What does it take to be wise?

My kind and thoughtful readers let me repost a video that received no votes or likes in 2014. This post is also feeling a little sad – 8 years later, still no likes or love. Can you make it happy?

Life and Random Thinking

Multiple Choice (My favorite type of questions)

What does it take to be wise?  Is it?

1. Read Calvin and Hobbes faithfully and meditate, or
2. Mars bars and Caesar salad, or
3. learn from your mistakes, or
4. learn from other peoples mistakes?

That’s what is tough about multiple choice, they’re tricky, and sometimes more than one answer is right. However the person asking the question only accepts one answer as correct, but it that right?

The correct answer is #4 – learn from other people’s mistakes. (maybe I’m wrong though in this case because Calvin and Hobbes are really cool).  (the coloured font is a link if you don’t know about Calvin & Hobbes)

What prompts me to write this post?

If you go to youtube and input a search “dutch and cycling” it comes up with some interesting youtube videos about the Dutch and their cycling paths.

My…

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Life life aloof

I originally did this post in 2014 – I was undiscovered then and received no likes at all I see. Maybe this time – nudge nudge (smile)

Life and Random Thinking

Yesterday I drove up the valley to Kelowna.  I really notice the difference between the drivers here and in Kelowna.
In Penticton, my usual complaint about my fellow citizens is for them to stop dragging their feet and drive! I am not an aggressive driver, and my daughter would probably say I toddle since I usually drive about the speed limit. The frustration is the number of people in Penticton who drive the BELOW the speed limit EXCEPT on side streets.

 I wish people would just crawl along on side streets but some people in my neighbourhood, pound on the gas pedal regardless of the number of yards to the end of the street, and the requisite semi-full stop.

In Kelowna, the drivers are all in rush, they drive along intent on riding on the bumper of the car in front of them. They drive like they are in…

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Postcard from Okanagan #2 -Clouds, Sun, and a Snake

Thank you for visiting – This post will have clouds, sun, and a snake.

One of my favorite activities since I could do it without falling over was and is……….riding a bike.

Fortunately now I fall over less than I used to (clapping) and now I wear a helmet. ♥

It’s not unusual for a ride to be between 13 to 20 kilometres long as I ride from one lake to another (Skaha lake to Okanagan Lake) and meander along trails to climb up so I can look down on the view.

It never gets boring for me and I am always on the lookout for wildlife. I am always watching for bald eagles, and osprey but I love seeing what each tour brings whether its turtles or herons.

As I rode along the lake channel I spotted a sign I had never spotted before. (see slideshow below) It was in spot that is filled with the noise of red-winged blackbirds. They do a shrill scree shaw noise to warn other birds from their territory.

Along this same stretch I spotted a beaver swimming a few weeks ago and two days ago the baby Canada Geese were fuzzy and looked rather odd. It’s all wonderful and amazing to me.

Sound of red winged blackbird here – click here – 19 seconds

The California Quail zip hither and yon with their little legs a blur and they disappear into the grasses quickly, flying only if panicked.

Slideshow below – tap to change the view ♥

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You will notice one of the pictures is of clouds. I watch the clouds a lot when I ride, mainly to avoid rain but also I like to just watch them move along the valley.

Interestingly they can seem almost motionless if you watch intently but if you look away and back – they have moved and everything is different.

Like life.

Clouds also block the sun, and one of my favourite Beatles sons is about the sun; I’ll Follow The Sun.

It was written by Paul McCartney when he was 16, and doesn’t even make the list of the Top 100 Beatles songs. Perhaps it’s because it’s just too short or because it predated the band.

Okanagan Lake looking north to Giant’s Head Mountain

I’ll Follow The Sun

One day you’ll look
To see I’ve gone
For tomorrow may rain
So I’ll follow the sun

Some day you’ll know
I was the one
But tomorrow may rain
So I’ll follow the sun

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I am looking forward to your thoughts on anything in today’s post. The blue skies are always there and if I watch I can still spot them on cloudy days. ♥ – David

Friday Postcard from the Okanagan – Detour Edition

Welcome !

The spring has been cool with few days of real “beach” weather. Some years I swim in Skaha Lake in June, but I don’t think that will be the case in 2022.

I hope you will enjoy some photos today, all local. The photos include views of Okanagan lake and Skaha lake and a recent foal born (likely in my yard) last week. A couple of photos are taken in Summerland looking down on Okanagan lake, I was visiting family that day and they have a beautiful view from their yard, and lovely yellow poppies.

Enjoy the SLIDESHOW below – click arrows to advance the images ♥

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The trail along the channel connecting the two lakes, Skaha and Okanagan.

I have been thinking about “detours” and how they have an unwelcome connotation.

As I look back at the stories in my life I have discovered that detours or unplanned changes to my day have led to the many fortuitous events and special memories.

For example – a detour lead to a hike in Manning Park – and discovery of Rhododendren Flats – I love that spot now but I have driven past it many times. I was encouraged to take a minor detour which I did, and it made me ask myself ” Why do I rush sometimes?”

I visited this oasis of peace and beauty in the park and will never pass by it again without stopping. It’s like a drink of spring water, refreshing, and an easy walk. Link here

Detours have lead to different falls, parks, baseball games, and unforeseen friendships.

Perhaps every week should include a detour to allow for serendipitous discoveries.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.

Mark Twain

Thank you for visiting today to my blog. Comments and suggestions are welcome ♥ – David

My Turn to Dance

Thank you for visiting “Life and Random Thinking” today!

I was talking with my uncle in Saskatchewan yesterday and he commented “I think everyone eventually is going to catch Covid 19”. At that moment, it did seem that way.

I could only agree because I caught it last week, and so did my household. Everyone has been multiple vaccinated. The vaccines seem to work, we are holding up fairly well, not having breathing problems, not hospitalized either.

We are all isolating ourselves according to the guidelines from CDC. I am quarantining myself from any indoor spots for two weeks. I am now feeling well enough to walk for an hour again, and I am sure a bike ride will be no problemo. But staying away from people except from my own household.

My Turn to Dance

I chose for the title, “My Turn to Dance” because “Staying Alive – Bee Gees” came up on my playlist.

The Bee Gee’s were an amazing group with success that lasted 45 years beginning in 1958.

According to Smoothradio.com – the story behind the lyrics is as follows, and I quote.

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote the song over a few days while working on a staircase at the Château d’Hérouville studio near Paris.

Robin said: “The subject matter of ‘Stayin’ Alive’ is actually quite a serious one; It’s about survival in the streets of New York, and the lyrics actually say that”.

Barry Gibb added: “People crying out for help. Desperate songs. Those are the ones that become giants. The minute you capture that on record, it’s gold. ‘Stayin’ Alive’ is the epitome of that.

“Everybody struggles against the world, fighting all the BS and things that can drag you down. And it really is a victory just to survive. But when you climb back on top and win bigger than ever before, well that’s something everybody reacts to everybody”.

Jaunty kind of song, ha ha ha ha – Staying Aliiiive, and in blue was the ♥♥ Link to the Youtube and toe-tapping!

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Thanks again for stopping in and reading, I will just add a few photos from a few weeks ago when I was at Skaha bluffs looking down on the valley.

It was amazing to be up there with my son, and it’s just a few minutes from home.

I welcome your comments and I always respond to them♥ – David

Thoughts & Photos on a Blustery Day

Thank you for visiting “Life and Random Thinking” today.

I have a few photos to share from today’s bike ride to Okanagan Lake. I also will share some photos from Mother’s Day. This post belongs to my Thinking Out Loud category, absolutely.

I live in a valley and the mountains on the east and mountains on the west naturally funnel the air creating a breeze of some velocity. The direction often changes during the day so you can literally ride against the wind both to and from your destination (if there is a few hour time difference).

Today the wind is blowing from the south and my cherry tree is now devoid of it’s lovely white blossoms – yesterday it looked like it was snowing in my back yard.

On the ride today I stopped at the Japanese gardens and the blossoms there cover the sidewalk and the koi pond thickly, almost in drifts. (photos below)

blossoms on the koi pond

blossoms on the pathway

I was awake at 5 a.m. yesterday and it was bright outside. It seems not so long ago that it was still dark at 7 a.m.

Spring is an inspiring time and optimistic by nature I think.

The days are getting longer, the warm temperatures are ahead, the new growth and buds on the trees. Even though the temperatures are a littler cooler this spring I know spring is here because the robins are back.

Please accept my apology for late Happy Mother’s Day wishes to the Mom’s who read this blog. I hope your day included time, messages and some warm moments with your families.

My wife had a happy Mother’s Day and we celebrated with a bonfire on the lake. I was very pleased to see her relaxing and enjoying visiting with family. We had a semi-circle of chairs around the fire, and I brought a BBQ which was portable so we could cook burgers. There was two salads and cake to celebrate the day.

Surprisingly the beach was nearly empty and the lake was very inviting, but I was not fooled.

I walked around the beach and saw a balancing log that made a natural teeter-totter. (below)

Thanks for visiting today !

I always reply to your comments and reactions to my post. – David

Cherry blossoms a few days ago