The Diver

The Photography Diver

The Great Barrier Reef

Australia

February 2015

I loved this day.  I was in Cairns for just three days and the first two days were rainy and windy so no boat went out to the reef on those days.  So this was my only chance to get out here.   And I loved every damn minute of the day.  I would love to go back there and go out four or five days in a row and I still don't think that would be enough time for me.

I took lots of photos that day and this is one of my favorites.  This guy swam around us and took photos of us and then sold them to us for too much money.  He didn't seem to have any photos of me but it didn't matter because I wouldn't have bought one anyway.

1979

1979
Woodbine Avenue

Overbrook

Philadelphia, PA

My age: 23- 24

School: Temple University- I went to school in the evening, working on my Master's degree in school counseling. I enjoyed my classes but missed the college life that comes from going to school during the day.

Work: After Six Formal Wear- I was a credit collector, a dreadful job. I lasted at this job for about 1 1/2 years. There is nothing less rewarding than fighting with a business owner over tuxedos and top hats. I made $4/hour.

Music

• Michael Jackson jumps in to the music scene with his first solo album
• Joni Mitchell released Mingus which is the first album of hers that I do not like and I have a little guilt about that.
• "Bad Girls" Donna Summer
• "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Rod Stewart
• "Reunited" Peaches & Herb
• "I Will Survive" Gloria Gaynor
• "Hot Stuff" Donna Summer
• "Y.M.C.A." Village People
• "MacArthur Park" Donna Summer
• "Fire" The Pointer Sisters
• "What a Fool Believes" The Doobie Brothers

Movies

• Being There- strange
• All That Jazz-entertaining
• Breaking Away- entertaining
• The China Syndrome- too violet for my taste
• Hair- entertaining
• Mad Max- "two men enter, one man leaves" is a quote I have used over and over in my lifetime.
• Life of Brian- the British have a very different sense of humor.
• My Brilliant Career- entertaining
• The Rose- I love Bette Midler

Books

• I read Salinger's book Seymour, An Introduction for the second time and it would become a tradiotn for almost 20 years that I would read this book every year in the spring
•  I was reading mostly Japanese writers at this time.

Travels

• I took weekend trips to DC and NYC to visit friends and felt very wordy.
• I went to Arizona for a month with the hopes of living there permanently.  But I got too homesick and came home in defeat.

News events

• ESPN is launched and now there is a channel that shows sports events 24/7.
• Ayatollah Khomeini comes in to power in Iran and the whole world shakes in fear.
• Idi Amin is overthrown from power in Uganda and the whole world lets out a sigh fo selfie.
• The Voyager I releases photos of Jupiter's rings and they are beautiful.

Family-

• Kathy got married and it was a fun, fun, fun event.
• I don't have a car so I have to bum rides from friends, hitchhike or take the bus through life.

The Chicken Seller

The Chicken Seller

Thamel

Kathmandu, Nepal

January 2018

Yes, this man roams the narrow streets and sells live chickens to anyone who is interested in buying one.  I was not interested in making a purchase.

Cow Pies

Cow Pies

Imadol, Nepal

December 2017

My neighbor sits outside all day and makes cow pies. She mixes the dung with straw and then molds them in to a flat, circular slab, around two inches thick.  She dries them on the side of her house and when they are rip and hardened, she uses them for fuel to warm her house or cook her food. The dung pile smells and attracts flies.  And I wonder how her hands must smell.  Does that stench ever leave her finger tips?  Does this essence of cow dung permeate all of her clothing.  Is she exempted from any cooking responsibilities because her hands have been so soiled?  Has she helped to prepare anything I ate? Is this a desirable job because she gets to sit all day?  Or is this the lowly of the lowest jobs?

I found the task to be too repulsive and so I didn't go seeking answers to my questions.

July 7th

July 7th

2013- Haiti- I am running a Wellness Program in Jacmel, Haiti.  The poverty overwhelms me and I am discovering that I am so privilege that I dint fully comprehend all of the atrocities that go with poverty.

2014- Maryland, USA- I am in the midst of my campaign for a senate seat in Maryland. I live in a predominately Republican area and I am running as a Democrat. The campaign does not look promising but it doesn't matter to me.  I kick on doors and make phone calls all day long.  I shall not surrender.

2015- India- I am flying to India to celebrate my 60th birthday.  I will sit on the Ganga River for a week and contemplate life and death.  I have been to India on two other occasions and I love this country.  I love the contrasts of people, wealth, colors, foods, religions, etc.  This is the most alive country I have ever visited and I will come back here every change I get.

2016- Maryland, USA- packing for my trip out west.  I am going to take a road trip through Colorado, Idaho,  Utah,  Wyoming and ending up in Oregon for the Northwest String Summit Festival.  Can't wait.

2017- West Chester, PA- I am settled in to my new apartment and I am loving it. I love that I can walk around town and check out this busy world.  But I am going to have to stop bringing money with me as the gelato shop and the pizza shop and the bars are too alluring to me.

2018- Colorado, USA- Brechenridge Brewery Music Fest- OMG, I have a VIP ticket which allows access to anywhere at the festival. I get all the free beer and food that I want and I am given a $30 growler.  Mike Gordon from Phish is the main attraction and I am having one great time.

April 12, 1998

April 12, 1998
Bryn Mawr, PA 


It is my mother’s birthday so I go out to buy her a present.  But then the task overwhelms me.  She is dying and only has a few more weeks to live.  What kind of present do you buy for a dying person? I stand in the store, by a corner, by myself and cry for a few seconds and then work so damn hard to regain my composure.

I buy her a silky, smooth body lotion and spend the next few weeks massaging her hands and feet.





FN:She died on May 9.

Cards

CARDS

My parents' house

Philadelphia, PA

1963-1976

 

When I was a kid, my family played a lot of card games. My grandparents were tied impetus of this activity.  They were avid bridge players and had regular, friendly tournaments at their apartment and sometimes at our house. And when they weren't playing bridge with their friends, they were engaging us in card games. 

They lived just two miles away from us so they came to our house every day.  We would have two different games of pinnacle going and then the winners would player the winner and the losers would play the losers and then those two winners played each other.  I was always up for the challenge which explained why I never had time to dome homework.

• spit and malice
• gin rummy
• rummy
• pinnacle
• war
• solitary

Movies 2018

MOVIES 2018

I love to go to the movies.  I could go once a week or more.  I don't like to watch them at home with other people because the no talking rule seems to not exist in this environment. I like to sit in a big-ass theatre and watch a story unfold right before my eyes.

•  The Post- Meryl Streep wasn't strong enough in this movie. How did she go from a swishy-washy newspaper editor to someone who stood up to our government?
• Darkest Hour- Churchill was portrayed too much as a kook rather than brilliant. But the movie did show his strong, decisiveness.
• Ladybird- loved it but the ending feel apart. I've watched it twice.
•  The Greatest Showman- a great show with lots of showmanship.
•  The Shape of Water- what a bizarre movie.
•  I, Tanya- OMG, I've seen this movie twice already. I loved it. It's funny, dark, unbelievable and entertaining.  I had forgotten a lot of the details of this event.
•  Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri- I would have rewritten the ending if they had asked me.
•  Leisure Seeker- a sad topic, a fun movie. Lots of poor acting in the supporting roles.
•  A Wrinkle In Time- a great fantasy movie. I never read the book.
•  The Isle of Dogs- I love Wes Anderson and his movies.  I really liked this one but it was not my favorite.
•  Chappaquiddick- how did Kennedy get away with this crime?
•  Pope Francis- In His Own Words- this man is humbling.
•  RBG- outstanding. What a woman!!! I wish she could live for another 25 years.
•  Won't You Be My Neighbor- outstanding.  I was sure that I was not going to like this movie.  I went with my friend who is a early childhood educator and she made me go.  So I went and I loved this movie and this boring man.
• The Gardener- outstanding; now I want to explore gardens around the world.
• Book Club- I didn't really like it. The ending was too obvious.
• Sorry To Bother You- this story started out to be very thought provoking and turned out to be silly and creepy.
• Three Identical Strangers- what a sad story of abusive power.
• Eighth Grade- what true, ugly depiction of this awful time in life.
• Iron Giant- it's a kid's movie but I still liked it.
• AmeriKKKlanman- OMG, it was hard to watch this movie.
• Catcher Became the Spy- I couldn't fight in a war.  I would be too scared and I would cry too much.
• Juliet, Naked- a love story
• Fahrenheit 11/9- the message I received: don't trust the RNC or the DNC.
• The Bookshop- I wanted to love this movie but I just liked it.
• Free Solo- why do some people take such physical risks?
• Colette- I've read some of her works but didn't realize she was so riske.
• A Star is Born- I know so many people loved it but I just liked it.  But Lady Gaga was excellent.
• Green Book- I am continually stunned at the racism in our country.
• Can you Ever Forgive Me?- I love Melissa McCarthy.
• Beautifully Boy- I just cant imagine what it must be like to watch your child get swallowed up in a drug addiction.
• Bohemian Rhapsody- I never liked Queen but I loved this movie.
• Roma- I am not sure I got all of the symbolism in this movie.
• The Favourite- It was funny and very strange.

July13, 2017

FACEBOOK POSTING
July 13, 2017
Carp enters' Point, MD

On Tuesday, I was bitten by a wasp. Yesterday, my hand was swollen but today, just my finger is swollen but it's huge. Is there a point when I should begin to worry?

56 Comments

1 Share

Comment

Some responses from friends:

•    Step 1: track down that wasp. Step 2: revenge
• 
  
•    As a daughter of a nurse, if you can bend it and it's not falling off, you're good.
• 
  
•    When it interferes with your beer glass hold, you need to get checked! Otherwise, I think you've got this!
• 
  
• Are you still alive?
• 
  
• Benadryl and a beer. when you wake up it will be good.
• 
  
• I can validate what all of the above are saying...Benadryl....maybe the beer.... ice it ( or maybe the cold can of beer resting on it!)...watch for that "off, maybe sick feeling"..

• Go to the doctor now.

Manage

Benadryl and a beer. when you wake up it will be good.Benadryl and a beer. when you wake up it will be goo

2018 Year in review

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier- Washingto, DC

This cowboy gave us a tour of Sedona, AZ

Petrififed Forest- AZ

The Grand canyon

My 45th reunion from high school

Antelope canyon- AZ

Salt Bath

Bette Everett Concert- PHL

Motown Musical- DE

It was -120F.  It was so damn cold.

My 45th High School Reunion- May 5

My garden

I sand with Bobby McFerrin- April

A great brewery

We got a new coffee machine in my apartment bldg and everyone is abuzz in more ways than one.

Chimney Rock National Park- Co

I gave my floor loom to a school where they are using it for therapy with the kids.

We went to the thermal waters pool and the afternoon was a bust.

San Juan Mountain Range- CO

I went to the Little League Baseball game

I ate Welsch Rare Bit in Wales

The oldest pub in Poole, England

Silver back gorillas in the Jersey Zoo in the English Channel

Watching the sun set along the bay at Kathy's new house.

I finally, finally used the fitness center at my apartment.

At the Dolly Parton Stampede Dinner in TN

I learned how to do acrylic flow painting.

The sea monster at the PHL Navy Yard- October

Dinner at Dolly Parton's Stampede theatre in TN

I officiated Caitlin's wedding.

My scar from gall bladder surgery.

My home for a few days in the Arctic Tundra.

As the sun sets over the Arctic Tundra

a visit to Longwood Gardens.

2018 In Review

2018 In Review

                                              I started the New Year in Kathmandu, Nepal.

I spent a few days with friends in Cape Coral, FL

                                                        Betty Everett concert in Philly

-120F for 3 very long minutes.

My apartment garden

I sang with Bobbie McFerrin

I crossed the Mississippi River driving from Wisconsin to Minnesota and then again driving from Iowa to Wisconsin.  Both trips were a thrill.

A selfie at the Grand Canyon

My 100th brewery visit in March.

Pagosa Springs, CO- July

I only got out on the water to kayak once this summer.  My kayak was stolen.

I finally got to see a Little League Baseball game.

I went to see Van Morrison and Willie Nelson at the Camden Waterfront.

                                              Eating Welsch Rarebit in Cardiff, Wales.

Spent the day at the Jersey Zoo in Jersey, English Channel.

Dinner at Dolly Parton's Stampede Show, Gaitlinburg, TN

I officiated my niece's wedding.

                                  As the sun sets over the Arctic tundra in Churchill, Canada

My home in the Arctic Tundra for a few days in November.

My scar from my gall bladder surgery.

a day at Longwood Gardens