Peeling Paint

It's Paint

It's Peeling

Rust Underneath

Is Revealing

It's Paint

It's Peeling

All the way Up

To the Ceiling

It's Paint

It's Peeling

No signs of

It Healing

It's Paint

It's Peeling

Right now that's how

I'm Feeling

Tried & Tested ~ Shattered & Scarred

The life we live is tested by those who think are superior attempting to break us down and make us weak.  Distressed by viral acts of fire burning our hearts into cinders, scarring it for life.

But he knows the way I take; and when I'm tried, I shall overcome.  Shatter me not as I will come forth as gold.

Where My Journey Lies

I lay down on my back abed a soft cushion of dried leaves intaking Mother Nature beauty.  The soft breeze caresses my chilled face as the long Pine Needles gently fall upon my brow.  The clear blue sky welcomes a passing cloud giving the tall trees the illusion as if they were tip toeing away.  A moment of silence and solitude is interrupted by the screech of a Red-Tailed Hawk who soars like a fighter jet through the trees...  And in an instant it's gone.

It's these serene and tranquil moments when I ponder where I have been in life and where I will go.  Then I come to the realization that I haven't been anywhere and have yet to leave my mark here on Earth.  My mission and purpose here, I most likely will never know.  One thing I do know, it has yet to be completed as I will be hanging out here for just a little while longer until I know where my journey lies.

House on the Hill

A road I pass by quite frequently and today decided to venture down it.  Signs littered stating it's private property as only residents are allowed to enter.  We're not residents and still we traveled to see where this narrow road will take me.

Slowly climbing upward, my pickup chugs as we come across this house up on a hill all boarded up.  Just as we passed this inviting looking house looking for a place to park, we came across an archway with a camera mounted and angled to catch any vehicle passing through.  Lucky for us we didn't have to drive through it.

What once looked to be a beautiful house now sits there deteriorating through time.  It was unfortunate that we were unable to go inside due to everything boarded and locked up, so we just took a few snapshots and went on our way.

It turns out that this was a lake community that wanted us outsiders away.  However, as I always say, there's something to strike up anyone's interest down those lonely roads that you pass by every day.  You just need to turn onto them sometimes to find those hidden treasures!

Picture Frames for Rent

So...

I was in a major department store today and overheard an Sales Associate helping an elderly woman with high end picture frames that were tapping the hundred dollar mark.  She proceeded to take one out of a box, tearing the tissue paper off as she started to critique the imperfections.  "The gold looks discolored."  The very nice Sales Associate asked if she would like to look at another frame while questioning if this was a gift.  The elderly woman responded that it wasn't a gift and asking about the return policy.

"The reason I'm asking."  The woman continued, "My Brother-In-Law just died and I want to put his picture in this frame during his viewing and the funeral services.  I will be returning it by the end of the week."

I commend the elderly lady for her honesty and certainly the Sales Associate for not bursting out laughing!  Because I had to walk away for I was uncontrollably laughing!

Super Moon

As the Sun sets in the West as the Moon rises, casting long shadows among the headstones in God's Acre.  It's brightest it has ever been in nearly 70 years.  Long prominent shadows casted from the Moon for it's so close to the Earth that you could practically reach out and touch it.

The black sky makes the Moon appear brighter and larger than you have ever seen it in your life.   Take a moment and see the Moon's Magnificent Splendor and Shining Glory as it lights up the night sky.  It only comes around once in a lifetime!

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

From Hence Forth

Yea Saith the Spirit

For they Rest from Their

Labors and their Works

Do Follow Them

Veterans Day

A brief moment after a meal the Crew ventures on deck to share a smoke and a laugh or two as the red sky shines brightly in the distance.  Red sky at night is the Sailors delight as they converse with smiles upon their faces.  Those smiles are short, but much needed to keep moral within the Crew.  The ones who smile for a short brief time doesn't mean they aren't scared.  They smile to ease the pain with conflict of the one and only purpose of being where they are, Freedom.  They go with courage and without question not knowing if they ever will return.

Thank you to all Veterans past and present for your courage and without question defending our Freedom so others can Live the Dream of being Free.  God Bless you all!

An old photograph of my Father with a brief smile aboard the USS Rooks DD-804 Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Bridges

There are many Bridges in life that we must Cross

We must cross high, low, long and even short Bridges

Deciding which Bridge to cross can be a Challenge

For those wrong Bridges we may cross one Day

We mustn't spend the time and energy to burn Them

We may have to cross those Bridges again in the Future

NJ Transit 1700

"All Aboard!" 

A string of old NJ Transit railroad Commuter cars sit on a remote track tucked away and hidden from the World.   Graffitied up on the outside and ripped apart on the inside, these once heavily used cars were the main source of commuting to and from work.  Who knows how long these cars have been sitting here idle.

Possibly ready for the scrap yard as I've seen so many heading, or maybe with a slight chance they are hidden away so that they can be restored.  Any one of these cars would make the perfect Railroad Car Diner with a little Imagination and Creativity!

Election Day

Oh Lord!

Hang on tight, it's going to be a hell of a Ride!

At least I Exorcized my Right to Vote!

White-Tail Deer

Nice Rack!

I was leaving the house to go to work, I ran into this handsome Stag (White-Tail Deer) hanging out noshing on some Autumn Treats while they still last.  He stopped, froze like a majestic statue and stared me straight in the eye.  It was a stand off as if we were in an old time Western to see who was going to crack first.

Me with my camera lens looking like a Minion with one eye in the center of my head.  I Snapped once, then twice and zoom like a bolt of lightning her jetted into the forest without a trace that he was even there.

It's those spontaneous Snapshots in Time like this one that makes it all worth while!

Into the Future

I opt not to set my Clocks back an hour this Autumn.

I want to live in the future for the next six months!

Reflections

Sit and Relax while you Reflect on what used to be!

Angels are Near

Angels

Don't have to Speak to be Heard

Angels

Don't have to be Visible to be Seen

Angels

Don't have to be Present to be Felt

Believe in Angels

As they will always be Near

Being Watched

Are you being watched?

It's been proven study after study, time and time again that the Human behavior changes when we know we are being watched.

"Oh no, Mom's coming!"

"The Teacher keeps staring at us!"

"My Boss is observing every move I make!"

"There's a Police Patrol Car following us."

Waiting to pounce so to reprimand, correct and give feedback to what so called negative behavior we conducted.  Our defense mechanism kicks in and we're looking pathetically uneasy trying to act natural.  Already thinking of an alibi to defend ourselves for what we possibly did wrong.

Yes, we are being watched in more ways than you could ever imagine.  But is it because we are doing something wrong or is it our imagination taking over making us paranoid?  The fear of the consequences are racing through our mind giving a verdict with a Death Sentence that we haven't been tried on yet.

It is us that fear the unknown which kills us and fear is usually 99% lying to us!

Happy Hour

Happy Hour has been not so happy since the early 90's here at a small Restaurant/Bar.  The glassware hangs over the bar waiting to be filled with cheer.  All that they are filled with is dust accumulating through time.

Alcohol bottles filled, sit behind the bar ready to be poured and kegs longing to be tapped.  Belly up to the bar Mates, you'll be waiting quite some time to be served.

Perhaps, serve yourself!

As I Sing About Those Times

As I sing about those Good Times

And the times that made us both Smile

I sing about those Funny Times

And the times we Laughed all the While

As I sing about those Sad Times

And the times that made us both Cry

I sing about those Mournful Times

And the times we both said Good Bye

As I sing about those Desperate Times

And the times we had no Money

I sing about all those Dark Days

And the times that weren't so Sunny

As I sing about those Frozen Times

And the Dead Crops we couldn't Reap

I sing about all those Bitter Nights

And the times so Frigid to Sleep

As I sing about all those Times

And all the times we both have Bared

I sing about Good and Bad Times

And all the times that we both Shared

As I sing about all those Times

And all the times how much we Grew

I sing about each single Time

And all the times I spent with You