28/09/2011
JP BRANDANO: FLORIDA'S PHOTOGRAPHERS: PHOTOGRAPHING SUNSETS AT KEY WEST
JP BRANDANO: FLORIDA'S PHOTOGRAPHERS: PHOTOGRAPHING SUNSETS AT KEY WEST
THE SUNSET
Oh, the sun is setting down
Almost with a sigh,
Whereto goes that lonely boat
with its sails held so high?
The sky looks like a sheet of gold
As if sizzling in the flames,
Oh,how this sunset seems similar
To one on my own 'Thames'!
Oh,silly me,this heavenly scene
Is for you and me and everyone,
And it gives us a promise that tomorrow
There'll be sunrise on the horizon!
Let us salute the setting sun and gratefully say,
"Thank you,God, for this beauty and thank you for this day!
.....PORTIA
THE SUNSET
Oh, the sun is setting down
Almost with a sigh,
Whereto goes that lonely boat
with its sails held so high?
The sky looks like a sheet of gold
As if sizzling in the flames,
Oh,how this sunset seems similar
To one on my own 'Thames'!
Oh,silly me,this heavenly scene
Is for you and me and everyone,
And it gives us a promise that tomorrow
There'll be sunrise on the horizon!
Let us salute the setting sun and gratefully say,
"Thank you,God, for this beauty and thank you for this day!
.....PORTIA
26/09/2011
A ROSE FOR A ROSE!
A ROSE FOR A ROSE!
On last Wednesday while we were having our lunch,mom suddenly said,"Poshy,let us go to the hospital tomorrow early in the morning."
I looked at her with a surprise and said,"But,mom,your next appointment is after a fortnight!"
She said calmly,"My dear,tomorrow is 22 September."
It took me a few econds to realise the import of her words. 'But of course! Tomorrow is 22 September,the 'Rose Day''!My mind reminded me.
Taking her hand and pressing it gently, I said,"Yes,mom. So silly of me,I almost forgot!yeah,we'll surely go there."
That evening while taking our usual stroll with Sandra, I broached upon this subject . She remained silent for a while and then said,"I'll also come with you,but first let us go to some florist and book some yellow roses to be delivered to us tomorrow morning."
Next day those beautiful roses arrived,each wrapped nicely and tagged with a 'Get Well Soon' note!Oh,the presence of mind of that florist!
......On reaching the 'cancer ward',mom suddenly halted in her track.She took a deep breath and gripped my hand. I could feel her shiver and also the effort with which she brought a smile to her lips. Sandra, who was on the other side,realised mom's tenseness and with her usual presence of mind,tugged mom by her other hand and said chirpily, 'Oh,come on,big girl,your friends are waiting for you."
These words brought a real giggle to mom and she said," Yeah,come,let us meet them."
As soon as we entered that hall, there was an almost audible collective gasp,"Oh,look,who comes here,our Maggie!"
I looked around. Almost all those wornout faces had lighted up on seeing mom,making me realise how much she was loved here. A very old woman,almost near her end,whispered with a great effort,"Maggie,I was certain that you would be the first person to come to visit us today even before our relatives.God bless you,child."
Soon, the cloud of gloominess got lifted and that hall was filled with pleasantries and greetings.
......While returning home, I was just looking at mom amusedly. She was her natural self,glowing with her angelic smile.
It made me think.Oh, how we all were crestfallen when mom was detected with cancer! It was as if we had suddenly stumbled and fallen in a deep pit! I couldn't bear mom's anguished cry,"Oh,why me?" But then she was also the first person to get control over herself. She said,"I am just 42 and have so much life ahead! I will defeat this intruder!" And true to her word, till this day she has never grudged even a little about her serious ailment.Instead, even in the hospital she devoted her time in encouraging her co-patients to face the reality boldly and squarely in its face. She showed the same grit while allowing her right breast to be removed.
Of course she has become weak and her resistance power has waned. Each therupy session proves to be very painful for her. But with her resolve she is now certain to pull through.
....On reaching home we were surprised to see Mr.Thomas watson waiting for us. Mom rushed to that feeble old man in his eighties. His wife was mom's co-patient and expired only two months ago.
Mr.watson put forward his hand and while giving a yellow rose to mom,he said,"A rose for a rose!"
Mom was so overwhelmed that without a word she hugged him tightly.Both of them had tears in their eyes.
Mr. watson said in a chocked voice,"Maggie,you remember,Judith used to call you as 'Rose'.What if she is no more? I am still here to give you a rose on her behalf, with her words,'a rose for a rose!'"....
I could almost feel the fragrance of a thousand roses all around me!.....
........PORTIA
On last Wednesday while we were having our lunch,mom suddenly said,"Poshy,let us go to the hospital tomorrow early in the morning."
I looked at her with a surprise and said,"But,mom,your next appointment is after a fortnight!"
She said calmly,"My dear,tomorrow is 22 September."
It took me a few econds to realise the import of her words. 'But of course! Tomorrow is 22 September,the 'Rose Day''!My mind reminded me.
Taking her hand and pressing it gently, I said,"Yes,mom. So silly of me,I almost forgot!yeah,we'll surely go there."
That evening while taking our usual stroll with Sandra, I broached upon this subject . She remained silent for a while and then said,"I'll also come with you,but first let us go to some florist and book some yellow roses to be delivered to us tomorrow morning."
Next day those beautiful roses arrived,each wrapped nicely and tagged with a 'Get Well Soon' note!Oh,the presence of mind of that florist!
......On reaching the 'cancer ward',mom suddenly halted in her track.She took a deep breath and gripped my hand. I could feel her shiver and also the effort with which she brought a smile to her lips. Sandra, who was on the other side,realised mom's tenseness and with her usual presence of mind,tugged mom by her other hand and said chirpily, 'Oh,come on,big girl,your friends are waiting for you."
These words brought a real giggle to mom and she said," Yeah,come,let us meet them."
As soon as we entered that hall, there was an almost audible collective gasp,"Oh,look,who comes here,our Maggie!"
I looked around. Almost all those wornout faces had lighted up on seeing mom,making me realise how much she was loved here. A very old woman,almost near her end,whispered with a great effort,"Maggie,I was certain that you would be the first person to come to visit us today even before our relatives.God bless you,child."
Soon, the cloud of gloominess got lifted and that hall was filled with pleasantries and greetings.
......While returning home, I was just looking at mom amusedly. She was her natural self,glowing with her angelic smile.
It made me think.Oh, how we all were crestfallen when mom was detected with cancer! It was as if we had suddenly stumbled and fallen in a deep pit! I couldn't bear mom's anguished cry,"Oh,why me?" But then she was also the first person to get control over herself. She said,"I am just 42 and have so much life ahead! I will defeat this intruder!" And true to her word, till this day she has never grudged even a little about her serious ailment.Instead, even in the hospital she devoted her time in encouraging her co-patients to face the reality boldly and squarely in its face. She showed the same grit while allowing her right breast to be removed.
Of course she has become weak and her resistance power has waned. Each therupy session proves to be very painful for her. But with her resolve she is now certain to pull through.
....On reaching home we were surprised to see Mr.Thomas watson waiting for us. Mom rushed to that feeble old man in his eighties. His wife was mom's co-patient and expired only two months ago.
Mr.watson put forward his hand and while giving a yellow rose to mom,he said,"A rose for a rose!"
Mom was so overwhelmed that without a word she hugged him tightly.Both of them had tears in their eyes.
Mr. watson said in a chocked voice,"Maggie,you remember,Judith used to call you as 'Rose'.What if she is no more? I am still here to give you a rose on her behalf, with her words,'a rose for a rose!'"....
I could almost feel the fragrance of a thousand roses all around me!.....
........PORTIA
22/09/2011
18/09/2011
16/09/2011
15/09/2011
08/09/2011
07/09/2011
05/09/2011
Memoirs: Let's make a collage of articles.
Memoirs: Let's make a collage of articles.
MY SOULMATE
(by Portia Burton)
Lucky me,I've got many friends and well wishers,some of them are much closer and I call them as my 'heartmates'.
But there is one and only person whom I can call my 'soulmate' and that person is my friend Sandra. Yes,she really answers the definition of 'soulmate'.She has been with me for the last sixteen years and I would like to be with her even when both of us turn sixty!....
I still remember our first meeting......
That day there was a great commotion in our building. Mr.John Wilburn had thrashed his wife in a drunken rage as usual but she had finally called the Police and they had taken him away. That poor lady was crying in the corridor when me and mom returned from the market. Seeing her sorry sight we stopped in our track. She was sobbing uncontrollably and her little daughter just sat there with a vacant look. But the moment she saw me, she rushed to me and held my hand so tightly that I almost winced.
Mrs.Wilburn shouted at her through clentched teeth,"Sandra,come back here!Leave that girl be!"
But in response to those orders that girl Sandra clung so tightly to me that I could hear her heart beating,'bumpada,bumpada,bumpada....'!I was more confused but embraced her and looked askance at mom. Then mom took Sandra's hand and nodding silently to Mrs.wilburn she took Sandra alongwith me to our house.
On entering our house Sandra's face immediately lit up and we started playing like we had known each other since ages!
And that is how it is even till today!Yes,I have now realised that me and Sandra are soulmates-one soul living in two bodies! this fact was established by that immediate connection we had the moment we met for the first time. And as this connection has developed over time, I experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that I sometimes doubt whether I have or will ever love anybody else so intensely like I love Sandra. She herself is unable to fathom the depth of this love and this had led her to start interpreting our love in a totally weird way and thank god she soon realised her folly and also the purity of my love for her.
Sandra understands and connects with me in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace and happiness when she is around. And she is the only person who can humble me with her 'no nonsense' and 'in your face' practical attitude.Only she can control my fantasy and pull me back to the harsh ground of reality.
we are but girls and are bound to have some discords and tiffs. Sometimes we just stomp our feet and walk away from each other with a vow of not seeing each other ever.Oh, but just a few moments later I start missing her and hate the fact that I love her so much and feel tortured in not able to express it. And just then I see her coming to me and we run to each other and embrace and sob and giggle and exchange soft punches!
Sandra has been almost an adopted daughter of my parents, but she is much more than a sister for me. She is but two months older than me and yet she sometimes treats me as a baby! she pampers me and roughs up too!
I am known to be 'weepy eyes'! tears come so easily to my eyes! But sandra abruptly orders me to stop all that the moment I get started.Once I asked her about this veto of hers and her reply was,"Not that I think you are over emotional or weak,but because I feel your pain, and your tears may soon be mine!"
She was never interested in formal education but has groomed her talent for cartoon drawing herself and her own graphic art and now works for a software co.She now looks after her mother as well as my sick mom. She is so caring and sometimes very volatile too! She believes in 'instant payback,then and there' and so lands many a times in fights and quarrels !!
She is the only person-apart from my mom- who knows how my brain works and sometimes, just reading my poem once, she adorns it with an apt illustration!
I can't be mad at her even if she really messes things for me or for herself. Between us there is no awkwardness, no worries, no waiting, just total togetherness, total understanding. That doesn't mean that there are no issues to be ironed out between us. But we know intuitively that we can resolve such issues without losing our love and respect for each other.
Some sick minded girls see our love in a totally weird light, but we just feel pity for them and move on our way.
Sandra may not be the person I can spend the rest of life with, but she is the person I can't spend the rest of my life without!.......
-PORTIA BURTON.
MY SOULMATE
(by Portia Burton)
Lucky me,I've got many friends and well wishers,some of them are much closer and I call them as my 'heartmates'.
But there is one and only person whom I can call my 'soulmate' and that person is my friend Sandra. Yes,she really answers the definition of 'soulmate'.She has been with me for the last sixteen years and I would like to be with her even when both of us turn sixty!....
I still remember our first meeting......
That day there was a great commotion in our building. Mr.John Wilburn had thrashed his wife in a drunken rage as usual but she had finally called the Police and they had taken him away. That poor lady was crying in the corridor when me and mom returned from the market. Seeing her sorry sight we stopped in our track. She was sobbing uncontrollably and her little daughter just sat there with a vacant look. But the moment she saw me, she rushed to me and held my hand so tightly that I almost winced.
Mrs.Wilburn shouted at her through clentched teeth,"Sandra,come back here!Leave that girl be!"
But in response to those orders that girl Sandra clung so tightly to me that I could hear her heart beating,'bumpada,bumpada,bumpada....'!I was more confused but embraced her and looked askance at mom. Then mom took Sandra's hand and nodding silently to Mrs.wilburn she took Sandra alongwith me to our house.
On entering our house Sandra's face immediately lit up and we started playing like we had known each other since ages!
And that is how it is even till today!Yes,I have now realised that me and Sandra are soulmates-one soul living in two bodies! this fact was established by that immediate connection we had the moment we met for the first time. And as this connection has developed over time, I experience a love so deep, strong and complex, that I sometimes doubt whether I have or will ever love anybody else so intensely like I love Sandra. She herself is unable to fathom the depth of this love and this had led her to start interpreting our love in a totally weird way and thank god she soon realised her folly and also the purity of my love for her.
Sandra understands and connects with me in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace and happiness when she is around. And she is the only person who can humble me with her 'no nonsense' and 'in your face' practical attitude.Only she can control my fantasy and pull me back to the harsh ground of reality.
we are but girls and are bound to have some discords and tiffs. Sometimes we just stomp our feet and walk away from each other with a vow of not seeing each other ever.Oh, but just a few moments later I start missing her and hate the fact that I love her so much and feel tortured in not able to express it. And just then I see her coming to me and we run to each other and embrace and sob and giggle and exchange soft punches!
Sandra has been almost an adopted daughter of my parents, but she is much more than a sister for me. She is but two months older than me and yet she sometimes treats me as a baby! she pampers me and roughs up too!
I am known to be 'weepy eyes'! tears come so easily to my eyes! But sandra abruptly orders me to stop all that the moment I get started.Once I asked her about this veto of hers and her reply was,"Not that I think you are over emotional or weak,but because I feel your pain, and your tears may soon be mine!"
She was never interested in formal education but has groomed her talent for cartoon drawing herself and her own graphic art and now works for a software co.She now looks after her mother as well as my sick mom. She is so caring and sometimes very volatile too! She believes in 'instant payback,then and there' and so lands many a times in fights and quarrels !!
She is the only person-apart from my mom- who knows how my brain works and sometimes, just reading my poem once, she adorns it with an apt illustration!
I can't be mad at her even if she really messes things for me or for herself. Between us there is no awkwardness, no worries, no waiting, just total togetherness, total understanding. That doesn't mean that there are no issues to be ironed out between us. But we know intuitively that we can resolve such issues without losing our love and respect for each other.
Some sick minded girls see our love in a totally weird light, but we just feel pity for them and move on our way.
Sandra may not be the person I can spend the rest of life with, but she is the person I can't spend the rest of my life without!.......
-PORTIA BURTON.
03/09/2011
TOP TEN WORST FEMALE HABITS
TOP TEN WORST FEMALE HABITS
( A Message received from one of my friend )
MY girl friends,
I would like to place this most useful message before you for due consideration:
( A Message received from one of my friend )
MY girl friends,
I would like to place this most useful message before you for due consideration:
TOP TEN WORST FEMALE HABITS
From workouts to healthy diets, many of us make an effort to look after ourselves.
However, we could be compromising our health on a daily basis without even knowing it.
From carrying heavy handbags to wearing crippling heels, here are the top 10 female habits
you should try to break.
1)Wearing heels
More and more of us are opting to wear heels on a daily basis, and this could be
bad news for our health.
High heels affect our posture, put pressure on joints, and can lead to a range of conditions
including arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries – and that’s before you take into
account any heel-related accidents!
To minimize damage, limit your heels to 1.5 inches for daily wear, and wear insoles
to help reduce the pressure on joints.
2)Carrying a heavy handbag
With the rising number of gadgets and accessories the majority of women haul around,
many of us are carrying around several pounds of weight on our shoulders every day.
As a result, lots of us are also putting our long term health at risk.
While you may not feel the effects right now, lugging around a heavy handbag can lead to
serious back problems and neck pain as well as poor posture.
Don’t wait until the damage is done – do your health a favour and try
clearing out all non-essential items and switching to a smaller bag.
3)Sleeping in makeup
Most of us have succumbed to the temptation to sleep in our post-party makeup at some point.
However, leaving makeup on overnight – along with the dirt and oil that naturally
accumulates on skin throughout the day –is a quick route to clogged pores, congested skin and spots.
Sleeping with mascara and eye makeup on can also affect your health by causing eye irritation,
bloodshot eyes or even infection.
4)Matching men drink for drink
From networking drinks to first dates and social events, there are many instances when
women may feel compelled to keep up with the drinking habits of the opposite sex.
However, women not only tend to weigh less than men but they have less
body water to dilute the alcohol, which means they tend to get more drunk more quickly.
To minimize the risks of alcohol on your health, try to keep within the recommended
guidelines for alcohol consumption and alternate alcohol with soft drinks.
5)Wearing the wrong bra size
It is thought that more than 70 per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size.
However, wearing a badly fitted bra can not only affect the look of your clothes,
but research suggests it can cause a range of health problems including back,
neck and breast pain, breathing difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation, circulation problems
and even irritable bowel syndrome.
Rather than guessing your size, make sure you get measured to ensure you are
getting the support you need.
6)Worrying and harboring regrets
Stress is damaging to both our physical and mental health, and women are twice as likely
as men to suffer from stress-related disorders, as well as having higher rates of depression and anxiety.
While it is thought there may be biological reasons for this, worrying about the future
and dwelling on regrets can also add to our problems, with research suggesting that
women are more than twice as likely as men to harbor regrets over lost loves
and broken relationships.
7)Obsessing over appearance
While both genders suffer from body insecurity, many women tend to overly obsess
over their idea of the “perfect” body.
Research findings published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that 16 per cent
of the normal or underweight women studied believed themselves to be overweight,
while a study commissioned by Dove found that 90 per of women wanted to change at least
one aspect of their appearance.
Body insecurity not only affects our mental health, but it can also lead to physical damage
caused by extreme diets, yo-yo dieting, eating disorders and cosmetic surgery.
8)Emotional eating
While comfort eating affects both genders, research has suggested that men are more likely
to reinforce positive emotions with food, while women comfort eat when they’re sad.
Women are also more likely to satisfy their cravings with sweet, high calorie foods.
Rather than letting your waistline suffer next time you’re feeling blue, try distracting yourself
from cravings by doing something you enjoy, or boost your endorphins and health
with an uplifting workout.
9)Not getting enough sleep
Not only can lack of sleep make us look and feel at our worst, but insufficient shut-eye
can also lead to increased accidents, calorie consumption and heart disease risk.
Unluckily for women, statistics suggest that sleep problems affect more women than men,
while a study by the University of Michigan found that women are more than twice as likely
to give up sleep to care for others. Unfortunately, sleep has been found to affect women’s
blood pressure and mood more than men’s, making it imperative that you do your best
to get a good night’s sleep.
10)Putting themselves last
Not only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to care for children and others,
they are also prone to putting their own wants and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores
and obligations. To avoid running yourself into the ground, learn to sometimes say no to those requests
and commitments that are less than essential, and make sure you set aside some “me” time each week
to do something enjoyable just for you.
More and more of us are opting to wear heels on a daily basis, and this could be
bad news for our health.
High heels affect our posture, put pressure on joints, and can lead to a range of conditions
including arthritis, hammer toes, back pain and tendon injuries – and that’s before you take into
account any heel-related accidents!
To minimize damage, limit your heels to 1.5 inches for daily wear, and wear insoles
to help reduce the pressure on joints.
2)Carrying a heavy handbag
With the rising number of gadgets and accessories the majority of women haul around,
many of us are carrying around several pounds of weight on our shoulders every day.
As a result, lots of us are also putting our long term health at risk.
While you may not feel the effects right now, lugging around a heavy handbag can lead to
serious back problems and neck pain as well as poor posture.
Don’t wait until the damage is done – do your health a favour and try
clearing out all non-essential items and switching to a smaller bag.
3)Sleeping in makeup
Most of us have succumbed to the temptation to sleep in our post-party makeup at some point.
However, leaving makeup on overnight – along with the dirt and oil that naturally
accumulates on skin throughout the day –is a quick route to clogged pores, congested skin and spots.
Sleeping with mascara and eye makeup on can also affect your health by causing eye irritation,
bloodshot eyes or even infection.
4)Matching men drink for drink
From networking drinks to first dates and social events, there are many instances when
women may feel compelled to keep up with the drinking habits of the opposite sex.
However, women not only tend to weigh less than men but they have less
body water to dilute the alcohol, which means they tend to get more drunk more quickly.
To minimize the risks of alcohol on your health, try to keep within the recommended
guidelines for alcohol consumption and alternate alcohol with soft drinks.
5)Wearing the wrong bra size
It is thought that more than 70 per cent of women are wearing the wrong bra size.
However, wearing a badly fitted bra can not only affect the look of your clothes,
but research suggests it can cause a range of health problems including back,
neck and breast pain, breathing difficulties, poor posture, skin irritation, circulation problems
and even irritable bowel syndrome.
Rather than guessing your size, make sure you get measured to ensure you are
getting the support you need.
6)Worrying and harboring regrets
Stress is damaging to both our physical and mental health, and women are twice as likely
as men to suffer from stress-related disorders, as well as having higher rates of depression and anxiety.
While it is thought there may be biological reasons for this, worrying about the future
and dwelling on regrets can also add to our problems, with research suggesting that
women are more than twice as likely as men to harbor regrets over lost loves
and broken relationships.
7)Obsessing over appearance
While both genders suffer from body insecurity, many women tend to overly obsess
over their idea of the “perfect” body.
Research findings published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that 16 per cent
of the normal or underweight women studied believed themselves to be overweight,
while a study commissioned by Dove found that 90 per of women wanted to change at least
one aspect of their appearance.
Body insecurity not only affects our mental health, but it can also lead to physical damage
caused by extreme diets, yo-yo dieting, eating disorders and cosmetic surgery.
8)Emotional eating
While comfort eating affects both genders, research has suggested that men are more likely
to reinforce positive emotions with food, while women comfort eat when they’re sad.
Women are also more likely to satisfy their cravings with sweet, high calorie foods.
Rather than letting your waistline suffer next time you’re feeling blue, try distracting yourself
from cravings by doing something you enjoy, or boost your endorphins and health
with an uplifting workout.
9)Not getting enough sleep
Not only can lack of sleep make us look and feel at our worst, but insufficient shut-eye
can also lead to increased accidents, calorie consumption and heart disease risk.
Unluckily for women, statistics suggest that sleep problems affect more women than men,
while a study by the University of Michigan found that women are more than twice as likely
to give up sleep to care for others. Unfortunately, sleep has been found to affect women’s
blood pressure and mood more than men’s, making it imperative that you do your best
to get a good night’s sleep.
10)Putting themselves last
Not only are women more likely to compromise their sleeping habits to care for children and others,
they are also prone to putting their own wants and needs at the bottom of a hectic to-do list of chores
and obligations. To avoid running yourself into the ground, learn to sometimes say no to those requests
and commitments that are less than essential, and make sure you set aside some “me” time each week
to do something enjoyable just for you.
My friends,hope you will find this article useful.
with love,
yours,
PORTIA
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