the weather people say we should not be getting more until Saturday night, I can't help but wonder, since the sky this morning was definitely red.

I finally was able to retrieve this shot taken about midnight last winter.  It still isn't the photos I took this morning though.


Red Sky Morning
©12/31/2010 PK Hawk
Morning Frost in Southern California
©12/31/2010 PK Hawk

PK Hawk

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Singers I'll Always Love Listening To

Though I can't think of any specific album, I can think of certain songs, and genre that I really could listen to forever.

                                  Céline Dion à Bercy - 25 mai 2008
I could listen to just about anything Celine Dion sings forever. I love a lyric soprano voice, as I grew up listening to my own mother who had such a lilting lyric soprano voice, singing songs that most people couldn't ever hope to imitate. My voice was made for those same songs, but I lost most of my singing ability when I had my second neck surgery.

I still love listening to these types of voices, and occasionally still try to some some of the songs I once sang easily.

I also love listening to Susan Boyle, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, as well as many who don't come to mind right now. I also loved hearing Diana Ross, and someone you have probably never heard of, and that's my cousin Robert Armstrong.

Cousin Bob is in his seventies now, and still has a stellar singing voice. I think he's the only person on my father's side of the family who could even carry a tune in a bucket, and he has made up for those who couldn't hope to sing a song without scaring off the birds.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

What My Home and Photos Say About Me

Our Local Lake February 2010
©2010 PK Hawk
My home says I love animals of all kinds, and that I love creating web sites, nature and photography.

I certainly can't get many photos on this one, so I've opted for photography, as it reflects my love of nature, and photography.
Overlooking the Valley
Mt. Baldy in Distance beyond the Bike and Hills
©2010 PK Hawk

Photo ©2010PK Hawk








Jehovah's Witnesses: Life Everlasting is Promised

Jehovah's Witnesses: Life Everlasting is Promised

Jehovah's Witnesses: Life must be SO hard down there on that Island.......

Jehovah's Witnesses: Life must be SO hard down there on that Island.......: "Haitian Mobs Lynch Vodoun Priests From Haiti, we have a disturbing story about groups of angry residents who have lynched Vodoun priest..."

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

My Carbon Footprint, etc.

Pandora's Box
NOTE: I'm sorry to have to report that the photo loader is not working this morning.  Even my album of photos has disappeared.

                                                   World leaders
Since all life on earth is carbon based, one can only do so much to reduce their their total carbon "footprint." There appears to be at least one group that thinks there are earth benefits to helping at least a few billion people die off sooner than what is considered natural, yet they use more of this earths resources than thousands of us "regular" folk.

I certainly don't believe in wasting electricity or water, but that doesn't mean I have to live in the dark, or stop living so these greedy, self-important ones can have everything they want while I have to live like a hermit in a cave someplace, either.

If you believe in the Bible and what it says, then you may already know that the Bible says that it our Creator let things continue as they have been, heading down hill faster and faster, until man would eventually kill every living thing on earth. I firmly believe the Bible, where is states that the time is near, and quickly approaching when God will intervene and put a permanent stop to all of man's foolishness.

As for my personal "carbon footprint," I have contacted my electricity provider and asked where I might save more energy, and I answered their questions, They told me that they saw no way I could cut back more than I already have.

I look forward to the time when God steps in and ends the wickedness that prevails on this perfect planet which man is ruining as fast as he possible can. I also look forward to the time when the most evil influence in existence, Satan the Devil is stopped for all time manipulating people and feeding their greed and desire for more and more power and control over other people.

Until that time, I pray that I don't get sidetracked and fall into some of Satan's crafty lairs, and lose site of the plan God had in place since Adam and Eve first sinned, when they fell for Satan's first lie, that man could know as much as God, and not have to listen to His direction and advice. We all can see where that's gotten the human race.

As for carbon dioxide, it is something essential to life on earth. Mammals breathe in air, and exhale carbon dioxide. Plant life absorbs carbon dioxide, and releases oxygen into the atmosphere. If people weren't so determined to have so much meat in their diets, the methane gases would drop exponentially and there would be more land to grow essential food crops for people to eat. If people ate more legumes and nuts, they would require less meat, as their best source of protein would be through legumes, nuts and seeds. Other than that, people need more vegetation in their diets. We are made from this earth, and it produces the elements we need to live.

As many are finally figuring out these genetically modified foods (GMOs), such as corn and soy, are so far from what was created by our maker, they are now toxic and have flooded most countries. These things are another example of man thinking he is equal to God, or that there is no God, and man supposedly got here either by accidental happenstance, or was implanted by some aliens from another solar system.

This, like so many subjects is a huge topic, and is much too detailed to consider here. So, I will stop for now.

Monday, December 27, 2010

My Top Four Favorite Funny People of All Time

I just couldn't stop at three.

1963 ... 'The Nutty Professor'
1- Red Skelton
He did so many great sketches, and made so many people laugh every week, until he became so disgusted with the people in Hollywood, that quit performing, and never again showed his face while he was alive. That was a gigantic loss to the people who waited with baited breath to see his next show on TV.

After Red Skelton died, slowly, some of his shows and a few of his movies have been once again allowed to be shown. Anyone who has ever watched his portrayal of "Freddy the Freeloader," would love to see his acts again.

2- Bob Hope
Bob Hope and his sidekicks always were good for belly laughs, whether live or in their so-called "Road-Shows," as in Road to Rio, just to name one.

3- Lucille Ball
Lucy played Lucy Ricardo with her former husband Desi Arnaz, who played Ricky Ricardo for several years on TV, in the late 1940s through the mid 1950s, but even though Lucy and Desi are both gone, that show is still shown today, and it still has many fans.

4- Oh yes, and Jerry Lewis
I could hardly wrap this up without mention ing Jerry Lewis, one of my favorite actors and comedians. There were many movies which Jerry and his half brother Dean Martin performed, but personally, I always preferred watching Jerry.

One of my favorite movies was the original version of "The Nutty Professor," which I once highlighted as one of my favorite movies of all time. Jerry played a high school professor who was pretty wrapped up in his work, and wasn't really very handsome. He formulated a concoction that turned him into a debonaire hot shot, wild and crazy dancing fool who all the young high school kids went crazy over. He finally won the heart of his lady love, when everything began to fall apart. Does he get the girl in the end? Why don't you look up this movie on Netflix, and see for yourself? Maybe it's even available for sale in places like Walmart, too.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

How I Would Fight Cabin Fever on Snow Days

                                 Snow Capped Mountain as Seen From Where I live February 2010                                                          
Living in Southern California at about 1,300 foot elevation, I don't get snowed in. At least I haven't in the fifty-five years I have lived in California. If I lived in one of the mountain communities, that would certainly be a possibility though.

So, let's just say for the sake of argument, that I lived in an area called Julian, CA. Now there, one could definitely get enough snow to be snowed in. I know, for I often hear on the news that Julian is one of the areas that not only gets snowed in, but they also get hit with some pretty serious fires in the summertime in California.

Living in such an area, most folks prepare ahead of time for such eventualities, stocking up on such things as firewood, food, plenty of safe drinking water, and have their cell phones handy, just in case their landlines go out. people up there also have vehicles with good tires, snow chains, etc.
If I lived in a place where getting snowed in was a possibility, I too would have these things in place. I did live in Ohio as a youngster, so I do remember what it's like when lots of snow falls. We all sat around listening to the radio and Mom telling us stories, and having hot chocolate. We also had delicious homemade soup, or some of my mother's wonderful stew. As an adult, I would likely be reading or if internet were still functioning, I would be communicating with my friends, and checking up on local weather conditions.

A a small child, it was fun to play in the snow with sleds and making a snow man, too. I played until my fingers and toes were burning, at which time I ran inside to warm up again. When we lived in Ohio, the streets were full of that lovely white stuff, and we used the road as a slope for our sleds to fly down. Snowball fight were a blast, too. Still, being really snowed in can mean that the snow outside is possible half way up the walls of the house, too. In such a case, if you just can't even get out your door, that's when you snuggle in for the duration. It's important to keep the heat going, which will hopefully help melt some of the snow off the roof, and keep the heather roof vents from getting covered with snow, preventing fume buildup inside. Tall vent pipes are in order is such areas, or good tall chimneys to help prevent their being blocked by snow.

December 2010, So Far-Near My Home
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Saturday, December 25, 2010

A Photo That Reminds Me of a Promise


This is only one of many photos that give me the warm fuzzies. When I see these photos, it helps me to see the reality of what life will be like when the whole earth is a paradise, with no wickedness, sickness or hunger or even death, ever again. God has promised it, and he has never, ever broken a promise.

The Bible is full of his promises that have already been kept, as well as those which are still to come in the not too distant future.

Isaiah 11:6-9:
"6 And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. 7 And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. 8 And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. 9 They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea."

Revelation 21:4, 5:
" 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

5 And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also, he says: “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” "

Friday, December 24, 2010

A Video For Animal Lovers

You won't soon forget this one.  I just received this link from a fellow animal lover, and I had to share it with you all.




 http://www.wimp.com/lionesstrust/

Jehovah's Witnesses: A Single Blade of Grass

Jehovah's Witnesses: A Single Blade of Grass: "Howard Ferguson9:03pm Dec 22A Single Blade of Grass! How simple, How complex. Not much can be done with only one, but oh how beautiful the t..."

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Three Countries I'd Like to Visit

This is a tough one. I don't think there is enough time to really see everything I would like.

Australian Cattle Dog
aka Queensland Heeler
First I'd like to visit Australia. The only problem with that is, that I think once I got there, I don't think I would want to leave. I really like the Australians I have met, and watch every travelogue about Australia that I can. I have always loved wide open spaces, of which Australia has more than it's share, to be sure. Of course, I would naturally have to visit the Australia Zoo while I was there, too.
Italian Mountain Community














If, and that's a "BIG IF," I left there, I think I would like to visit Italy, and take in the sights, and meet the Italian people who are just the everyday people. I would like to travel by bicycle, or possible horseback if I had the opportunity to travel outside of cities. I always prefer countryside rather than any city.











Then, I think I might enjoy traveling through Canada's more rural areas. Hiking or riding a horse would be my first choice as a way to travel. I have met many very nice people from Canada, and I think it would be a most interesting and lovely country to visit.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Rain and Wind Damage Locally Not Too Serious

It is now 1:37 PM on Tuesday, December 21, 2010.  While some areas of Southern California have been hard hit by heavy rains and strong winds, this area of the Inland Empire have gotten by relatively unscathed in comparison.

Local Nearby Private Dirt Road
While there are good sized puddles, the soil seems
to still be soaking up most of the steadily falling rain
We have had at least 5 1/2 inches of rain since late Friday, and on Sunday winds got strong enough to cause some damage, at least in some areas locally.  My neighbor had a Silk Oak tree which was at least 60 feet tall, that is until the winds kept blowing strong enough and long enough that it broke the main trunk of the tree. 

http:www.wunderground.com says we have a 100% chance of continuing rain for a couple more days, and possible even longer.

My rain gauge shows just under 5 1/2 inches of rain, and I did empty it once a few days ago.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Travel Plans?

"Weary Holiday Travelers"
You must be kidding. Though I don't celebrate the holidays, I definitely try to stay off the road, especially during those times. There are just too many drunk drivers, and people are too stressed or too tired to be driving, as well. It's safer to stay home where it's nice and warm and cozy, with a good book, and maybe a nice cup of hot chocolate or tea.


Many people arrive too tired to really enjoy their trip, and get frustrated with all the security issues they have to face if they fly, too. Especially now, with all the hazardous weather conditions all across the country, there will be flight delays, and more stress than I would care to deal with. If I were planning a trip, it certainly would not be during a holiday season.


Whether one is planning to travel by car, bus, airplane, or a train, it will usually be miserable experience when so many others are also traveling at the same time. I prefer a more relaxed time, when everyone isn't worried about the usual things that happen on holiday travel days.


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Rain, Rain, So Badly Needed in So Cal.

View to the North Including a Portion of My Neighbor's Acreage and the Hills in the Distance, With Rain Falling
©2010 PK Hawk
We in the Inland Empire, of Southern California may finally have hopes that our ten to twelve year drought may be coming to an end.  The rain we have had this season is about the earliest and the most rain we have has this early in the season in many years.  The rains we got last winter actually were very important, but even though we got a decent soaking, it was not enough to really break the drought.
The ground water levels have been seriously lower than usual, and many people have even allowed their lawns to die out to conserve water, and to save on their water bills which are inflated to discourage wasteful water use.
Photo taken facing N/E with rain still falling
at about 3:00 PM Today

©2010 PK Hawk

This is a semi-rural area and does not have concrete curbs, allowing water to flow freely onto property along the road that may be lower than the the road.  Many people on this street are at a lower elevation than their neighbors, which also allows water from the higher properties to flow onto and through those properties which are lower, all the way down the street.                  

Though the rains may be somewhat troublesome, we are happy to be receiving our rain in gentle enough showers to allow for more soaking in, than flooding and runoff.  With the rain coming as it has been from this storm, it has made for some pleasant nights sleep, hearing the pitter patting on the roof, and overhangs.
Property of another neighbor beyond where
the truck was in the other photo

©2010 PK Hawk

I don't mind at all having to skim the fallen leaves and twigs from my pool where my pond fish are either.  I really do love rain, and I hope it continues as long as it isn't so heavy that it causes serious flooding.

I understand that this storm has caused some damage in the "burn areas" of Los Angeles County, and that they are getting pounded pretty heavily in other areas of Southern California, like Moreno Valley and San Bernardino County.  We may end up getting more heavy rains than we have so far received, but come what may, we can only deal with whatever comes our way.  Right?

When all is said and done, and the rains stop, the local mountains should have at least some snow, even though this is not nearly as cold a storm as the last one was.  These storms are coming in from the westward lying coast instead of from the north, so we won't get nearly as much snowpack as we might like.  However, any snow is better than none at all.

Jehovah's Witnesses: A History of Hebrew Part 20: The Aleppo Codex

Jehovah's Witnesses: A History of Hebrew Part 20: The Aleppo Codex

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Truth or Lie or Withhold All the Truth? How Do You Feel?

Is it always better to know the truth, even if it hurts?
Me and myself May Be (Self Deception)
There are times when the truth can be detrimental to a person. This question as with many others, is relative. One can either lie, or just remain silent on certain issues. Outright lying though is immoral. To deliberately tell someone a lie, is not acceptable or scriptural.  Lying by omission is also lying.  If you cannot tell tell someone something without lying, then it would be best to remain silent.  Even Christ Jesus did not answer every question put to him.  There are some questions that people may ask to taunt you.   There are times when it is just better to remain silent.

As an example, a doctor will not always tell a patient the whole truth of their condition in serious health matters. Not everyone really wants to know everything about serious health concerns, while others prefer knowing every detail so they know exactly what they are facing, as well as their options for a full recovery, or how long they may still have to live in case of a potentially fatal illness or injury.

Personally, I belong in the latter category. When I sustained a potentially fatal or life changing neck and spinal cord injury, I wanted to know everything about the details, so I could plan my solutions and options, as well as how the damage could or would affect the rest of my life.

Some people cannot face the truth, and even if they may not have a problem with their doctor sharing the facts with their family, they may choose to remain in ignorant bliss.

This question as with many others in life, is not always a simply black or white issue. Of course there are times when withholding the truth is not only immoral, but also could be for reasons of deception, which could cause serious injury of loss of money or even real property to the person lacking full information or have been lied to. Then this could be actual theft of someone’s personal financial stability.

Again, one must consider all the options, as well as whether or not the truth would help or hurt the person in question.

        Misrepresentation or Deceptive Sales?

Friday, December 17, 2010

Walking Five Miles... In the Rain

Light Rain Off and On in Southern California
I don't know about you, but I have always enjoyed doing practically anything in the rain.  I love driving in the rain as well as just walking along listening to the raindrops on my umbrella.  Don't forget that I'm sixty-five now, and due to being seriously in 1979, I have three herniated discs in my lower back, and have also sustained spinal cord damage  in my c-spine, so I have been rather limited for many years from doing many things I previously loved doing.

This morning, when I awoke, I had a taste for a delicious ham, cheese and egg burrito that they make to order at a local convenience store.  In years past, I would at least twice a week for one of those really big, and exceedingly yummy burritos.  I live about two and a half miles from there place, and they only have their snack counter open until about 2:30 PM, and they stop making their Breakfast Burrito about noon.  I decided it was a lovely day for a walk, and I could also work off the calories from being so bad, as well.

I have a sister (Ginger) who will be seventy in May of 2011, and she also loves walking.  So... We decided to walk together, rain and all with our umbrellas to get a taste treat, and to enjoy the lovely weather.  See, we have been in serious drought conditions for about ten to twelve years, with only a slight letup during the winter of 2009-2010.  This year, it appears we may be in for a wet winter, something that is desperately needed in Southern California, even nearly the entire western United States.

Since it wasn't really cold, but just a bit on the chilly side, I decided I had best dress for colder weather,  just in case it got colder, or rained heavily.  I dressed in my jeans, with a cotton long sleeved thermal shirt, and a hoodie, along with my fleece-lined denim jacket, and my umbrella, of course.  My sister lives about a mile and a half from me, on the way to the "Round Up," so I called her when I left home, and a couple of times along the way, so she could be ready, and we could leave immediately from her place.  All along the way, we walked with some dogs barking at us from behind fences, and traffic going merrily on it's way. Some people waved as they drove past, and many just watched two old ladies walking in the light rain.

We walked the rest of the way to the "Round Up," and were happily looking forward to our expected reward, that scrumptious "Breakfast Burrito" and while Ginger had some hot chocolate, I had a large coffee, with half & half, and some French Vanilla creamer.  Once our food was ready, we ate out in front of the store, where they have several tables with benches, for people to sit and enjoy their food. There are also a few smaller round tables inside, but I have always preferred to eat outside, where I have more room, and can watch the sights, cars a trucks passing by, people stopping for gas, and heading inside to pay for their gas, and to buy either their hamburger and fries, or maybe some beer, etc.

Any time you go to the "Round Up" you always run into someone you know, or people you may not have seen for awhile, as well as meeting new people who live in the area,  whom you may have never met before.

After a nice relaxing lunch, meeting a greeting folks, and resting from our long walk, we said goodbye to everyone, and headed homeward again. This time the dogs didn't bark nearly as much, and we enjoyed the fresh, cleaner air after the rain had washed away the smog and dust that had accumulated since our last rain.  Ginger and I said our goodbyes as we reached her driveway.  She wanted me to come in for awhile, but I thought it best to head on home, so I wouldn't get all settled in a her place, and lose my inclination to walk the last mile and a half.  I passed the entrance to the sky diving airport, past the DeJong's Dairy, and passed by the self storage place that my friend, Dawn has managed for about eight years or so, also without stopping.  I know that if I stop, I will end up staying to visit, and I really need to get back home before it gets too cold, and starts getting darker, as the clouds are now getting somewhat heavier, and the rain getting more intense, too.


Finally, I reach my street, and from there on, it's a slight uphill grade, which is a bit tiring after I have just walked about five-plus miles.  When I finally reach my home, I get my mail from the rural mailbox, and go in through my front drive gate/  I'm greeted by my three dogs, who really would have rather be inside all the time I was gone.  They prefer my bed to their dog houses that are on the over sized covered porch, and they can hardly wait to follow me inside, and get their late afternoon dinner, and jump onto my bed, and settle in for a couple of hours until it's time for them to go out again to do their thing for the night.
So, I walked five miles in the rain to get one burrito and a cup of coffee, and two bags of nuts and trail mix.  Of course, the walking and exercise was really nice, too. I just love walking, especially in the rain.

  

Laughter; The Best Medicine


As far as I can tell, and from what other people have said about my laugh, it must be a pleasant sounding one. Occasionally I may have a real "belly laugh" but that isn't often.

Sorry, but I just don't make it a habit to listen to my own laugh.

Some have said that they love my laugh, and I don't recall anyone saying my laugh is unsettling, or irritating, either, thank goodness. Actually, I tend to be more reserved, and maybe a bit too serious at times. I laugh at things I consider funny, such as when watching children play, or watching animals interact playfully. I loved watching my little Chihuahua "Pugsly" playing with his best buddies, Snow Bear and Buddy Cat. They were always good for a few laughs.


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