Secret

Can you keep a secret for Me

And promise never to Tell

For if anybody finds Out

You all will go straight to Hell

Three can keep a Secret

If you get rid of Two

Wheel of Fortune

A fortune was lost after this wheel stop operation at an old Iron Works factory.  A quintessential tool for providing energy, keeping factories of yesteryear productive and prosperous.  This particular wheel dates as far back to the mid 1700's and now hasn't moved in well over a century.

Spinning wheel spinning Through

Drop all your troubles by the Riverside

Out there is a fortune waiting to be Had

If you think I'll let it go you're Mad

Behind the Scenes

You have seen me feature both these vehicles in the past, but what you haven't seen is a snapshot in time.  A Buddy of mine who comes exploring with me has the knack of taking candid photographs of those who are taking the photographs.

I kind of like this one as my Buddy says:  "We seldom see what we are doing and that's where I come in taking candid photographs.  Then I can share them with my friends."  Pretty cool idea!

Happy Chinese New Year

Our family had a long discussion around the Supper Table on how to say "Happy New Year" in Chinese.  We concluded with: "No, it said this way..." & "I always heard as..." and so on.   Like any language, there are many different ways to say the same thing. There are Mandarin & Cantonese versions with variations on how to say it properly.

Below are a few popular and correct ways of saying "Happy Chinese New Year":

                    1.  新年快乐 / 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè)

                         "New Year Happiness!"

                           ~  In Mandarin: /sshin-nyen kwhy-ler/

                           ~  In Cantonese: /sen-nin feye-lor/

                    2.  新年好 / 新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo)

                         "New Year Goodness!"  ("Good day.")

                           ~  In Mandarin: /sshin-nyen haoww/

                           ~  In Cantonese: /sen-nin haow/

                    3.  过年好 / 過年好 (Guònián hǎo)

                         "Pass the New Year Well!"

                           ~  In Mandarin: /gwor-nyen haoww/

                           ~  In Cantonese: /gwor-nin haow/

                    4.  恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái)

                         "Happiness and Prosperity!"

                           ~  In Mandarin: /gong-sshee faa-tseye/

                           ~  In Cantonese: Kunghei fatchoy /gong-hey faa-chwhy/

                    5.  步步高升 / 步步高陞 (Bùbù gāoshēng)

                         "Step-by-Step High Promotion"

                         A steady rise to high places! ~ "On the Up and Up"

                         ~  In Mandarin: /boo-boo gaoww-shnng /

                         ~  In Cantonese: /boh-boh goh-sshin /

I hope that this will solve the debate your family and friends may have on ways to say "Happy Chinese new Year" during this wonderful time!

My fortune today was: "When you speak honestly and openly, other truly listen to you."  I was certainly doing this today!  The image is of a beautiful Money Sack straight out of China Town, NYC!

Think About It

Simple logic

But sometimes easier said than done

Your mind is powerful

If you don't like something

Change it

If you cannot change it

Change the way you think about it

Into the Night

When the sun sets low in the outer reaches of the city, what has been sitting lifeless all day will now begin to emerge from underneath the ruins.  The ruins that man created which makes ideal abodes for those who dwell.  Snakes, Rats and Spiders crawl and slither into the night with eyes wide open.  For this is now their time to do whatever it is they do to survive and carry on for future days.

The hunt begins and wars will break out between species.  Casualties will be had and little is spared.  But, the strong will sustain oneself to see another night and venture through uncharted territories.

When the sun rises dissipating the morning's mist that hovers over the town, what has been active all night now will crawl and slither back into their dwellings that man created to sleep it off.  Dreaming of how they survived and what will become the next time the sun disappears behind the tall brick structures that fade into the dark night.

Carousel of Life

Round and round she Goes

Please keep your eyes Closed

As I write this Prose

Keep spinning Around

Please don't make a Sound

Don't look at the Ground

Hang on to your Pride

Please keep hands Inside

This hell of a Ride

And if you might Fall

Please give me a Call

I'll care for it All

Round and round she Goes

Like life no one Knows

I finish this Prose

Haunted Doll

There is a cute Doll who sits on a Shelf

A Doll who wants to be all by Herself

She wants the other Dolls to stay Away

For she doesn't want them to come and Play

If you place a Doll to sit beside Her

All her surroundings will begin to Stir

She will make certain other Dolls will Fall

Until there are no other Dolls at All

When you are in a deep sleep late at Night

During the darkest hour without Light

She'll sit quietly without any Noise

Making sure that they'll be no other Toys

You Break It, You Buy It

If you break it          

          You buy it

If you buy it            

                             You better not break it

If you borrow it      

                          You better rebuild it

If you lend it           

                                                 You better get it back in one piece

                                 Your lesson learned from this...            

                          Absolutely nothing

Indus Truck Works

Road to Hybridabad

Going My Way addresses the Pakistani and Muslim immigrant narratives (or lack thereof) in the U.S. The project unfolds in multiple parts: via a transformed box truck, an entrepreneurial service and a mobile road show. Each part addresses the ambiguities of this condition: externalized conflict vs. internalized uncertainty, fabricated realities vs. constructed mythologies, East vs. West, that all vie for a renegotiation of this fractured identity.

Angels Watch Over Us

Those we have lost will never leave Us

They are always here watching over Us

The Spirits of those who left us never Die

Their Hearts and Souls reach from the Sky

Watching everything you Say and Do

Listen as they try to connect with You

As a Bird, Fish or Butterfly

They will never, ever saying Goodbye

Have Faith and Believe that you are Watched Over and Cared For

It's Never Too Late

It's Never Too Late

What is that one wish, that one dream you never achieved in life and have possibly have regrets for not fulfilling today?  We all have one or two...  I'v been told numinous times that:  "It's never Too Late!"

Find a way to change today and don't wait until then.

It's never too late to start all over again.

Bring Your Own Chair

Yes, this it!

Your home town.  The place they as members of this community call home, and from time to time, leave it for elsewhere.  But, this is Home, Sweet, Home to you.

They say that every town has it's main street.  Well this is yours.  It was built with civic pride and remain proud of it's dignity with friendly, tolerable character.

The Fathers and Mothers in your home town are just plain, nice living folks.  The kind you read about in story books.  You know, main street folks who say: "Hello." and "Nice Morning."  Even when it rains on Mondays.

Many civic minded familiar faces we all know in your home town think their town is something to shout about.  Don't you?!  Let's call on some of our young Women and Men of tomorrow.

We're having a party and you're all invited.  All the food and fixing will be provided along with whatever you choose to wash it all down with.  Just bring your own chair!

Fighting Cage

"Two Men Enter, One Man Leave"

Remember the Film with Mel Gibson and Tina Turner

Mad Max - Beyond the Tunderdome?

But here we're not trying to rescue a band of Feral Orphans.  We're trying to refrain those who treat us with little respect and the others who feel they have reign to say what they please without consequence.  This is the age where we treat those who treat us like shit and throw them into a cage were they have to battle their way out.  If you are so bold and strong to say as you wish, you certainly have the strength to put your money where your mouth is and fight your way out of this cage.

Yes, this is wrong, but admit it...  You thought of your own ways to punish the evil doers even though you'd never go through with it.  It's a fun and exciting scenario, none the less.  Treat those how you you want to be treated.  A simple behavior that most these days don't understand or just want to.

"We don't need another Hero," just people who treat others with a little Dignity and Respect!  Not much to ask...

OK I'm off my Soap Box and now we continue with a regularly scheduled post!

Peace

Full Moon on Friday the 13th

Superstitions Collide

The Myths and Legends of the Full Moon collide with the Superstition of Friday the 13th.  This happens today, though you will not become mad, nor will it not strengthen the minds of Criminals, or even induce birth if you are expecting making your child become the Devil.  If it does, it would have happened regardless.  Stranger things have happened!

Although, Christians do predict that an Apocalypse will occur as the planet Venus lines up with the Wolf Moon.  Are you preparing?!  What they believe with all the Astronomical phenomenon that's been happening the end of the World will happen this week.  Again, superstition takes the upper hand for it all will happen when?  You guessed it, Friday the 13th.  One person actually quoted on Social Media:  "Please, we need to be ready at all times, because we are practically close to the end of the World."  This must be true if it was written on Social Media, for it never lies!

Some are referring to the Bible's Luke 21:25 which states:  "And there shall be signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars; and upon the Earth distress of Nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring."  Hmmm, powerful and almost believable.  If you do believe, I hate to brake it to you...  Superstition corrupting the minds that are vulnerable again.

So, I'm going out to seek Black Cats, step on a fe cracks, brake a couple of mirrors and walk under ladders as I go about my business as usual.  For today is like any other.  Well let's keep our Fingers Crossed and Knock on Wood, shall we?!

Windows

As you seek without finding and all the doors that you have entered close behind you.  Never fret that there aren't ways out.  Another door will open and you will find yourself...  And if there aren't any other doors, there are always windows.  Open them and set yourself free.  Then at last you might find what you are searching for.

Grave Affair

I'm proud to present my first Feature in 2017 from a well know Hub Grave_Affair on IG. Wonderful photographers are featured here as they see through their eyes what others often miss.

Go check em out, they're truly worth a visit at grave_affair!

Welcome to the Neighborhood

The narrow lane is lined with structures similar to one another like cookie cutter shapes.  Almost identical, yet with slight variations to give it their own idiosyncratic artistic look.  One by one Souls exit their abode.  Without a single window or door moving or opening they are out and about walking to the cracked pavement of the narrow lane.

Why is it that they all awaken and to come out at once?  What is it that they are seeking?  It is they that exit from where they rest as they approach one who has just entered into the after life.  As the time is now for he to be be welcomed by those who have already been spending their time in eternal peace.

Welcome to the Neighborhood! 

Fifty Shades of Grey

Among the fifty shades of Grey

You decide what you are Today

Or possibly a touch of Red

To fill the anger in your Head

The colors way up in the Sky

Might just pass and let you get By

But the mood that I'm in Today

It's best to stick with hues of Grey

Get through the Dawn until Twilight

Enough sleep to make it Alright

Among the fifty shades of Grey

You decide what you are Today

Double-Shift

About to begin an overnight Double-Shift that will bring me into something thirty on Saturday.  "BAR" will be a welcoming sign after the fact, if I don't fall asleep prior.  I'll see you there!

Enjoy your weekend!

Falling through the Cracks

There have been times I have literally fallen through the cracks and at times large holes.  Stunned in disbelief, I sit in a daze as if I never saw it coming.  Yet, something was foretelling me the entire time without me realizing what the outcome would be.

It is I that has made risky choices in the past and has paid the consequence.  I have learned to accept those choices and grow from them without regrets.  A risk is encouraged to leap without falling, and if I do fall and plunge to my ultimate fate...  I won't die wondering!

Where are you Going

Where did you come From

Where are you Going

Always Wondering

Not ever Knowing

A path that leads You

On a journey Far

One way to get There

Is not by a Car

Believe, you shall See

The things you may Lack

Forward you shall Go

Never looking Back

Where did you come From

Where are you Going

Eyes on the Future

Continue Growing

Happy New Year

Forsakenly Departed

Wishes everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year. 

May Love and Peace reign your World as you spread it all around!

Peace, Love & Happiness to All!