After 9-months, of preparation, which included doctors visits, painting a nursery room, assembling baby furniture, storing diapers, infant clothing, and installing and securing the infant car seat in the new van. The wife and I walked in the park, walked the halls of the local mall and waited patiently for the expected birth of our first child. The release date has come and gone but … Continue reading “Expected Release.”
Do you love to dance, sing, write, sculpt, paint, or debate? What’s your favorite way to express yourself, creatively? I use words creatively in sentences, paragraphs, short stories and soon to be novels. Writing is my passionate form of expression rooted deeply in my emotions forged from my past responsibilities. I move forward into my future as a writer of all forms and genres. 🙂 Expressing myself … Continue reading “Express.”
The above words are used to describe acts done by a person that if given a moment of thought many people would not perform for any reason. A person is considered brave, heroic, courageous, and daring because they did what they were supposed to do. (M. J. Leake) WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Brave, heroic, courageous, and daring.”
What would your daily life be without risk? Most people try to avoid risk and some at all cost while many people take a calculated risk. Since the beginning of time risk has evolved with insurance to cover death, injury, property and just about anything else. Eons ago someone cracked an egg ate the yolk raw and I bet some gaged while someone thought to … Continue reading “Risk?”
Loyalty is determined and measured by who you interact with over time. Loyalty and friendships are determined by time. Loyalty can be a long-term commitment in a relationship. Loyalty is earned, appreciated, gained, and returned. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Loyalty.”
Life is like ascending a mountain one foot after another to accomplish what is desired. Standing atop of an accomplishment is a personal goal and time to reflect upon the journey it took. After ascending and conquering any of life’s challenges builds confidence to propel you to handle whatever life puts before you. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Ascending.”
Succumbing to life’s temptations keeps you from being your best. Succumbing to the bitterness of life closes your mind to reconciliation. Succumbing to the fear of learning leaves you with a closed mind that never expands. Continue reading “Succumb.”
A 5-year-old girl in a playground stops to look at the flight of a butterfly. She runs around mimicking its movements to understand the butterfly’s flying motions. Several years later she learns the basics of flight and is mesmerized enough to become an aeronautical engineer. Many of life’s mysteries are cloaked in darkness but a lifetime of learning builds wisdom shining a light upon those … Continue reading “Cloaked.”
The fraud you do. The fraud to deceive. The fraud to trick and cheat. The fraud for your personal gain. The fraud committed in darkness will one day see light. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Fraud”
Mistakes are a part of life because life comes with morals but not application instructions. Mistakes of the heart usually provide a second chance. Mistakes are failures to learn from while building the knowledge and stamina to try again. So, mistakes will be made but don’t ever be afraid to try. Mistakes become exceptional building blocks of life-long learning. Without mistakes, you can never become … Continue reading “Exceptional Mistake.”
The elastic balloons cover the grounds as far as the eye can see. Ground crews hold lines as the balloons are inflated reaching heights towering towards the sky. Thousands of photographers and spectators gather every year to witness this the 46th year Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the visuals are always memorably mesmerizing. Just about every country is represented, along with corporate businesses plus the … Continue reading “Inflated elastic beauty.”
Hiking a forest or desert trails with only the sounds of your footsteps crunching the ground quiets your soul to experience a believable sense of silenced spiritual connection. Natures natural landscapes expose and excite the emotions that are neither superficial or tamed. It is the genius of Mother Nature. No one can deny the emotional stimulating beauty of Mother Nature. WordPress daily word prompt. Continue reading “Fashionable Beauty.”
For baby boomers, it is believed that upon a certain age exciting, interesting outdoor and athletics activities are limited, curtailed, or not done based on age. However, for the active baby boomers, those assumptions are being destroyed with a vengeance. Remaining young in your heart, mind and more importantly, your body’s health is the popular trend in the fields of athletics sports as revealed in … Continue reading “Popular outdoor activities interest continues.”
Ever since I viewed photos of slot canyons in Utah’s Zion National Park, I have dreamed of hiking within the vertical rock walls reaching towards the sky allowing glimpses of sunlight into the mystical formations designed by nature over millions of years. When there is a threat of rain, the possibility of flash floods increases causing torrents of water to fill the narrow canyon walls … Continue reading “Hiking a slot canyon.”
The term “laser focused” is associated with academics and athletics. To reach this level of concentration takes months, years and decades of mental and physical training. Some people believe multi-tasking is an attribute and advantage when parenting more than two children. But, multitasking comes with a cautionary tale of wisdom. “It is better to devote your mental and physical attention to one thing at a time … Continue reading “Focused, divided attention and multitasking”
What would our planet look like if the extinct land animals were to return? Would we make room for them to live in the wild? Would we stop clear-cutting the land allowing extinct animals to live in the wild? What would our planet look like if the extinct aquatic mammals and animals were to reappear in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams around the world? … Continue reading “Humanities pampered planet?”
Hiking the trails within the National Parks, National Forest, and National Conservation Areas can produce a feeling of irrelevancy for whatever is going on in the world. Standing motionless staring at enormous Ponderosa, Jeffery and Sugar Pine trees with Douglas, White, and Red Fir trees in the distance, within a forest of green blocking the sky from view. The silence is golden yet broken, with … Continue reading Leaf, needles, and a forest.”
Mighty is the sound of instruments to create the music of our desires from within our soul. Without the sound of instruments to create the music from our hearts, would humanity be calmer or would we be more violent? Mighty is the music of my life, surrounding my heart and soul of who I have become. The evolution of Music 1400 BC 2016 AD … Continue reading “Mighty is the music of our lives.”
Social media produces journalling crumbs of our past. Crumbs for those you chose to see the highs and lows of your life. Wisdom can be gained from the crumbs of our past. WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Social media crumbs”
Recreating a time from the past can be an adventure. Malcolm & Ethel Marshall, lived thirty-three wonderful years in a beautifully appointed retirement transitional housing community. They both retired at the ages of 67 and 65, and they are parents of three adult children, grandchildren and a couple of great-grandchildren. They were veterans of the US Army during World War 2, and they traveled the … Continue reading “A tentative short story.”
I was traveling south along Nevada route 95 when I wandered into Las Vegas to visit family and to check out Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. When I told my uncle of my, intentions, he thought Red Rock Casino where after a great buffet dinner, I toured the casino and discovered a sports bar with eighteen television projectors directed at a wall, combining three giant-screens, with … Continue reading “An iconic American road.”
As a child growing up, I always had Labrador Retrievers as pets, and one of my chores was picking up after the dog. When I became an adult, I swore never to get another dog to avoid picking up poo. My kids grew up with cats a lot easier to pick-up after. Several weeks ago I went to visit my father when his 15-year old … Continue reading “”Penchant for poo.”
I learned very early in my childhood before I started school that acting bad or being bad brought about a spanking or a scolding at the least. When I began school the report cards had a section labeled “disobeying,” and based on previous scoldings I knew never to have that box marked. One of my friends did, and he received the standard neighborhood parental discipline, … Continue reading “Disobey.”
The peculiarities of life and death manifest itself before, during, and after stressful painfilled tragic events. Personal reflections and contemplation about life, its meaning, and understanding its purpose are our thoughts during these times. Remembering the past, appreciating and enjoying the beauty of life itself is the goal we all can understand. Sympathetically remembering the past to learn from, and moving forward beyond the peculiarities … Continue reading “Sympathetic Peculiarities.”
The word “Overcome” is over used, because everyone’s daily life is filled with moments, hours, days, months, and years of challenges. Without challenges, life will become boring and lackadaisical, and who would want to survive such a life? Whenever feeling overwhelmed and challenged, always remember this time will soon pass. (M. J. Leake) WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Overcome.”
As a traveler, I have encountered many others who’s mentality like mine is filled with the anticipated experiences of the journey and destination. The journey has numerous crescendos of discovery around the next corner, whats over the hill, and viewing an infinite horizon filled hope and anticipation. “A finite mind limits their imagination to travel.” (M.J.Leake) WordPress daily word prompt Continue reading “Anticipated Crescendo.”
My travel mission was set to photograph the Bonneville Salt Flats with a refuel top off in the town called West Wendover, NV en-route to Reno NV. However, it’s been my custom to stop at the visitors center of all towns and communities. I was greeted by both of the two wonderful ladies in the photo below who informed me of their towns historic facts, its significance with … Continue reading “Elevating my knowledge of West Wendover NV.”
The structure of nature can sometimes have no structure at all. The Bonneville Salt Flats white sands are a living sight to witness. The white sands distinguish no structure, only a blindness of white. The smoky haze from western fires dims the mountain’s outline leaving a blindness of white as far as the eye can see. Only the distant sound of tires screaming along the … Continue reading “Structure,”
The word educate is applied to every travel destination I encounter. There is something to learn no matter how many times I have visited any location. In the US just about every community has some form of fall celebration, and many are called October festival to raise monies for charities local communities, but more directly it is a time to drink apple cider or beer. … Continue reading “Educated?”
My last posting “Enamored with nature,” apparently was my 1000th blog post on WordPress. 🙂 My priceless blog life began 2013 when I signed up for a WordPress site, but I was critically involved in my retired lifestyle and the incredible outdoor activities of Southwest Florida to focus or develop a daily schedule to write. 🙂 It was September 2014 when I participated in WordPress’s … Continue reading “I am Pricelessly, Critical, to Continue.”
After viewing and capturing photos of the natural beauty in Yellowstone National Park, I found the Flagg Ranch Campgrounds located along the John D Rockafeller Parkway in between Yellowstone National Park and five miles north of the Grand Teton National Park entrance. The campgrounds $40.00 fee was the steepest cost I had ever encountered for a tent site, so I found the nearby disperse (free) campsite … Continue reading “Enamored with Nature.”
Children who become teenagers and eventually adults are a wonderment of untold measurement. (M.J.Leake) As the days, months, years, and decades pass, with mothers day, fathers day, birthdays, and holidays gatherings the opportunity for love to be expressed is important. However, do not wait until the opportunity to say “I love you,” Make it happen during a face time call, a text message, voice mail message, … Continue reading “Rhyme or Reason?”
I love history, and consider myself an amateur historian of American History. So when I entered the Cody Wy visitors center to see what the area has to offer, my interest was sparked to learn of a nearby Japanese confinement memorial. I was eager to tour the site located 12-miles northeast of Cody Wy and with the directions downloaded into the GPS, I was on … Continue reading “Heart Mountnain, Japanese-American Confinement.”
Some retirees try to recall memories and thoughts of their adolescent and childhood years. If they are able, they spend the second chapter of their lives fulfilling those dreams of years past. (M.J.Leake) Reflecting on my 30 years of travel mostly via a motorcycle, I have encountered thousands of people who have used every type or form of transportation known. They were travelers conquering vast … Continue reading “Travel reflections in a Cody Wy Walmart lot.”
A retiree who accepts their status will become a happier person going forward into the second chapter of their lives. While many retirees remain in their past, never reflecting on their future. (M.J.Leake) As a child did I dreamed of flying or traveling around the world after reading about Amelia Earheart’s adventures and reading the Jules Vern’s novel “Around the world in 80 days?” My … Continue reading “My Homage to Travel Dreams.”
Depending on where you live planning a trip from your home to travel across town can easily be accomplished depending on where you live. In the major metropolitan cities along both the east and west coasts of American, it can be a challenge of a life time to travel 10-miles in less than a half hour depending on the time of day. So, after … Continue reading “Unfurl and Synchronized Traffic.”
Photos of the impressive Buffalo Bill Dam. Continue reading Buffalo Bill Cody Dam
Traveling through Cody Wyoming I was able to satisfy the WordPress photo challenge which asks for corners and intersections. This old red barn projects exceptional corners intersecting and surrounded by Sunflower circles. WordPress Photo Challenge Continue reading “Corners and Sunflowers.”
Millions of people gathered in the major location around the continental United States to witness a solar eclipse at varying degrees. I was fortunate to see two sunset and sunrises in one 24-hour period… As the darkness increased, there was a certain calmness in the air as the crowd of several thousand quieted to take in the beauty and solitude we were witnessing. These photos … Continue reading “Ooh, Shiny spot in the sky.”
As I journey willy-nilly further into the 2nd chapter of my life, this blog has now morphed into a documentary of my global nomadic overland expedition travels and adventures. For those who have followed me since the inception of my blog. Get ready for a new transformation as I become an “Overlander.” What is an “overlander?” An overlander is a person who travels continuously by … Continue reading “New Beginnings on Eclipse day.”
The carousel of life cycles through many stages hopefully surrounded by family, friends, culture, and an environment shaping your life forever. Along the way you develop desires, want’s and love’s, influenced by what you see and experience during your formative years. Sometimes, setting in place goals and expectations for the rest of your life. But, life’s carousel of marriage, children, death, divorce, new relationships, empty nesting, … Continue reading “Carousel of Life.”
Our eldest son Geoferry organized and paid for a private dining room in the exclusive up scale restaurant “Alain Ducasse,” inside the Dorchester hotel in downtown London to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Initially, I was against the event believing Geoffery should save his money, as I would be content with dinner at home with our Geoffery and ten or so family members hoping everyone … Continue reading “Humorous moxie.”
Six months ago, I was with twenty-one of my family members to watch my youngest great-granddaughter tandem parachute from a plane 12000 feet above the airport to celebrate her 21st birthday and entry into the US Army. My son and his wife Corinna were not happy, to say the least about their daughter taking such a risk. However only because she was entering the US … Continue reading “Dare-Devil Great Grandmother.”
There was a united symbolism as the band members walked from both sides of the stage to their seats for their premiere spring symphonic performance. Everyone in the audience eagerly stood to applaud their entry. Once seated, the female conductor entered onto the stage from the left bowed to the public then quickly turned and stepped onto the conductor’s stand. The band members snapped to … Continue reading “Spring Symphony!”
I awake with a foggy haze, covering my eyes, I stumble to my bathroom to begin my day. When I reach out for my toothbrush, I looked in the mirror my eyes opening to see my reflection in the mirror, and I smile when I remember, it is my day off. Still groggy but happy, I return to bed to find my haze of sleep. … Continue reading “Good Morning Foggy Haze.”
The term “explorer” has been attached to people like Ferdinand Magellan, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Lewis, and Clark and hundreds of others. Today’s traveler/explorers use terms like nomadic, wanderlust, digital nomads, and overlanding. Most people “Google” every destination imaginable and explore a continent, country, city, town, province, from the comfort of a chair and with access to street level views, it is possible to gain … Continue reading ” I begin my travels anew.”
Within some people is a gate closing off a lustful desire they refuse to open called travel. Lights of curiosity shine along the creases tempting your wishes, but fear and comfortable complacency secure the gate and the dream dormant within you. Talking about or taking action to fulfill your desire is often criticized and in some cases ridiculed by family and friends. So act upon … Continue reading ” Opening your gate of lustful desires to travel.”
A thoughtful writer can be a passenger with a quill and pen, tethered to a desk, plucking ideas of an original savage plot or caper with character arcs sailing along scampering and dashing to become personalities to love or hate. WordPress daily words Continue reading “A collection of July’s daily words.”
Welcome to your life; there’s no turning back
Even while we sleep we will find
You acting on your best behavior
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world Continue reading “If I Ruled the World”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Fight or Flight.” Write about your strongest memory of a heart-pounding, belly-twisting nervousness: what caused the adrenaline? Was it justified? How did you respond? Jeb Collier, was a 17 years old, standing 6’7″, 140 pounds, with beautiful strawberry colored hair and the face of a twelve-year-old. He enlisted in the US Army as a Military Policeman … Continue reading “Fright, flight, courage, and gumption.”
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dissolving lines in the world through understanding them
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Nature knows no such barriers
Adventures in motherhood, fitness, youth hockey & corporate America
Exploring, appreciating, and protecting the Long Trail in Vermont
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Conquering type 2 diabetes
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