Entre Dos Aguas

Above video is a beautiful tribute song by Tomatito playing the song titled above.



Last day of the month and all I can say is good riddance as the storms and rain were such a heartache to so many who lost lives and valuables by way of the loss of homes and/or cars.  Thankfully, all I lost was sleep especially last Monday night when the big storm hit.  It was said that in May alone- we got enough rain to fill the entire state of Texas with 8 inches of water!   The first week of June looks to be filled with less rain water but it also marks the start of Hurricane season and while I don't live in a flood zone I'm not taking any chances and I went ahead and bought flood insurance!



Now that May is ending and summer begins with the start of June (IMO) so begins the onslaught of the heat, humidity, mosquitos and the endless noise of the cicadas of which I heard already night before last.  UGH!!!  I loathe that sound!!!  What I'd give to escape summer here in Texas and take flight up north somewhere.  So, time for my usual hibernation of retreating indoors. Well at least the next two weeks or so will be busy watching basketball and hockey playoffs!

Islands in the Stream

I

Stopped by Willow Waterhole in the early evening yesterday & I fully believe that flood waters from yesterday's storms were held at bay thanks these new retention ponds at the back end of my neighborhood. Felt great to take in a walk at the waterhole & there was such a nice breeze and as you can see walk was cut short as the two bridges were impassable-more like islands in the stream.

Me either!

Do You Really Wanna Know?!

Never watched the show but I did like the theme song and Fox Mulder was a fox indeed and I always wanted to join the FBI and yes, inquiring minds really wanna know! ;-)

Simple Minds - Don't you Forget About Me (The Breakfast Club)

Dear Mr. Vernon:

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... ...and an athlete... ...and a basket case... ...a princess... ...and a criminal.

Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club

I was a BIG fan of the movie, The Breakfast Club and can't believe it's been 30 years since it came out. The directing was genius and the acting was brilliant.  This song became the anthem of a generation and definitely a cry out song in the 80's and even now some 30 years later.  I could listen to song endlessly and watch the movie over and over.  If you've never seen the movie -by all means reach out and rent it!!

Four/IV/Quadri

Ok, so there are five of us that make our newly formed women's group that we call the Chino-Latino Posse.  We are new travel buds and this was our first get-together after our European trip last month. We're already making plans for next series of trips that could include India, and Cuba just to name a few places.  I am so happy to have met these four special women who are educated, talented and beautiful with such diverse backgrounds.  One from Chile, one from China and two from Mexico. Except for Yan we are educators with a zest for exploring and experiencing various cultures from around the globe.  

I always did like the number four and even more so now.  Some things about that magic number that I found on Wiki...

• Four is the sacred number of the Zia, an indigenous tribe located in the U.S. State of New Mexico.
• in Buddhism there are 
• Four Noble Truths
• Dukkha – The Noble Truth of Suffering
• Samudaya – The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
• Nirodha – The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
• Magga – The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering

There are four great elements that have special meaning to me and it exists in my backyard  and there are four corners of white concrete blocks that pay homage to the four elements of earth, fire, water, air as well as the four cardinal directions of east, south, west and north.

Four primary elements[edit]

In canonical texts, the four Great Elements refer to elements that are both "external" (that is, outside the body, such as a river) and "internal" (that is, of the body, such as blood). These elements are described as follows:

• Earth element (pruṭhavī-dhātu)
  Earth element represents the quality of solidity or attractive forces. 

• Water (or liquid) element (āpa-dhātu)
  Water element represents the quality of Liquidity or relative motion.

• Fire element (teja-dhātu)
  Fire element represents the quality of heat or energy. 

• Air (or wind) element (vāyu-dhātu)
  Air element represents the quality of expansion or repulsive forces. 

Thus, it is no wonder that I feel a special bond for my four friends.  Of special note there are...

Fifth and sixth elements[edit]

In addition to the above four elements of underived matter, two other elements are occasionally found in the Pali Canon:^[11]

• Space element (ākāsa-dhātu)

• Consciousness element (viññāṇa-dhātu)

 The fifth element is also important as in the photo linked above in the text- my sis Kym (twin sisters of different mothers) is pictured as she joined our possee last month while traveling to Holland and Germany! Thus four became six and our consciousness element was enlightened.  I am forever grateful for the light they each give.  

Turning the page!