tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36300929674109388802024-02-19T10:03:23.644-05:00Magical MomentsI choose to write about moments of beauty, emotion, inspiration, joy, and humor.Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.comBlogger646125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-63754900712220290522019-06-26T17:38:00.001-04:002019-06-26T17:38:05.970-04:00Gather Children<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember a song being sung when I was a young girl. It was called, "I Would Gather Children."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I heard it in the independent baptist church where I was raised. And while I have long since left the baptist denomination, I remain thankful for that particular church's presence in my life. It gave me ties and relationships that have lasted my entire life. Introduced me to true leaders, selfless, and compassionate, like <a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2012/03/magical-moment-611-great-is-your-reward.html" target="_blank">Pastor Brooks</a>. It led me to my faith. And maybe, most importantly, it led me to question my faith and confront the struggle between things I was taught, and what I knew in my heart about Jesus. And this, ultimately, brought me to a place where I live freely and bravely, trying to love unconditionally as Jesus loves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I couldn't find a video of the song to share. But I did find this poem, which I believe are the lyrics of the song, or at least very similar. The author is unknown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Some would gather money</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Along the path of life</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Some would gather roses,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And rest from worldly strife.</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But I would gather children</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>From among the thorns of sin,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I would seek a golden curl,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And a freckled, toothless grin.</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For money cannot enter</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In that land of endless day,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And roses that are gathered</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Soon will wilt along the way.</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But oh, the laughing children,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As I cross the sunset sea,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>And the gates swing wide to heaven,</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I can take them in with me!</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>~Author Unknown</i></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baptists. Methodists. Catholics. Christians. Jews. Atheists. HUMANS who claim to be decent individuals: Will you gather children? Will you gather them as they sleep on a concrete floor without blankets, with empty stomachs and heads full of lice? Will you gather children, from infants to teenagers who have been involuntarily separated from their parents and family members? The policies and actions of the leaders of this country who WE HAVE ELECTED, have brought us all into this situation and now it's time to respond. If we do nothing, we are complicit. I am. You are. I'm tired of Christians doing nothing but giving lip service. Talking the talk. Singing the song. Close your mouth. And go gather the children.</span></div>
<br /><br />Here's some ideas on how:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.mother.ly/news/5-powerful-ways-we-can-help-detained-immigrant-children-today?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2">https://www.mother.ly/news/5-powerful-ways-we-can-help-detained-immigrant-children-today?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/26/how-to-donate-to-help-migrant-children-at-the-border.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/26/how-to-donate-to-help-migrant-children-at-the-border.html</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.lirs.org/help-immigrant-children/">https://www.lirs.org/help-immigrant-children/</a><br />Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-12973674588006974912019-02-04T15:47:00.000-05:002019-02-04T16:07:40.975-05:00Tijuana, "Los Estados Unidos, Where Skies are Blue"<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My final day in Tijuana was a doozy. One of the most difficult things about being in the red tent area, where asylum-hopefuls gather daily to hear if their “lottery” number to the Ice Box gets called, was seeing the children. If your number gets called that day, you must be ready to leave immediately. So every day, entire families show up with all their belongings at 7am, day after day, after day. I learned some of the children’s names. They would smile when they recognized me and ask, “Como esta?” I saw the same babies in strollers being pushed by their parent or older sibling. I gave them nicknames to help me keep track. “One Zapato baby” (he only had one shoe). “Moana” (she was the spitting image of Baby Moana from the movie). My favorite, “Pink Bow.” I know her real name, but can’t say it publicly. Remember, she is a refugee, she and her family are running from someone who wants them dead. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are also many pregnant women. They stand in line, for hours. We tell them about the medical clinic and ask them to PLEASE come. On my final day, two pregnant women collapsed while waiting in line to hear if their number will be called. Not one. Two. One woman’s partner caught her from behind as her legs gave way and he gently lowered her to the pavement. After a few minutes, she seemed ok. Another volunteer from Al Otro Lado assessed her in Spanish as best as possible. And then we did the only thing we could. We sat her down on a cement curb, under a tree. We gave her a pair of socks because she had none. Remember, the Ice Box is intentionally kept at a very cold temperature. We took off our coats and jackets off and held them up. We made a human dressing room, 360 degrees around her, so that she could change clothes and put her warmest layer on bottom. Remember, all their clothes are taken from them, except their base layer. She was at full term. Nine months. I don’t know what happened to her after that. The other pregnant woman who collapsed, was rushed by a local ambulance to a Mexican hospital. I don’t know what happened to her either. Or how it will affect her asylum process.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later that day, I gathered my belongs to cross back to the U.S. and begin my flight back home. I was just about to head out when a buzz went around the office that a wedding was to take place! Al Otro Lado is sometimes able to perform common law wedding ceremonies from specific countries. This may help families stay together as they cross the border. There was another musician volunteering with Al Otro Lado who had a ukulele. I had a guitar. We assigned ourselves the “wedding musicians” and quickly chatted about what songs we both knew how to play. We decided on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” It was a make shift ceremony. Someone lit candles. The bride wore jeans. The couple had children who stood next to their parents as they repeated vows in Spanish. The groom became emotional, and choked back tears. I witnessed love, and pure hope, and two parents doing everything within their power to make a safe future for their children. They were announced husband and wife, and the few volunteers who found themselves with a spare 10 minutes to witness the ceremony, erupted into cheers. That was our cue to play music.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="background-color: black;">“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.</i></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>If happy little blue birds fly above the rainbow why oh why? Oh why can’t I?”</i><br />I gathered my belongings, said my goodbyes, and walked across Ped West, back into the United States, with barely a glance at my Passport by Border Patrol Agents. As I waited for my Uber to take me to the airport, the sky turned gray, and rain began to downpour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/01/traveling-to-tijuana-to-protect.html" target="_blank">My Pre-Tijuana Post</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/02/tijuana-second-day-thoughts.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Second Day Thoughts</a><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/02/tijuana-first-hand-facts-of-red-tent.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">First Hand Facts of the Red Tent</a>Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-50079953193672966132019-02-04T15:44:00.001-05:002019-02-04T16:06:24.155-05:00"Tijuana, First-hand Facts of the Red-Tent Asylum Process"<br />
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My mind is so full of information that I want to share with you all from my week in Tijuana. This post will be just that, information. Factual and first hand. Witnessed and experienced by me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thousands of migrants from all over the world, mainly from Central America, have traveled to Tijuana’s west U.S. port of entry seeking safety, better economic conditions, and/or to be with family already in the U.S. My motivation for taking this volunteer trip was to help the families in the extreme asylum-seeking cases - those who live in terror and fear both IN their home country and FROM their home country. Gangs and governments work hand in hand to target and terrorize families for their own personal interests.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is a list. The list has numbers on it. Asylum seekers want to get a number from this list and they want their number to be called. Like a deli. I was incapable of finding answers as to who creates this list, who decides how many numbers are on the list, and basically any other information that could lead me to believe that this process is: 1) Legal; or 2) Held accountable by any authority or official agency whatsoever, Mexican or U.S., or otherwise.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The numbers are hastily written on a scratch piece of paper by a person under a red tent and holding a megaphone (who is often themselves, an asylum-seeker). This person changes on a daily or weekly basis. I don’t know why, or where they go when they’re done, or how the next list-person is chosen, or who chooses them, or how that person gets trained in list rules or procedures, or what those guidelines are, etc. I was in an organization with doctors, lawyers, and all kinds of experts who couldn’t figure this out. I suspect, and most attorneys agree, because it’s an illegal process and there are no policies or documentation to suggest otherwise.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway…The list/mega-phone person begins calling out names of asylum-hopefuls around 7am every day. If their name is called, they go up to the red tent and receive this scratch paper with a number. This can be anywhere from 0 to maybe 50 people (while I was here, the average was about 5 numbers given out per day). Then, the list/mega-phone person begins to call out numbers that were previously given out. Zero to 40 numbers were called everyday this week. These zero to 40 lucky number holders will then take all of their belongings over to a line, and will be loaded into a white, government van, and transported to the Ice box. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a side note, number holders must show up at this spot every morning at 7am, with all their family and belongings JUST IN CASE their number happens to get called that day. Again, no one knows how many numbers will be called any given day. So I often saw the same families, every morning, with their luggage, listening intently for their number to be called. Some days, the list/mega-phone person re-called numbers from the previous day for those who may have missed it. Other days, they did not. What happens if they missed their number called? I don’t know. Where are these families sleeping as they wait out this process? I don’t know. I don’t know. While they are waiting, many have been robbed, raped, beaten, and their official documents stolen. Mexico does not provide support or protection for them. The U.S. does not provide support or protection for them. And returning to their home country, from which they fled, would be the most dangerous option for them.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway… Once the lucky few are ready to be taken in a government van to the Ice box, we are able to give them some advice. Don’t wear your coat as your outer layer. Change clothes, right here, in the middle of everyone, and put your warmest layer on the bottom. Because the Ice box is cold. Very cold (that’s why it’s known as the Ice box!). And they will take all your clothing except for your base layer. If they don’t have socks, we give them socks. You will be separated into groups: Men, women, and children, and placed in different “boxes” unless it is a mother and infant (a cold, crowded, cement room). You’ll be there for an undetermined amount of days. Write important phone numbers on your arm, right now, with this permanent marker because they will take your phone and THEN tell you you can make a phone call. They will take your luggage (that you may get back, or that may get “lost”). Take a photo of your child’s birth certificate, showing you are their parent, and text it to somebody. Anybody. Because they will take your phone and your documents, and then question the legitimacy of your child. Sign this child separation form, saying you don’t give consent to be separated from your child. We don’t know if this form will be acknowledged or if it holds any power, but it’s signed by an attorney and can’t hurt. If you are seeking asylum, prepare mentally for your interview, proving that your life is in danger in your home country and that you cannot be protected by your government. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone in that van will be treated as if they are a criminal and a security threat, even if there is zero cause to believe this (they are seeking asylum LEGALLY). It is purposefully confusing, miserable, and demeaning in order to deter asylum-seekers. And some do get deterred and go back to their country. Others may remain in Mexico and try to make a life because it is safer than going back home or getting deported. Those who make it to the other side statistically and most likely will be denied asylum and put on a one-way flight back to the country from which they fled. The best case scenario for an asylum-seeker to the U.S. at this port of entry in Tijuana, is that they will wait in Mexico for weeks, homeless. Then taken to the Ice box and detention and separated from family members for an undetermined amount of time. And then released to figure out a life in the U.S. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"></span></span><br /></span><span style="background-color: black;"></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
<br />
<div style="display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: black;"></span><span style="background-color: black; color: black;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That is what I know. I experienced and witnessed this process all 6 mornings. I’m not an attorney, so I could not assist with legal, but I could speak with people, in my limited Spanish. I learned their names, where they were from, asked if we could do anything for them, tell them we could give them lunch for free, a legal consult for free, and medical assessment for free. Most importantly, my purpose was to show them that I cared, and that other people in the world care about their well-being and their future. More to come another time…</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUuLK9m_7VEjDu7dTU45m-LyJeg09M70r_rFJEdTsuR2Rja9CkZJS9rmOzNlVz-Og8quWImhMd-ImccHceXf2kFQY9E_pLDAj3N4M7H2evizGvY6_UECVS3-FuQqmBiAZf8PVyTUBwUrn/s1600/xwKrN6I%252BTVGq%252BLbCxS4Jgw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUuLK9m_7VEjDu7dTU45m-LyJeg09M70r_rFJEdTsuR2Rja9CkZJS9rmOzNlVz-Og8quWImhMd-ImccHceXf2kFQY9E_pLDAj3N4M7H2evizGvY6_UECVS3-FuQqmBiAZf8PVyTUBwUrn/s320/xwKrN6I%252BTVGq%252BLbCxS4Jgw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The red tent. Where the list/megaphone person calls a serious of names and then a series of numbers. If your name is called, you receive a number to hopefully be called another day. If you already have a number and it gets called, you take your families and all your belonging to the next step in the long, asylum-seeking process. The Ice box.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not a great picture in order to protect identities.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/01/traveling-to-tijuana-to-protect.html" target="_blank">My Pre-Tijuana Post</a></span><br />
<a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/02/tijuana-second-day-thoughts.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Second Day Thoughts</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-28131704212708936902019-02-04T15:42:00.003-05:002019-02-04T16:04:30.793-05:00Tijuana, Second Day Thoughts<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I spent 7 days in Tijuana, Mexico helping asylum-seekers at the border. I volunteered with a group called <a href="https://alotrolado.org/" target="_blank">Al Otro Lado</a>. They offer free legal, and other services, to migrants hoping to be granted asylum in the U.S. I'll be writing my thoughts and first-hand accounts here.</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black;">Hello friends. This is the end of my second day working in Mexico, but I feel like it’s been a week of a continuous, vertical learning curve. As an educated, English-speaking adult, I am in constant confusion about the instructions that asylum-seekers are given. Instructions feel largely random, made-up, improvised, and often conflicting with previously given instructions as well as with other organizations. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for foreigners to navigate </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: black; display: inline;">through this. To qualify for asylum, a person must not only say they have a fear for their life, but they must have very strong proof and documentation of this fear and threat. They must also show that their country’s local and national authorities are incapable or unwilling to protect their own citizen. I wish I could tell you some of this “documentation” I helped process today. Suffice to say, it included graphic content that showed what the worst of humanity is capable of. And even with an asylum case that is classified as “strong,” statistically, that person will likely be denied. And there is nothing more we can do for them, but watch them and their children get sent back to their country and to their abuser. However, because these people’s abuser/threat is actively searching for them to do them harm, almost all information must be kept anonymous, which is why I won’t be sharing too many details about my location and what I am doing here. My day began by reaching out to asylum “hopefuls” about where they can find legal resources and what they can expect from this long, complicated process. Then, I cleaned and very dirty bathroom. And I finished by assisting with documentation. However, I also got to play guitar with a child and their parent, AND eat street tacos for all 3 meals. Thank God for the positive! And there are many other hopeful moments that help us get through the bleak. It’s quite emotionally exhausting to see the very worst of humanity AND the very best of humanity within a short time frame. Please keep an empathetic and compassionate heart. Truthfully, that may actually change a person’s entire world for the better.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3630092967410938880#editor/target=post;postID=3733170395089638073;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=3;src=postname" target="_blank">My Pre-Tijuana post</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2019/02/tijuana-first-hand-facts-of-red-tent.html" style="background-color: black;" target="_blank">Tijuana First Hand Facts of Red Tent</a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-37331703950896380732019-01-17T15:07:00.001-05:002019-02-04T15:53:56.329-05:00"Traveling to Tijuana to Protect America's Way of Life - Helping and Accepting Immigrants"<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">I joined ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) in late fall of the year 2001. Having a fierce love for America since I could remember, and the desire to achieve a personal goal of mine, 9/11 was the push that I needed to make a long-term commitment to the service and defense of my country. It was the event that kicked me into action. It gave me an opportunity to put my money where my mouth was and protect and defend what I loved - America’s reputation throughout the world as a beacon of hope and light and freedom. And on 9/11, someone attacked and threatened that. They threaten our way of life. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">A decade and a half later, in November of 2018, I had a beautiful Thanksgiving meal with my family and with our close friends and next-door neighbors, a family of immigrants from China. We enjoy cooking together and trying different foods from the other’s and culture (they own a Chinese Restaurant). We speak zero Mandarin and they speak a minuscule amount of English. Somehow, we have got to know them very well, thanks to Google Translate and some creative methods. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Around that same time, I saw an image circulating on social media. It was striking and it evoked an immediate physical reaction. My heartbeat sped up, I winced, and enlarged it. I had to find out more about it, so I began to research. The image was of a mother, grabbing, no, yanking her two children by their small arms, as they ran away from a fired canister of tear gas. In the military, I have experienced tear gas several times. Each time, I dreaded that day of training. I knew how my lungs would burn and my eyes and nose would would be running faucets until my body recovered. No matter how hard or how much I coughed, it felt impossible to clear my airway. Today I am a mother of 2 young children, and without even realizing it, my mind was suddenly filled with images of MY children, coughing, wheezing, crying, waiting for their mother to make this better. To save them from this chaotic, confusing, traumatizing experience. <i>“Mommy, make it stop!”</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">This was a</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); color: #ff2600;"> <a href="http://time.com/5464560/caravan-mexico-border-iconic-photo/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">mother traveling with her 3 children</span></a></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> from Honduras, fleeing the danger in her home country and hoping to reunite with her husband who was already living in the U.S. They made it to Tijuana with the thousands of others who are camped outside the southern border, waiting for the chance to seek asylum. The children in the photo are 5-year old twin girls. Neither of them are wearing pants. One has no shoes on. One, maybe both, are wearing a diaper. In the background, there is a large mound of dirt on which sits a fence of stone, metal, and barbed wire, and towers high above the other people in the photo. In a later interview, the woman explained she saw the crowd making movements towards the border and went to see what was happening. What she couldn’t see, was that some people had begun digging under the border wall, which was met with force by Border Control Agents and sent a large crowd running from tear gas. Later, the mother, named Maria Meza, stated, “If they close the border, I ask God that here in Tijuana, or in another country, they open doors to us, to allow me to survive with my children.” </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Had I seen this image before 2001, I might have thought something like this, “Woman! Come HERE! Come to America! We can help you!” But now, I only felt sick and sad. She <i>was</i> coming to America. I had just celebrated a holiday that marks when Pilgrims traveled in deplorable conditions, across an ocean in order to seek a better life and future for their families. A holiday that marked a historical occasion of finding common ground in spite of differences. That must have seemed like a hopeful day. And I felt like I might have experienced just a sliver of that when my husband made a traditional Chinese pastry for our dessert, and we all ate sausage balls - something that Eddie’s late father always cooked. I help them register their kids in the public school system. They watch my boys when I find myself in a jam without a babysitter. I'm certain that no matter what, we will be life-long friends. And maybe that is the hope that Native Americans felt when their new friends showed them tools and planting methods. Of course, we all know what happened. Native Americans were eventually decimated by the new visitors. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">The early settlers destroyed the Natives way of life. And somehow, through curious irony, we built a country that developed into a safe haven for others around the world. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” says the most well-known symbol of America and Patriotism, the Statue of Liberty. What a cruel coincidence of wording - “breath free.” The Statue gave me chills when I saw it for the first time. I’ve been told that my very own Irish ancestors came through that Statue. Immigrants….not citizens of the U.S. They had to COME HERE FIRST. Their request to stay had to be processed through security, health, and other things, of course. But first they had to just make it to the country - just as the first step for asylum seekers is to <i>go to the country </i>where they are requesting.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">That is MY America. The America that I fell in love with and volunteered to defend with my life. I believed that was the very ideal that made our country so special. This mother of three, Maria, didn’t drag her bare-foot, scarcely clothed children over hundreds of miles, unknown dangers, and extraordinary risk just to storm our border and threaten “our way of life” like the terrorists we have been at war with for years. I believe she, and many others, came here BECAUSE of “our way of life.” And hoping and praying for the chance to be a part of it!</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Years ago, I had confidence in our country to “do the right thing.” I bought books about the “Greatest Generation” of WW2. I was proud to hear reports of the humanitarian aid our country offered. I may have been overly idealistic and naive, I admit. But with the current crisis at our border, where thousands of desperate people are literally fleeing for their lives, leaving everything behind, and coming to our doorstep in hopes of requesting asylum, this is the first time that I feel like our country, as a whole, is intentionally doing so, so horribly wrong. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">And so, again, for the second time in my life, I feel the “kick” that I need to put me into action for the service and defense of our country’s “way of life.” Again, I feel the pull to “put my money where my mouth is.” On Jan 27, I will travel to Tijuana and join up with the organization, Sanctuary Caravan. This is not about a wall. Or one man. This is about much more…humanity and a country where I can feel proud and confident to raise my children. My boys will stay at home, safe with their father. I don’t know yet <i>how</i> I will help. Whether taking care of other children while their parents meet with volunteer immigration lawyers to process their asylum requests, or the difficult manual labor of improving living quarters and sanitation conditions for those who are stranded with no end in sight. I am ready to work. I am ready to help. I am ready and willing to accept whatever risk I may encounter. It is in the service of my country, my way way of life, and for the future of all. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Sanctuary Caravan</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.sanctuarycaravan.org/">https://www.sanctuarycaravan.org<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; color: black;"></span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(255, 38, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #ff2600; font-family: Avenir; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://time.com/5464560/caravan-mexico-border-iconic-photo/">Photo of family running from tear gas at border</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">, taken by Kim Kyung-Hoon</span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-77625344070322753922018-09-07T20:30:00.001-04:002018-09-07T20:30:19.493-04:00Marta Artbound: The Unfinished Lyrics at Kensington<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI9LyWb9jyx3_DWTGSMcZe_AiIZriCUnmJ1tD3bI62Wt7V47Akm2gz36iMKSXjAdflvjJ-NF62Cvh0YGlFTbKSXVctlW1wv245viXPsECQgBHvjrY_KYwUYuk7HuHLm9K-EZxDXIi2cc7/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI9LyWb9jyx3_DWTGSMcZe_AiIZriCUnmJ1tD3bI62Wt7V47Akm2gz36iMKSXjAdflvjJ-NF62Cvh0YGlFTbKSXVctlW1wv245viXPsECQgBHvjrY_KYwUYuk7HuHLm9K-EZxDXIi2cc7/s320/IMG_4012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">My Kensington Corner!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kensington Station is located in Decatur, on the east side of Atlanta. I enjoy playing at this station for Marta's </span><a href="https://www.itsmarta.com/artbound.aspx" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Artbound</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Program. It's not overly crowded, but there's a steady flow of diverse commuters and it's nice chatting with them as they pass through. I also like this station because I have a clean, spacious "corner" to play in. Not quite out in the open, but still central where the acoustics sound nice throughout. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One afternoon, as I began to setup my equipment in my corner, I quickly picked up the few pieces of trash I saw on the ground and went to throw them away in the trash can. One crumpled piece of paper caught my eye and for some reason, I decided to uncrumple and take a look rather than just tossing in the can. It looked like the beginning of a song, or a poem, or maybe a journal entry. It read simply, in smudged ink, "going places, going strong."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, I couldn't throw it away. I smoothed it out and kept it on my keyboard for the duration of the set for inspiration. It's not that the words were necessarily poetic, deep, or original. It was just that someone wrote them. They felt it. They were onto something. They were boarding a train, or a bus, going places, literally and metaphorically. You might never know, but someone heard your words, and I hope you get to where you're going.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG825ad80RDgTr-y45mVq3WkTQJM8LxgXBQkBkM-ihb_YYaB4Alvf4e_n3hOtKlubZHBY29U6QvENxpWCtEvPdVyuX1txZ9rPGDK3uoA-UK8NshCF9FBg0ATZDck9bNCSTsVEEBQ7USDZy/s1600/fullsizeoutput_1706.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG825ad80RDgTr-y45mVq3WkTQJM8LxgXBQkBkM-ihb_YYaB4Alvf4e_n3hOtKlubZHBY29U6QvENxpWCtEvPdVyuX1txZ9rPGDK3uoA-UK8NshCF9FBg0ATZDck9bNCSTsVEEBQ7USDZy/s640/fullsizeoutput_1706.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-49642514284131850392018-08-30T11:06:00.001-04:002018-08-30T11:07:26.191-04:00Marta Artbound: The Sweet-Spirited Boy at Midtown<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxThmP7hNngIrXHRPakQqgX874815gpNX93C4dlYo7fKxE6rLm_JJxKuSZ6Z2iqWzrKS4nEeIBnefi8MW8946EStBPxoxJKP7zZ5PEQD0FaboFQAdGwlHNlaMFXmaWhWv8Di9nN45a4zV/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxThmP7hNngIrXHRPakQqgX874815gpNX93C4dlYo7fKxE6rLm_JJxKuSZ6Z2iqWzrKS4nEeIBnefi8MW8946EStBPxoxJKP7zZ5PEQD0FaboFQAdGwlHNlaMFXmaWhWv8Di9nN45a4zV/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Midtown Station Atlanta, GA</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few weeks ago, I played at Midtown Station in Atlanta for Marta's </span><a href="https://www.itsmarta.com/artbound.aspx" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Artbound</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Program, an effort to bring live arts to the public. Midtown is a great location, as it's outdoors and in a fun, brightly painted setting. Of course, being Georgia in August, it's also very hot! I set up my keyboard and equipment as well as an electric fan and began my set.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not far into my set, I noticed a young boy and his mother in the area. The boy seemed very curious about the music and eventually sat right in front of my little stage to watch and clapped after each song. I tried to give him the warmest smile possible so he would feel comfortable if he wanted to come talk to me. Eventually he did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He told me that he and his cousins liked to write song lyrics together and he had a notebook at home of random thoughts that might make a good song one day. He told me he thought music was like a super power. He asked me all kinds of questions about the songs I played and told me when something reminded him of a memory. He would say, "That was a good song," nodding his head matter-of-factly as if making a decision after giving it some serious thought. I invited him to sit next to the keyboard in a folding chair so he could see my fingers. And he did. He sat there for the rest of my set, about 2 hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We continued to chat between songs. He was a child, but we spoke as equals. He was easy to talk to. He told me he had a lucky feather, and that yesterday, it helped him sell 60 water bottles...something he does to help his family earn money. Suddenly, he had an idea and asked if he could try something on the keyboard with me. "What if we do a song together, called "Cats and Dogs," and I'll play the cat part and you do the dog part?" He was seated at the high end of the keyboard, while I could play at the low end. I thought it was a genius and creative duet idea. I did my best to imitate the deep bark of a dog, while he tinkled at the high end, imitating a cat's meow. This opened a floodgate of inspiration for him and he suggested several others: "Rain and Thunder," "Light and Dark," "Cars and Trucks."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When my set came to an end, I grew sad at the thought that I might never see this boy again. I gave him my card and he told me, "You're the nicest person I met today." As I began to load up my equipment, he quickly offered to help me, and wrapped up cords and carried things to my car. I wanted to give him a hug, but instead I told him, "You're awesome. I really hope I see you again." And I really hope I do.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJex9kC5vb4JRYacB7A6I3WxiDQXHUFMGw-uG3LUFCViJyuQ3DIWNlae2hw6nVgXd_N-mKTLVd1fD-xaK3BvNX-DZjE9KpoPgh0uB1JlI7klSIhwX39tNMipCURM8f02pmND_8cB-RIVR/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJex9kC5vb4JRYacB7A6I3WxiDQXHUFMGw-uG3LUFCViJyuQ3DIWNlae2hw6nVgXd_N-mKTLVd1fD-xaK3BvNX-DZjE9KpoPgh0uB1JlI7klSIhwX39tNMipCURM8f02pmND_8cB-RIVR/s200/IMG_0005.jpg" width="122" /></a></div>
<br />Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-20373246042621667722018-08-17T22:12:00.003-04:002018-08-17T22:16:20.018-04:00Marta Artbound: The Note at West End<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4FZu5ApYv5prQ_ZQ0wly2Mm4zbLxKISGW5xXfRSbNQoZSGfxdECGoiNkMHvB_778wXqXKhJVBamDoITBLhvUHudSPujNc2J11vU5j0SSU3NdC-nSYJr6egmsNY9qZ8GlNQiy9ykrjPvM/s1600/IMG_4208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4FZu5ApYv5prQ_ZQ0wly2Mm4zbLxKISGW5xXfRSbNQoZSGfxdECGoiNkMHvB_778wXqXKhJVBamDoITBLhvUHudSPujNc2J11vU5j0SSU3NdC-nSYJr6egmsNY9qZ8GlNQiy9ykrjPvM/s200/IMG_4208.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For most of the last year, I have been a performing Artist with Marta for their Artbound Live Series. Marta is Metro-Atlanta's public transportation system, and the Artbound Live program is a new effort to bring all kinds of art to the public. (It's pretty awesome and you can read more about it <a href="https://www.itsmarta.com/artbound.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a> if you want.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The experience is inspiring, educational, and has pushed me out of my comfort zone, both musically and personally. There have been so many great moments, I decided I should be documenting and sharing them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Through this program, I've seen parts of Atlanta I might not otherwise see, had conversations with people I might not otherwise cross paths with, and I get to use my voice as an Artist to make a statement in my community. I receive smiles, nods, and I get to see commuters unconsciously mouth a lyric and dance when they recognize a song, or nudge the person next to them and say, "Look, that's neat!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the first station's where I performed, was Atlanta's West End Station. West End is a neighborhood that is diverse, historically significant, and growing. It's also a neighborhood where the overall crime rate is 186% higher than the national average (<a href="https://www.areavibes.com/atlanta-ga/west+end/crime/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">cite</span></a>). Despite that, I felt completely safe as I performed and had a fantastic experience. It was a few days before Christmas and I was feeling really happy (yet cold!). I was getting energy from passersby that was receptive, positive, and even collaborative. Children smiled and watched while holding their parent's hand, and then craned one more last glance at me before they disappeared from sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At one point, I noticed a woman who had walked by earlier and had returned. She was holding a piece of paper and handed it to me with a warm smile, and then continued on her way. This was the note:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLibyRkAy-GkKZwq2IXu0MR1HD1ICp7sfkQPhXtHIKsEBeXqMNFE1VRdsabHK8wZvy9MIg4OeIze1JbAK8ejMgX29fdVUVwX2CxEHFLgjw43hLLqCUHLhXR1hXggUgvXkRb8GuA02Qw6tW/s1600/IMG_1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLibyRkAy-GkKZwq2IXu0MR1HD1ICp7sfkQPhXtHIKsEBeXqMNFE1VRdsabHK8wZvy9MIg4OeIze1JbAK8ejMgX29fdVUVwX2CxEHFLgjw43hLLqCUHLhXR1hXggUgvXkRb8GuA02Qw6tW/s400/IMG_1464.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"There are so many lost & broken souls on this side of town. So many people who forget what <u>love</u> feels like. Thank you for coming out. Keep going, because you absolutely don't go unnoticed! Your soul is BEAUTIFUL. Happy Holidays."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Music is amazing, beautiful, surprising, magical, powerful. This note confirmed all that for me and became one of my most treasured gifts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~~~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For my Artbound Performance schedule and live videos, click<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethGrimesMusic/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a></span>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-57961439428184400412018-03-30T17:31:00.001-04:002018-03-30T23:57:38.269-04:00Easter = Love, Grace, Hope. Happy Easter.<br />
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want to clarify something. This is mostly for myself to reflect on my own beliefs, passions, and goals because writing has been the best way for me to sort that out in the past. But, it’s also for friends, family, acquaintances, or anyone else who might think I’ve gone nuts or backslid, or have become a snowflake, or whatever. I’m not a liberal. I’m not a Democrat. I’m not a conservative Republican either. It’s difficult when people can’t be put into a defined category, as we’ve seen time and time again throughout history. And as much as I would like to fit into one of these boxes, or even create a brand new box that fits me and maybe others could see themselves in, I just can’t. I used to call myself a Christian. A republican. An American. Now, each of those words make me cringe. I’ll explain everything. It will make sense. Don’t worry.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I became a Christian at a very, very young age (5 or 6 maybe). The reason that I recited the “sinner’s prayer,” is because I was terrified. I was told by adults, people I loved and trusted, that if I don’t recite these words with my eyes closed and hands folded, I will go to a dark, firey place and burn forever and ever, alone. Now, in hindsight, they told me other things too, like Jesus loves me. But the only thing that truly impacted this small child’s mind, was “burn forever in hell.” So I said this prayer. And I said it again and again, probably a few times a year until adulthood, just to make sure that I didn’t go to hell if I died. Friends, that is not love and that is not grace. That’s fear. And that’s not salvation, it’s supersticion. Now, in technical terms, sure, I’m a “Christian.” And it’s not because I recited these words when I was a child who couldn’t understand the depth of love, grace, or eternity, but it’s because as a mature adult, I’ve studied and read about Jesus Christ. I believe He existed and still exists. I love Him. I look up to Him. I try to emmulate Him. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The word, “Christian” leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. Many of the Christians I have grown up with and know personally, say and do hateful things to the “least of these” (you know, the homeless, homosexuals, refugees from Middle Eastern countries, people who have illegal status.) Even to a child (Emma Gonzalez), who survived a mass shooting and lost over a dozen of her school mates, and is now a passionate advocate for a solution to gun violence, is called horrendous names. I know, I follow her on social media. They call her a c*** and tell her that she should have been killed in the shooting. Yes, proclaiming Christians do these things. And yes, proclaiming Christians do nothing to stop it. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They tell me that Jesus is an advocate for guns and murder in cases of self defense. I’ve never read any of this about Jesus. They are more passionate about interpreting the 2nd ammendment to mean keeping a personal arsenol of weapons (why would anyone want to keep a personal arsenol of weapons? Maybe because of fear? Hmm.), than they are passionate about defending the least of these, diminishing violence, advocating for the family and the community, which is where the real difference is made. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My passion is Jesus and the way He lived. Blessing the children, the peacemakers, helping those on the fringes of society without condition or reprimand. Example… I don’t know if this homeless person on the corner <i>deserves</i> his homelessness due to poor decisions or deserves my kindness because he’s trying to make a change. But I don’t care either. I didn’t deserve God’s grace, but I got it. And by God, this man on the corner will get a bottle of water from me, a granola bar, and whatever change I can scoop up before the traffic light turns green and I continue driving to work. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are many injustices in this word. God has planted individual passions within all of us. I know a woman, Lek, whose passion and life’s work is to keep elephants from being horribly beaten and abused by the cruelty of man for material gain. That’s what she does. And I admire and support her. But her life’s passion, is not the same as my life’s passion. My sister, many years ago, read a statistic that said if a woman sees her unborn baby on an ultrasound, she is less likely to go through with an abortion. That statistic stuck with her her entire life and she is an R.N. now, and in the early stages a social outreach program and that may help these women who find themselves in desperate situations. God bless her. My life’s work is music. I just can’t help it. It gave me an opportunity to make a living and reach people on many different levels. I don’t expect my sister to be as passionate about music as I am and I will never be as passionate about saving elephants as Lek. But they’re all important. Thank God that He has varied our passions so greatly. We are the body of Christ and a toe has a purpose, just as the eyes do. Now, just because because my passion is not the same as others’, does not mean that I don’t care about and love them. I will always support a just cause when asked, when needed, when opportunity arises. But God help me if I ever actively <i>inhibit</i> these causes. You will never see me write an post that says “Hey, if your sport is killing docile beasts for their tusks, you do you, man!” I won’t be giving free rides to clinics or actively encouraging anyone to have an abortion (but I’ll support with kindness and compassion when I can). So my question is, why do Christians actively inhibit and protest this movement for less gun violence?! Let me rephrase that…we want less murders with guns, why are you trying to stop that? Okay, I got it. You like guns, you like the 2nd ammendment, fine. But can we try to diminish the amount of murdered children by guns? WHY would you actively inhibit that principle or fight against this? Because they’re afraid the government will come after them and they won’t be able to murder the government with the machine gun they keep in their closet? But Christians do inhibit the principle of less gun violence. With zeal, and hatred, and I don’t understand it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is someone, who is very close to me, that I love and respect, who will remain nameless. No, we’ll call them Jo. Jo said to me, in regards to helping refugees find safety in the U.S., “I lock my doors to keep my family safe at night. Why wouldn’t I want my country’s borders to be locked?” Oh Jo. But if someone pounded on your door in the middle of the night and said, “HELP! My family is about to be murdered, my wife and daughter raped, our home has been bombed and we have NOWHERE safe to go!” Jo would be the first person to let them in. Jo would give them food, money, clothes, shelter. Jo, this is what refugees are saying to the United States. HELP US! Why, oh why, Christian, shouldn’t we help? Again, the answer is fear. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I used to be a Republican. Because that’s what Christians are. And I was a Christian because I was scared of hell. I supported Bush because he seemed to have character and integrity. Brain power? Maybe not so much… But he was nothing like the self-serving, adulterous, narcissist who is in the White House now. No, I am not a Republican. I voted for Hillary, but I am not a Democrat either. I voted for her because she was the one who seemed to do the most for humanity. Social programs help humanity. They help the least of these. The ones on the fringes. The ones that a “good Christian family” would look <i>nothing</i> like or have <i>anything</i> to do with. Those are the ones that Jesus would be walking with, eating with, talking with. </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I used to be a proud American. Correction, I used to say I was a proud American. Until I grew up and reflected again on my childhood. Back to that 7-year old little girl in Awanas who said the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, and then the Christian flag, and then the Bible. And I remember that little girl questioning silently in my own mind, “If Jesus is the most important, why do we pledge to the American flag <i>first</i>?” It’s a question I wish I would have said out loud and demanded an answer to. I think back to that little girl, who lived in timidity and fear. We drove over a railroad track behind a traffic light to get to school every day. When the light turned green, I was aprehensive that the computerized timer had calculated wrong, and we were going to be driving over the railroad track as a train stormed through, and would smash us to bits. I calmed my own fears by thinking, “No, whoever builds these lights and makes these computers, they wouldn’t make a mistake like that, that would kill innocent people on their way to school.” So I’ve always believed that the government should have a responsibility for its citizens. Sometimes I have other recollections of childhood thoughts that went against what I was “supposed” to believe, but I never spoke of them. Because I was scared of not being a good Christian girl. Fear.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was told that socialism was evil and leads to communism. But a true Democracy would look more like the Wild West, when justice was taken into our own hands and a lot of innocent citizens were killed and there was little or no help for the weaker ones who couldn’t help themselves. The truth is, there should be a balance of all these things. (And there is socialism in the U.S. whether or not you want to hear it).</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was told America was the best, and I believed it. I got chills listening to the Star Spangled Banner, and felt a fire in me while watching movies like “The Patriot, “Pearl Harbor,” or “We Were Soldiers Once.” I mean, geez. We stopped the Nazis. The NAZIS! The group that made Jews wear a yellow star on their coat and then exterminated them. And right after we stopped the Nazis, we put signs on our bathrooms that said “No Colored Allowed.” Only God knows how far that would have went, if it had not been for the tireless, passionate, activists of the Civil Rights Movement. The movement that started with a little old lady on a bus. Much like a little girl today, with a shaved head, who said in front of national cameras, “Not One More!” </span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fear has its place in this world. But courage has a more meaningful place. Courage to give a voice to your individual passion, and support the passions of others if they are righteous (and I think anything that supports human life is righteous). Only fear keeps us from supporting those. Fear of the unknown, the threatened. Self-preservation.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If Jesus was afraid, maybe he would have killed the Roman guard in self-defense. But he didn’t live in fear of the unknown or of death. And as a result, we all have hope. Let’s give others hope. Hope of justice, safety, opportunity, and quality of life. This, to me, is Jesus. How can I possibly reconcile <i>more</i> deadly weapons, shutting out terrified refugees, bullying, or telling that homeless man “Go get a job, you lazy bum!” Jesus gave us grace, FREELY. In fact, we can’t even begin to measure God’s grace in mathematical terms. As my 4-year old son would ask, “More than infinity?” Yes! More than infinity! So let’s not put a cap on the grace that we as…ahem…Christians and Americans, give to fellow humanity, whatever their background or beliefs and whether or not we personally feel they deserve it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Easter=Love, Grace, Hope<br />Happy Easter</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Matthew 25:34-46<br />34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’<br />37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’<br />40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’<br />41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’<br />44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’<br />45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’<br />46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-41059481360140186812018-02-15T17:42:00.000-05:002018-02-15T17:42:06.718-05:00"From One School Shooting Every 2 1/2 Days, to One Every 3 Days: Let's Figure This Out"<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a problem. In 44 days, there has been 18 school shootings in the U.S. With each new shooting that has happened over the recent years, I have thought about this from many different angles. Logical, emotional, political, statistical, etc. Thousands of other people have as well. And yet, we as a nation, have not taken 1 step or course of action to prevent these horrible incidences. So, we have a problem. And I am going to look at this problem from a new angle today. Do you know who are <i>excellent</i> problem-solvers? Entrepreneurs.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Entrepreneurs, as a whole, are amazing. They are creative and think way outside of the box. They come up with solutions that are geniusly simple. They find ways to thrive, despite difficult, seemingly insurmountable barriers. They work around beaurocratic policies. As a small business owner, and a freelancer for the majority of my life, I decided to put my entrepreneurial skills to work to solve this problem: What can be done to decrease school shootings in the U.S? This is a neutral post. There is no talk of politics. This is a brain-storming session to find a solution to the problem. One thing that entrepreneurs do, is look at business models that currently exist, and expand on that idea, or take a principle from that model and apply it to a completely different field or industry. I am going to share some ideas that I have had, talk about their pros and cons, and open this up for discussion. Maybe this will spur some other ideas, and something will eventually take shape, catch on, and prevent the next school shooting.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps you have seen these adds come up on your social media pages - <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ar-wear-confidence-protection-that-can-be-worn#/">anti-rape underwear</a>. These are rip-proof, scissor-proof, pull-proof panties that look a lot like male briefs. They can only be taken off by the person wearing them. The reason I bring this up in a school shootings post, is this: This product does not talk about changing “rape culture.” It does not bring up policies that may prevent rape. Doesn’t talk about penalties for rape. Doesn’t suggest what a woman should wear, drink, or who she should be around. No, this product says, “Rape happens. Let’s prevent it.” Now, I don’t know the statistics, or the success rate on this particular product. I’m not even concerned with what this says about the current state of our culture. The fact is, a woman will have a very difficult time getting raped if she is wearing this product. So, this is how I am approaching school shootings in this post. It’s a problem. I want a solution that will make it damn near impossible for someone to come into a school and murder students with a weapon. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Taking my cue from the idea of a protective garmant, the first suggestion would be bullet proof vests. In all seriousness, kevlar and Spectra material have evolved. They’re lighter and more wearable. This could be something that parents buy for their own school-age child, or something that a school mandates as part of their school uniform. This actually seems like the easiest option that most families, or schools could start implementing almost immediately. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pros</i>: Although a vest may not cut down on the number of school shootings, it would likely decrease fatalities that result from them. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Cons</i>: A vest would protect vital organs, but not the brain, or extremities. Additionally, the cost would be high. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The next idea gets a little more complicated. Within prisons (now bear with me here), weapons can be found, and used to kill other prisoners. However, you would be hard pressed to find that an actual gun or assault riffle had been smuggled in. No, I’m not saying let’s strip search our students and treat them like prisoners. But maybe we should think of school security more like the security of a prison. There is fencing, walls, and barbed wire around prisons, and guards who ensure 24/7 that no one is getting in or out of that fence. Before entering the school grounds, students would be searched, similar to airport security. Bags are searched, metal detectors, pat downs, body scans, etc. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This would have a couple <i>pros</i>. First, it would actually create a lot of jobs. Teachers and staff couldn’t handle this alone. Local police couldn’t give this the necessary attention. They would need specialized security who makes this their one and only job. Second, if there was a dedicated, full time, school security team, school shootings would almost certainly decrease. If you look at prison models and airport security models, yes, things still happen, but those incidences are drastically cut down. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the <i>con</i> side, this would be a massive undertaking. Whether by a private security company or police, the logistics, man-power, and resources needed would take time and money to put into place. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Next, I’ve fallen and can’t get up. Yep, life alert. We all know the commercials. Punch line or not, life alert saves lives and prevents serious injuries. If all students and teachers wore something like a life alert, help could arrive more quickly. I know that most people, even students, are attached to their cell phone. But this would be even quicker. It would literally be one movement of your finger, and help would arrive. Again, this could be a mandatory school uniform implementation. This could save valuable time. Even seconds are life and death in school shootings.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pros</i>: Time saved, possible lives saved</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Cons</i>: Would likely not decrease the amount of school shootings, just would cut down on response time. Also, would be expensive to ensure that all students had one, and difficult to enforce. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, I know that this is not supposed to be a policy discussion; however, we still should at least look at how citizens are deterred from crimes, and penalized for committing crimes. In the event of a school shooting, should school leadership be criminally punished for not providing adequate security or a safe environment for the students? Perhaps an examination of what a school’s legal responsibility is to prevent school shootings is in order. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vehicles are deadly. We regulate them with traffic laws. Drivers must pass certain qualifications to drive. And there are criminal consequences for disobeying those regulations, anywhere from fines, to prison. Now, Americans feel differently about cars than we do about our right to bear arms, so it’s not an exact parallel. But, we have got to look at other examples, other countries, other ideas, and draw from them what works or doesn’t. Most importantly, we have to do <i>something</i>. We just have to do something. We can’t keep doing nothing. We know for a fact that doing nothing doesn’t work. So let’s try something else now.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At this point, I surrender. I would give up just about anything to stop the next school shooting. I’ll happily never own a gun, or ever try to buy one. Please, feel free to hike up my taxes in order to pay for school security details. I will personally fund-raise so that every student in my school district can afford a bullet-proof vest, or life alert button. I will do one of those, or all of those. I don’t care. If it cuts the rate of school shootings from one shooting for every 2.5 days, to one school shooting for every 3 days. That’s a win. Well, not a win, but it’s progress.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-87510507706711796212017-12-19T21:54:00.002-05:002017-12-19T21:57:11.476-05:00Magical Moment 635, "Goodbye, 2017!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't know how many of my fellow blogger friends still see or read or view my little blog, but I want you all to know that I still think of you and wish you the best! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our family has had a busy year, full of highs and lows. The most impactful event has been the sudden and unexpected loss of my father-in-law, less than one month ago on November 27th. Eddie and I were devastated to hear this news and we got to Texas as soon as we could to be with family. We are still coping with this loss, but are so thankful for family and faith that has helped give us hope and strength. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDbIVUWhD-jM81Ei6c2wTMFWrMa2b-0FxopasZVy-kDPaq4-LALZTmRvEVn6pfojarzuO_jB5hQBwWY003Qo1FzQvHIKzeyVJQXnDH4ao7otBWo2qh5wC0ALf5nkyrGHJmO6NrLS_HHJ6/s1600/IMG_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDbIVUWhD-jM81Ei6c2wTMFWrMa2b-0FxopasZVy-kDPaq4-LALZTmRvEVn6pfojarzuO_jB5hQBwWY003Qo1FzQvHIKzeyVJQXnDH4ao7otBWo2qh5wC0ALf5nkyrGHJmO6NrLS_HHJ6/s320/IMG_0025.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Alan Keith Grimes<br />Feb 14, 1955-Nov 27, 2017</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wEAZ9xWi4Im1-OIMlnlkd6kajcXnlxVJBJ-_JmpH-v4P0ifKizjmyd62B2lAbgUHa1w1ZTYcFGs-0l_1QI-oUbHTqGhJQ7LwyuCuaDFHMWnt4f_5vup5bjze4_oBobTpMGYIiKX48F5n/s1600/IMG_0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wEAZ9xWi4Im1-OIMlnlkd6kajcXnlxVJBJ-_JmpH-v4P0ifKizjmyd62B2lAbgUHa1w1ZTYcFGs-0l_1QI-oUbHTqGhJQ7LwyuCuaDFHMWnt4f_5vup5bjze4_oBobTpMGYIiKX48F5n/s320/IMG_0044.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eddie and his dad, circa 2001.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Our boys did well with the traveling and have been thriving this year! Ricky is 3 and will be 4 this February. Elan turned 2 in July. They're awesome, busy, curious, and healthy. Elan loves cats, the color blue, and climbing. He's sweet, bashful, and independent. Ricky is into super heroes, disassembling gadgets (a nice way of saying 'breaking anything!'), and jumping, stomping, or any other kind of physical activity! He is analytical, social, and energetic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwBqs0z0lzpCFPnGC2mJ_Vx2fVfXzUNK90mS2AJOWWaHYCoFRmR2bf8OoI6-52_fwk32O0IFk_OU_RioFlQNFX6ia7ndA807LjPWHgh7ZqGTG6rNt4HdLxxZLGGaqTImEu8BbAopAL5tX/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwBqs0z0lzpCFPnGC2mJ_Vx2fVfXzUNK90mS2AJOWWaHYCoFRmR2bf8OoI6-52_fwk32O0IFk_OU_RioFlQNFX6ia7ndA807LjPWHgh7ZqGTG6rNt4HdLxxZLGGaqTImEu8BbAopAL5tX/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elan, 2 1/2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rLaz4SK0iL2_JQGfNf4AK6El7GJB_DBpAp_ilPklbqvGlznlunDhScj52rW9LlDxz-mX5Scqbn3BP52uT00KE8Qvj0bWhjNpEdRF9yuuwbth8USYaDZJabt-2twlIl_PtcGx0QQoZq1j/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rLaz4SK0iL2_JQGfNf4AK6El7GJB_DBpAp_ilPklbqvGlznlunDhScj52rW9LlDxz-mX5Scqbn3BP52uT00KE8Qvj0bWhjNpEdRF9yuuwbth8USYaDZJabt-2twlIl_PtcGx0QQoZq1j/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ricky, 3 1/2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM9jnm-M5aVgXB-FvgKxRcgjPTk8nVR4cGPINqLQ0uVvH0cX-G92IOcWLpT0YXGRQsoGwOFWrthHBbgNsHmeesTvy6vHR6xXY2vhB_v5Y77mQlGPvEaMLib4MZeQhMqT8I9jvUxXxUxb2/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEM9jnm-M5aVgXB-FvgKxRcgjPTk8nVR4cGPINqLQ0uVvH0cX-G92IOcWLpT0YXGRQsoGwOFWrthHBbgNsHmeesTvy6vHR6xXY2vhB_v5Y77mQlGPvEaMLib4MZeQhMqT8I9jvUxXxUxb2/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eddie is still a Law Enforcement Ranger for the National Park Service and is proud of his work. We are both very happy in our Atlanta suburb and with our home that we purchased last year. Since finished my MBA, I have started my company, More Than A Song. We bring live Arts & Entertainment to Aging Communities around Atlanta. This work fills me with pride and love and I cannot wait to see what is in the company's future! I continue to play piano for ballet, as well as different events around Atlanta. I'm very lucky. If you're curious about More Than A Song, check out our website:<a href="http://www.morethanasong.us/"> http://www.morethanasong.us</a> or find us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/morethanasongllc/">Facebook</a>. :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eddie and I also celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary this year! Reflecting on our life in the Army, our move to NYC, starting new careers, traveling, settling in Atlanta, and having 2 boys...seems like too much to fit all into just 10 years! It will be interesting to see where life takes us the next 10!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsHL4JCJ3ZrCh9pW8Hm4MF7S5u4zEHiS7TNhoQIzHcFHyRaDj2kg7eGzn7WYf5HijaYY_du4dvwcx52asNpHmg258-l7PYU13CZ76wEuKpxtDjE1ODHGYRw1EUsbxy9Ye8oP6r2_2MK_N/s1600/25634811_10156138436229548_386208164_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsHL4JCJ3ZrCh9pW8Hm4MF7S5u4zEHiS7TNhoQIzHcFHyRaDj2kg7eGzn7WYf5HijaYY_du4dvwcx52asNpHmg258-l7PYU13CZ76wEuKpxtDjE1ODHGYRw1EUsbxy9Ye8oP6r2_2MK_N/s320/25634811_10156138436229548_386208164_o.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eddie and I on our 10th Anniversary, July 2017</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some other highs of our year included a family vacation to the Outer Banks, NC with my parents, and all 3 of my siblings and their families. We also welcomed identical twin nephews by my older sister! All in all, we really have had a wonderful year and feel so fortunate in our lives. God has truly been generous to us and we're so grateful. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Merry Christmas my friends. Happy Holidays. I truly send warmest wishes for a happy and healthy New Year's. I will continue fulfilling the purpose and calling of my heart, and hope that it brings some good to the world. I pray that you also hear and follow your heart's calling and set out to complete it!</span></div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-56032911838201783972017-01-22T21:34:00.001-05:002017-01-22T21:34:42.357-05:00Magical Moment 634, "Old Toy Trains"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello my blogosphere friends! I would like to wish you all a very happy New Year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would also like to share with you a video that I made over the Holidays so that you can catch up with my sweet Sprout and happy Jay Bird. Sprout will turn 3 in February and Jay Bird just passed 18 months! We are very happy in Atlanta and have recently settled into a new home. I'm truly wishing you all happiness, peace, and joy. This may be difficult to do at times, but it is certainly made easier surrounded by loved ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r2UettpbU34" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peace my friends!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Love, Beth, Eddie, Sprout, and Jay Bird (Ricky and Elan)</span><br />
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-66789557242312127212016-07-06T12:57:00.005-04:002016-07-06T16:19:47.297-04:00Magical Moment 633, "I Witnessed a Touching Act of Kindness by my Husband"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lately, I've been learning about compassion and kindness. I've always tried to be "nice." I use my manners and I'm polite. I can get along with pretty much anyone. But that's not enough in this world. Politeness is not enough to fight the hate and fear that is running rampant all around us. Kindness is not only a reaction or a response to someone or something, I believe it should be proactive. Pro ACTIVE. Meaning, seek out ways to show kindness that require some kind of giving of yourself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyway, I've been learning this. Eddie has been a great teacher. I've never seen anyone deal with other people with such patience and eagerness to help like he does. He is a law enforcement officer, and while many of his past and present colleagues get into scuffles, arguments, and pull their weapon or taser, Eddie has an unbelievable track record or DE-escalating situations, simply by talking, trying to understand what the problem is, and putting himself in another's position. Even when he is forced to write citations, or escort people from the property, the offender often THANKS Eddie when the episode is over. I've never seen anything like it. But it has me believing much more in the effectiveness of compassion, over the effectiveness of pride and stubbornness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well, this is a true story. It happened yesterday. There was a knock on the door, which sent my dog, Joy, into a barking frenzy and my toddler and baby into fits of yelling and chaos. I finally got to the door to open it, carrying my 11-month old and holding my 2-year old's hand (both wearing only a diaper), while simultaneously holding Joy back with my leg. The woman at the door was an older, middle-eastern woman wearing a head scarf. I asked how I could help her. Her English was extremely broken, made even harder to understand by the fact Joy was STILL barking non-stop. However, what I picked up, was that she was looking for my husband. Then I remembered that twice before, Eddie told me that a middle-eastern woman at the grocery store had asked him for a ride home, which he gave her, and it turned out that we live in the same apartment complex. She had paid him with with a box of Life Cereal, and later, a tub of strawberries. I told her that I understood. She went on to explain something that was clearly very important, however, I could not make out a single word, until she said very clearly, "Your husband, he is very kind." There was nothing more I could do for her and I asked if she could come back later when Eddie came home. She said she would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When she returned later, she and Eddie sat on the couch as Eddie patiently listened to her desperately explain something that was obviously worrying her. I heard "Russia," "My husband," "My son," "Afghanistan," "Senator." But Eddie understood much more. As I got the boys' supper ready in the other room, I noticed Eddie get the laptop. She called someone on her cell phone, then handed the phone to Eddie. There were a few more phone calls. She was worried, that much was clear. I began to feel nervous when I heard the word, "Taliban." That is a word that invokes terror in most people's heart. <i>Should we really have anything to do with this woman?</i> I caught myself thinking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The woman gazed at my boys with such happiness and emotion. She watched them as they ran around, played, whined, fought, and made a mess with the fish sticks. Both boys were dressed in their matching red, white, and blue "U.S.A" outfits that I put them in because it was July 5th and I was trying to make the most out of their seasonal clothing. Eddie had given me a vase of colored roses for our 9-year anniversary. I pulled one out and gave it to my 2-year old. I whispered in his ear to go hand it to that lady. He obeyed with a smile on his face, which deepened his dimples. The woman was stunned. "Oh my gosh! Beautiful!" she whispered as she touched his cheek. When she and Eddie finished talking, she thanked us, handed us bread in a ziplock bag that she called, "Persian cooking," and walked out the door. As she turned, she wiped a tear from her cheek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eddie explained. She and her family are from Afghanistan. Her husband was killed by Russians in the 1970's. One of her sons made it to the U.S. and lives in Tennessee. Her other son is stuck in Afghanistan and they cannot get a response on the status of his visa. She is very worried about him because he is being threatened by the Taliban. He was one of many translators who helped the U.S. military in Afghanistan during the war, but when the U.S. left, there was no one left to protect these translators. As a result, many of them have been killed or threatened by the Taliban. Her son is one of them. She is terrified. She wanted Eddie to help her figure out how to write a letter to our Senator. She is desperate to get her son out. Eddie is not a politician, nor an immigration expert. He is a middle-class husband and father who works for the National Park Service. So why, WHY, out of all the people in Atlanta did this woman come to Eddie, basically a stranger, to help her with this very complicated, deeply personal problem?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Because, "he is very kind."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If there is one thing for certain, Eddie will see this through. He will research and help her write her letter to the appropriate person. She will likely re-pay him with another home-baked good, or possibly some more fresh fruit. That is not necessary. He would help anyway. Because the thought of this widowed mother in a foreign land, unable to communicate effectively, all alone in this state, fearing for the life of her son (does he have dimples too?) is too much to simply brush off and say it's not our problem, or to allow irrational fear justify inaction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For many, kindness and compassion are learned behaviors. For others, like my husband of 9 years today, they are innate. Be kind. Or learn to be kind. Both may be another person's answered prayer.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-50255527821941803042015-12-24T16:31:00.000-05:002015-12-25T09:03:31.865-05:00Magical Moment 632: Merry Christmas! And meet our little Jay Bird!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello Strangers and Merry Christmas!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Grimes Family has been very busy since last we met. Busy with our sweet Baby Boy, Sprout (Ricky Ray, now 22 months), and as of July 17th, with our Baby Boy, Jay Bird (Elan Jacob -- pronounced Ee-lin). Our family of 4 lives in Atlanta where Eddie is still with the National Park Service at MLK Jr. National Historical Site, and I am playing piano for The Atlanta Ballet and for another charming Ballet school nearby in Lilburn. Both Eddie and I have gone back to school. I will earn my MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship this February. Eddie is earning a second Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. Enough with all that boring biz. Now for the real cuteness... I will TRY not to completely overload you with pictures. I make no promises...</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQosT8h27acWNuFOsx9_ls5pQs1reU2zEK5L-kDoTqH1kWYzVYF37knVdAHzb1Rg2Ss2306PDgdJ5i6Jm03O-X6U6W0ttUUkoU3hwqNTxD1K-pXH8CXlTOSoKsbXcorYNXEhDDicpkQNSd/s1600/%257B0cf8bc7b-32ba-408b-9e6f-f95bd37fa1d3%257D_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQosT8h27acWNuFOsx9_ls5pQs1reU2zEK5L-kDoTqH1kWYzVYF37knVdAHzb1Rg2Ss2306PDgdJ5i6Jm03O-X6U6W0ttUUkoU3hwqNTxD1K-pXH8CXlTOSoKsbXcorYNXEhDDicpkQNSd/s320/%257B0cf8bc7b-32ba-408b-9e6f-f95bd37fa1d3%257D_1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="228" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4NYw_YolDPI2ks_XSpqPrNSkjcK3ZFpu-w3AniIvEvmZLfIWpcovroYtD_-vJeSoLVsleuoBTtxKHZlMC4C_OVZXhvKUEohaUyiOhO4Q0fYM8wCWJVbsEFaiWCuTZuk6xwCHF0LwOFt2/s1600/IMG_5371.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4NYw_YolDPI2ks_XSpqPrNSkjcK3ZFpu-w3AniIvEvmZLfIWpcovroYtD_-vJeSoLVsleuoBTtxKHZlMC4C_OVZXhvKUEohaUyiOhO4Q0fYM8wCWJVbsEFaiWCuTZuk6xwCHF0LwOFt2/s320/IMG_5371.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNcHuKfiWLwqHeFQfu80tjvWAkvy14GsS-M5rNtryE-yhPypZKhhFwe0X5wIfEKobZPmjFxMj058X5SU4karQPxRBk36MMU1hOjfjZEKiZ0S1v7StOtznsdtY5WIMa-PriPGZujQeMUF8/s1600/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNcHuKfiWLwqHeFQfu80tjvWAkvy14GsS-M5rNtryE-yhPypZKhhFwe0X5wIfEKobZPmjFxMj058X5SU4karQPxRBk36MMU1hOjfjZEKiZ0S1v7StOtznsdtY5WIMa-PriPGZujQeMUF8/s320/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s320/IMG_6405.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s320/IMG_6446.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ePNhnhkpJzR22csmVdx040L5-QsTpIwSK3b5-jTJNMH8xw96Gi2MyAw5qlc5Er4WWl0Pe8Xq9_pv9PIDLXie8-k_EchTs7dwYbwndt-Ucx2GAkMr2R65NJopPLwKoyV7sg2nNhz21_o/s1600/IMG_7415.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ePNhnhkpJzR22csmVdx040L5-QsTpIwSK3b5-jTJNMH8xw96Gi2MyAw5qlc5Er4WWl0Pe8Xq9_pv9PIDLXie8-k_EchTs7dwYbwndt-Ucx2GAkMr2R65NJopPLwKoyV7sg2nNhz21_o/s320/IMG_7415.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ePNhnhkpJzR22csmVdx040L5-QsTpIwSK3b5-jTJNMH8xw96Gi2MyAw5qlc5Er4WWl0Pe8Xq9_pv9PIDLXie8-k_EchTs7dwYbwndt-Ucx2GAkMr2R65NJopPLwKoyV7sg2nNhz21_o/s1600/IMG_7415.JPG" imageanchor="1"><br /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqbxwyBpC8PW4hHADhTS5dCl8d49cFEjAEMRGLhe17-ksbSshZRrvmXTe5Q3_eMFRcALlYDU4LRXoruq78wEK2yfuZX7CAEL8qwyb-VVgIV0R5qYf5hPdhSTmYBfErIIHfA79kV_On8kw/s1600/IMG_6960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqbxwyBpC8PW4hHADhTS5dCl8d49cFEjAEMRGLhe17-ksbSshZRrvmXTe5Q3_eMFRcALlYDU4LRXoruq78wEK2yfuZX7CAEL8qwyb-VVgIV0R5qYf5hPdhSTmYBfErIIHfA79kV_On8kw/s1600/IMG_6960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqbxwyBpC8PW4hHADhTS5dCl8d49cFEjAEMRGLhe17-ksbSshZRrvmXTe5Q3_eMFRcALlYDU4LRXoruq78wEK2yfuZX7CAEL8qwyb-VVgIV0R5qYf5hPdhSTmYBfErIIHfA79kV_On8kw/s320/IMG_6960.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGdSv8o4hDF8wrvDBBz2bedfjnprTxaAXvauRReo5HR7-RsrG5r18WoTuy_awzD0nncIZV98qBBPMVUKisiOGu5KoELlhLwjYCsfCmBHj-kHGQtl7fSim8WD1pABWepOCimKRlq5dvTuz/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGdSv8o4hDF8wrvDBBz2bedfjnprTxaAXvauRReo5HR7-RsrG5r18WoTuy_awzD0nncIZV98qBBPMVUKisiOGu5KoELlhLwjYCsfCmBHj-kHGQtl7fSim8WD1pABWepOCimKRlq5dvTuz/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIwhABLQm9r8Pu2aUyHHfN2CHOo04uaKGjK5d4ItHk4M2TBZM_ONzAHIGOxveX7pG1dl1a8A9myajcrVEUcHtFSSRwmUfqVkToTaFFYQyUipx2jnXBVDQ11eTSq0yAI7g5nh_Qd9hBTf6/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIwhABLQm9r8Pu2aUyHHfN2CHOo04uaKGjK5d4ItHk4M2TBZM_ONzAHIGOxveX7pG1dl1a8A9myajcrVEUcHtFSSRwmUfqVkToTaFFYQyUipx2jnXBVDQ11eTSq0yAI7g5nh_Qd9hBTf6/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ePNhnhkpJzR22csmVdx040L5-QsTpIwSK3b5-jTJNMH8xw96Gi2MyAw5qlc5Er4WWl0Pe8Xq9_pv9PIDLXie8-k_EchTs7dwYbwndt-Ucx2GAkMr2R65NJopPLwKoyV7sg2nNhz21_o/s1600/IMG_7415.JPG" imageanchor="1"><br /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2ePNhnhkpJzR22csmVdx040L5-QsTpIwSK3b5-jTJNMH8xw96Gi2MyAw5qlc5Er4WWl0Pe8Xq9_pv9PIDLXie8-k_EchTs7dwYbwndt-Ucx2GAkMr2R65NJopPLwKoyV7sg2nNhz21_o/s1600/IMG_7415.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5r9f3o_NU-sQAKjbAS-NzrcwGDVrPqwNtRWlpMnnbwMCPJQngGHhvREgR1O11Hc0aoSSWyJ4oiDadRcNDzQIcPQZu3PQP2WN6_iaFbgRukNcDPfeNcqQh9S8gerATL1o2RnhfXFjbw1-/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDU8DuCEK1ku7KpwnkFTxtVrJTf7el2nD9oP0D4DFCe-FyGLwKKTdpVrfRADqyovbzUhNxfKIFmsTYnWdQa-HR6SjiT60MFikDMQuzZfgXwny1-LkkUqnLhQqHrpxQHkUUvV4LoasllPR/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDU8DuCEK1ku7KpwnkFTxtVrJTf7el2nD9oP0D4DFCe-FyGLwKKTdpVrfRADqyovbzUhNxfKIFmsTYnWdQa-HR6SjiT60MFikDMQuzZfgXwny1-LkkUqnLhQqHrpxQHkUUvV4LoasllPR/s320/IMG_7606.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5r9f3o_NU-sQAKjbAS-NzrcwGDVrPqwNtRWlpMnnbwMCPJQngGHhvREgR1O11Hc0aoSSWyJ4oiDadRcNDzQIcPQZu3PQP2WN6_iaFbgRukNcDPfeNcqQh9S8gerATL1o2RnhfXFjbw1-/s320/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><br /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQt1Zs9WppT2-k8-tDNGhfLVjMnZ1X4dx_A3d3HZ2Y2d8NmZ4E5LK61MuOBC7SA9ERDKLEak4R11si445FCzTkQja-rH6NDoLdiXfajV9j9fYHs8dUr32gm1W6EJBXnWVT5BJVr0nQ0Xa/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOqW4twh3CBpOok7gQXAWGiNd4qIAefmcEsvlgSrFPG5LA7FuWZcw3tijBePaGkSqwfMeyNz3OAhlgpBskKX4-pdVuVGmQtiADtlayWumHU80yJ8I5hmhu1nXuvMjXRnyKO9mUBRVXH4v/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Tkf2ziRO04-cCp4iPN6a1Y2m6M9U9b8RyUaIcwt8rIaB3zJqfwp5_Ukn0EHze5290JjOv5qgB85_92tyAPsXbqDuNQEKJcKOgjB4rmXsustQlYsHgqWItHBRQs_zjVddAzrO_rWdtYP/s1600/Elan4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8Tkf2ziRO04-cCp4iPN6a1Y2m6M9U9b8RyUaIcwt8rIaB3zJqfwp5_Ukn0EHze5290JjOv5qgB85_92tyAPsXbqDuNQEKJcKOgjB4rmXsustQlYsHgqWItHBRQs_zjVddAzrO_rWdtYP/s320/Elan4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V1LnrDTN2_U1Cw37rofx2z3Ovdf36_Sw32L9vko1-Ll3rJZGz4DhDLzfJ6dhL5JdiaY_EzIcyonw-maU5xlN6dAdvFL7naEsYMszzten4-y0lic5y3N9lVrLBNmiiA7IFZhGeVql5huJ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V1LnrDTN2_U1Cw37rofx2z3Ovdf36_Sw32L9vko1-Ll3rJZGz4DhDLzfJ6dhL5JdiaY_EzIcyonw-maU5xlN6dAdvFL7naEsYMszzten4-y0lic5y3N9lVrLBNmiiA7IFZhGeVql5huJ/s320/003.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TrYi2nvPWMjNV2M427AJfWV_OyG_LZDEOWgszAizYIOk9Mo7OCts6NwQzfTlmpIJLmqKA_t6bhxUNr42Q1-uGmuQqypqyBdrMu-BL-i9ls0Gl729k2LmUwmL31VrWei1QPX2dkpngqh2/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWoqk5RNkXyT1qCNKhOSm8nsqLutARXuu5gL4fal8cq9RoiBgky8VDFzeEEYwsg_Iv9ypgzsIAW1MEecV-lIDpdMOy8Ry8GPkByy8nA72hJc1klEKE9zfvi2_piOlv3vU4tL1-rjSNDn7/s1600/Family2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWoqk5RNkXyT1qCNKhOSm8nsqLutARXuu5gL4fal8cq9RoiBgky8VDFzeEEYwsg_Iv9ypgzsIAW1MEecV-lIDpdMOy8Ry8GPkByy8nA72hJc1klEKE9zfvi2_piOlv3vU4tL1-rjSNDn7/s320/Family2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oUb99xx0-AIlwstre1JIbRUgjXbZQBDTpcdOVn8DuJqcXqd8rysgelnQErFA1Me-s787KD79DVs91iJhAik3fjUyEx8Exu8qahtv3OrYUOHjSmIMmgE9vIXmJ4yTlAxoBZLsF82S96-E/s1600/Family6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oUb99xx0-AIlwstre1JIbRUgjXbZQBDTpcdOVn8DuJqcXqd8rysgelnQErFA1Me-s787KD79DVs91iJhAik3fjUyEx8Exu8qahtv3OrYUOHjSmIMmgE9vIXmJ4yTlAxoBZLsF82S96-E/s320/Family6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUj7gFjj8tS0bqI-bfgf8oafe6-HJ-9uj_CymBGJOL-USxh4XcCgmc8twue1goPxQe7d3vByM0PGKiBPdlHF-Qi_an7KObvWcyLc3EA6x5qxcY_KbCWpZABoPijhzbQUGVjXHiCuk_pIw/s1600/Elan2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUj7gFjj8tS0bqI-bfgf8oafe6-HJ-9uj_CymBGJOL-USxh4XcCgmc8twue1goPxQe7d3vByM0PGKiBPdlHF-Qi_an7KObvWcyLc3EA6x5qxcY_KbCWpZABoPijhzbQUGVjXHiCuk_pIw/s320/Elan2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvvGrTrqqxVbCzVkkS0MWu5oB289PVdTiJFl2FBVdSRYXwIgohVMU1noromZXotkKAB9h4TFseYwLRGrynJvUJejDrhAeTI3Zn6wCyqyWoJYmdYBo8oQidTRZqWx42r0weiW0t291GsFF/s1600/Ricky.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvvGrTrqqxVbCzVkkS0MWu5oB289PVdTiJFl2FBVdSRYXwIgohVMU1noromZXotkKAB9h4TFseYwLRGrynJvUJejDrhAeTI3Zn6wCyqyWoJYmdYBo8oQidTRZqWx42r0weiW0t291GsFF/s320/Ricky.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(The last 6 pictures were taken by my friend, Jennifer Marion, who also makes insanely adorable headbands for babies called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Haleys-Headbands-310380409326/">Haley's Headbands</a>)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope to catch up with you all soon, and maybe even post every now and then in between baby nap schedules! Ha! I wish everyone a very very happy Holiday season!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love, The Grimes</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nHL2QOzFrX8xnZZ7iHJglxBpcwmSq3lJrk16wAAZ86JeDH_7-z3sQMMLGxtLHOG-WGG-Ybvb567sHIkCjLZ_uJQe-c6C9FMUkDB3mzLu4SEJIVYT2MwflqR_fYKe_jYXfWzDSX5DgEjs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4nHL2QOzFrX8xnZZ7iHJglxBpcwmSq3lJrk16wAAZ86JeDH_7-z3sQMMLGxtLHOG-WGG-Ybvb567sHIkCjLZ_uJQe-c6C9FMUkDB3mzLu4SEJIVYT2MwflqR_fYKe_jYXfWzDSX5DgEjs/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6-c6vL-LtGuMqjAFAuqgzKZhVZ2M5cLvqXV2QSI5EdgtC8r7H18mFHAGUpjEfszmtxF7VjCJ-rcDJSf1VTgKLVZ29JNaYYnykr8IKM_Bc2WXAZD16mrIG-o9ZytMlFyOLFwDt_NgHJyp/s1600/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6-c6vL-LtGuMqjAFAuqgzKZhVZ2M5cLvqXV2QSI5EdgtC8r7H18mFHAGUpjEfszmtxF7VjCJ-rcDJSf1VTgKLVZ29JNaYYnykr8IKM_Bc2WXAZD16mrIG-o9ZytMlFyOLFwDt_NgHJyp/s320/FullSizeRender_1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-57520639485002654362014-03-29T14:25:00.000-04:002014-03-29T16:53:33.988-04:00Magical Moment 631, "Sprout"<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every child needs a "pet" name growing up. Mine was Squeak. My husband's was Skeeter. The thing about these kinds of nick names, is that you can't rush or force them. They just have to come easily, and then they'll stick. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Occasionally, my creative and sensitive husband (who has posted on this blog several times), will contribute to my grandmother's writer's group. She sent him a list of their weekly topics, and every now and then, if he has something to write, he will. A few weeks ago, the topic was simply, "sprout," and my husband sent the group this sweet haiku:</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOr-WnF8llpJTmHTfYHrE-4GTV8ZdxPn3AvMdGA7Ghb9KuPWGk0_Pkyv1ie7PEpGy_VxO_OYH-uOVsbbZZvFjij1i_vzGuRFNT0U31F6UStQs_Qi_x_QAW9CKjb0ZD88-qjZBoOrwL34i/s1600/Sprout+haiku.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOr-WnF8llpJTmHTfYHrE-4GTV8ZdxPn3AvMdGA7Ghb9KuPWGk0_Pkyv1ie7PEpGy_VxO_OYH-uOVsbbZZvFjij1i_vzGuRFNT0U31F6UStQs_Qi_x_QAW9CKjb0ZD88-qjZBoOrwL34i/s1600/Sprout+haiku.jpeg" height="640" style="cursor: move;" width="522" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sprout- how fast you grew</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First snow, first thaw, each brand new</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Son, look; I'll show you</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-Eddie Grimes</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G5g-aBSRfOTD07Al3DIGQTQZUiLxNkVNYVTfV86iPaDMqsa77kMJyf5MFxWQMKgCmCQrD1LqE5b_dDcj4zmB70DUc9CFHgCAwLmHxNsWm6k0kUft5ljVn8cy8Mxz0phgKxKN2FPzzvnH/s1600/dsc_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G5g-aBSRfOTD07Al3DIGQTQZUiLxNkVNYVTfV86iPaDMqsa77kMJyf5MFxWQMKgCmCQrD1LqE5b_dDcj4zmB70DUc9CFHgCAwLmHxNsWm6k0kUft5ljVn8cy8Mxz0phgKxKN2FPzzvnH/s1600/dsc_0027.jpg" height="640" style="cursor: move;" width="424" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Did you ever have or give a pet name??</div>
</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-73356405988207481862014-03-05T12:01:00.002-05:002014-03-05T12:01:51.327-05:00Magical Moment 630, "New Best Friend"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I put Ricky on his tummy-time mat the other day and although it was fun to see his reaction to the colorful dangling objects, it was just as entertaining to watch Joy be fascinated with her new favorite creature. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At first she kept a respectful distance, showing great restraint and discipline (which is no easy feat for this excitable Sheltie).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmTeOJMuRThYvXGTuKqGSevz8T5vaDtgZSD8VMb75fbfNKQMTYfkF0G6uODoTspNstyxa894GuUv1JyVrB1IRQqj6-MA1jsAZwSpDyOQNEKXRpXVdyKvC7Ri-BcBVtSdBjgY_Hd0yViDx/s1600/IMG_6530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmTeOJMuRThYvXGTuKqGSevz8T5vaDtgZSD8VMb75fbfNKQMTYfkF0G6uODoTspNstyxa894GuUv1JyVrB1IRQqj6-MA1jsAZwSpDyOQNEKXRpXVdyKvC7Ri-BcBVtSdBjgY_Hd0yViDx/s1600/IMG_6530.JPG" height="266" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In her eagerness, she gradually inched closer.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zhzdxKLdZCFkPCyBvsmGh44pUzTUakfMcCtpvD-6JQjYRpgIfk4EsrjHxv-AM9VcuIViGKGpiEM3jcm-G8jjq6IzZkOzaUDt9IKnrNyOAA3z7DY4fc9yBbzICd2LyzqtW-_SdEoKnDr1/s1600/IMG_6533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zhzdxKLdZCFkPCyBvsmGh44pUzTUakfMcCtpvD-6JQjYRpgIfk4EsrjHxv-AM9VcuIViGKGpiEM3jcm-G8jjq6IzZkOzaUDt9IKnrNyOAA3z7DY4fc9yBbzICd2LyzqtW-_SdEoKnDr1/s1600/IMG_6533.jpg" height="400" style="cursor: move;" width="266" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Always checking with me first for approval. And I gave it to her.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x5v_CNO6HtaILsah1brEX3OMr-orIFbFQzz335a5rmAusuRMcA5ebXIioJ22TZ6CDI_tLsmWLoK6wSYu-8F8CKI5u15xmr-QsK06KXOh8VxEx3uA-hZqZvdy5beTRcr_hqZeYs1RqHHY/s1600/IMG_6539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x5v_CNO6HtaILsah1brEX3OMr-orIFbFQzz335a5rmAusuRMcA5ebXIioJ22TZ6CDI_tLsmWLoK6wSYu-8F8CKI5u15xmr-QsK06KXOh8VxEx3uA-hZqZvdy5beTRcr_hqZeYs1RqHHY/s1600/IMG_6539.JPG" height="267" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And closer. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost there...just a bit more until I can finally...</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmJbfl7nz3cfnh9-nQFVUos2o23bo8ZhAnP37ccuHXhOQ6Ce5ctfR6D5bl8fWukvkrZfOZmgaoaz4wtF3oTCMrZ-Qr0ejylhr35ljyLSIrTHT8jBMBc45ECCpbhRxL5LijaTbgn8C1Hhz/s1600/IMG_6543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmJbfl7nz3cfnh9-nQFVUos2o23bo8ZhAnP37ccuHXhOQ6Ce5ctfR6D5bl8fWukvkrZfOZmgaoaz4wtF3oTCMrZ-Qr0ejylhr35ljyLSIrTHT8jBMBc45ECCpbhRxL5LijaTbgn8C1Hhz/s1600/IMG_6543.JPG" height="266" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ah yes. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Contented sigh*</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkaj6U_f0lOHM2aS6uOtNHQ0Dk7oZ4rqZOluabEIeIpZvLc7v_uRR-sLWIcPP2QUvxLdafDtSEVrKWulORNsq_Cf9iOsEYbgcx7T5eqtiRTW5eRdwgHwkU05JRQK7GGhH0Zr4LCRROQ5Y/s1600/IMG_6547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkaj6U_f0lOHM2aS6uOtNHQ0Dk7oZ4rqZOluabEIeIpZvLc7v_uRR-sLWIcPP2QUvxLdafDtSEVrKWulORNsq_Cf9iOsEYbgcx7T5eqtiRTW5eRdwgHwkU05JRQK7GGhH0Zr4LCRROQ5Y/s1600/IMG_6547.JPG" height="266" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love that my little family loves each other.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Give a boy a dog and you've furnished him a playmate."</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 16px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~Berton Brale</span></em></span></div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-10770210716725840302014-03-01T13:45:00.001-05:002014-03-01T15:10:40.015-05:00Magical Moment 629, "Introducing..."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ4lau5GAuTSLbC3scExtOB9JGJ9wNYPRMTHXRxH4VNG2cVCI9WlMIHYj5nFiC4HdXMlBhSiMza_0q_CX3d88jEefUi0AubvQ_UECbGWqN74W4hbbmjNxO8ZAlp-k1eKy2ElxiyQWYjVX/s1600/%7B7bac76c0-b370-4a65-911f-dfe55bb44af1%7D_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ4lau5GAuTSLbC3scExtOB9JGJ9wNYPRMTHXRxH4VNG2cVCI9WlMIHYj5nFiC4HdXMlBhSiMza_0q_CX3d88jEefUi0AubvQ_UECbGWqN74W4hbbmjNxO8ZAlp-k1eKy2ElxiyQWYjVX/s1600/%7B7bac76c0-b370-4a65-911f-dfe55bb44af1%7D_1.jpg" height="285" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo by </span><a href="http://www.mom365.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">mom365</span></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hi friends! It has been a while, but I promise I have a good reason. His name is Edrick. Edrick Ray Grimes, or "Ricky" as we call him, to be exact. He was born on February 7, 2014 at 9:35am and weighed 6 lb, 13 oz. And now prepare for baby picture overload. This is our little bean coming home from the hospital. His outfit was a bit loose on him.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XLoCZ20uaepjZK8hhbio93RHPFXim1AQU8iUOAB7RWInr13kh9CHbsstqXSU0uBgVJU1qtUv_olPfytCXDw1qJEJTiZENU3HHbgMMrqAqttS65NAuJ7cAaHZdDfdQxwJJumFQUTRAeZH/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XLoCZ20uaepjZK8hhbio93RHPFXim1AQU8iUOAB7RWInr13kh9CHbsstqXSU0uBgVJU1qtUv_olPfytCXDw1qJEJTiZENU3HHbgMMrqAqttS65NAuJ7cAaHZdDfdQxwJJumFQUTRAeZH/s1600/IMG_6446.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Three things we know about Ricky so far, are:</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. He is </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">clearly</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> adorable, alert, and curious</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VtW4n10Ed9SqkX9MCb1G7mT5HQDpnwMrXB8TNIAlORhw0j-mUc9B-rV8XtkwwPAqHedsWLvWifSwRUkdkCGVWRlRGSZyk2K6x5kseMbmB-MGjwSMo9C0rsl9v0pDTzX96P7BGA5CyE_k/s1600/Edrick+in+mommy's+lap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VtW4n10Ed9SqkX9MCb1G7mT5HQDpnwMrXB8TNIAlORhw0j-mUc9B-rV8XtkwwPAqHedsWLvWifSwRUkdkCGVWRlRGSZyk2K6x5kseMbmB-MGjwSMo9C0rsl9v0pDTzX96P7BGA5CyE_k/s1600/Edrick+in+mommy's+lap.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="216" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLDEK9U8wfaslySQt-YuyObqy2H3cPofSecQwjmfdgFh50cReufO8iIrGfBKQLXASGaFmyGOf777_zMdM-svUtcM3XyhfspWhXSF__8i4TnuoHXFivpxLJBJPyhYppoau64SGdMXU2isQ/s1600/Ricky+Ray.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLDEK9U8wfaslySQt-YuyObqy2H3cPofSecQwjmfdgFh50cReufO8iIrGfBKQLXASGaFmyGOf777_zMdM-svUtcM3XyhfspWhXSF__8i4TnuoHXFivpxLJBJPyhYppoau64SGdMXU2isQ/s1600/Ricky+Ray.png" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. He resembles his Papaw Daugherty</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCJzLgMPblxvz0gIM34B3rjofHgDx4nyIRIteUm-tQhKMdDvvBvnTDm5UAFP3VptFVhsMXb8_qe56z0Y4Yn383Q0I73yVvFg6ximq_KZFmdAq0ct_aA8E0c-KTlJ4aTD859xELtkuBMvu/s1600/Papaw+and+Ricky+mustaches.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoCJzLgMPblxvz0gIM34B3rjofHgDx4nyIRIteUm-tQhKMdDvvBvnTDm5UAFP3VptFVhsMXb8_qe56z0Y4Yn383Q0I73yVvFg6ximq_KZFmdAq0ct_aA8E0c-KTlJ4aTD859xELtkuBMvu/s1600/Papaw+and+Ricky+mustaches.png" height="283" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. and he and Joy are already the best of friends. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqGtiNSlkah7A6lmviZMlfPpL-PSCOjZ2tO0BX13Ra1c3gABhZ2Rm7hhdx4uiNWBrlIXkLYa2uNt42GdKQJp7OHDDvQdP9VigsJCfMRTECoM6xdfwMboJWPoe-7egtktPgSpbiRlZSetq/s1600/Edrick+and+Joy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqGtiNSlkah7A6lmviZMlfPpL-PSCOjZ2tO0BX13Ra1c3gABhZ2Rm7hhdx4uiNWBrlIXkLYa2uNt42GdKQJp7OHDDvQdP9VigsJCfMRTECoM6xdfwMboJWPoe-7egtktPgSpbiRlZSetq/s1600/Edrick+and+Joy+2.jpg" height="192" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqmpzzkDGFVHVxgs4Dakb_ig8rF5VSL9jOc23f-BGn0Q7mYg8I82kza3FdYVbnnm9Y7WA0Nvq3RgPul5EQwUaUkgdaxqenU1sTuXFkbCJsJp85OBBts7VOIYH4MKrKVNNbHAbreOnBu4p/s1600/Joy+and+Edrick+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqmpzzkDGFVHVxgs4Dakb_ig8rF5VSL9jOc23f-BGn0Q7mYg8I82kza3FdYVbnnm9Y7WA0Nvq3RgPul5EQwUaUkgdaxqenU1sTuXFkbCJsJp85OBBts7VOIYH4MKrKVNNbHAbreOnBu4p/s1600/Joy+and+Edrick+1.jpg" height="180" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkZAjOvdDLzSZSiGfSfNlbeBhh40Z2hQa44klyIj-eHMZVzQUzixVF4ym82HmJ7P7EHjPPWMw1828xzN5HxoeVX3oDbt0tbhIFtqwmep5TVruV91WNsR7IJAhKRSMawov0thWeAoOxr9k/s1600/IMG_6451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkZAjOvdDLzSZSiGfSfNlbeBhh40Z2hQa44klyIj-eHMZVzQUzixVF4ym82HmJ7P7EHjPPWMw1828xzN5HxoeVX3oDbt0tbhIFtqwmep5TVruV91WNsR7IJAhKRSMawov0thWeAoOxr9k/s1600/IMG_6451.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope to share many more magical moments with you all and catch up on all your blogs and news, as time allows. Until then, hope you are all doing well, from the Grimes family!!!</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV2y7nNsvxPJiwiTj0N18VhjgUqwOEDLpd7Gt_2VH3tUmWckIs77LIuFAjb06t9Afqq3tmSaAwlFS0J4NeT84eItaxboSyUT4Q39R-MPsMt38nKcRFvzuAVIXFSkNJ81Okr26_lX2LTUf/s1600/%7B7bac76c0-b370-4a65-911f-dfe55bb44af1%7D_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV2y7nNsvxPJiwiTj0N18VhjgUqwOEDLpd7Gt_2VH3tUmWckIs77LIuFAjb06t9Afqq3tmSaAwlFS0J4NeT84eItaxboSyUT4Q39R-MPsMt38nKcRFvzuAVIXFSkNJ81Okr26_lX2LTUf/s1600/%7B7bac76c0-b370-4a65-911f-dfe55bb44af1%7D_8.jpg" height="285" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photo by </span><a href="http://www.mom365.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">mom365</span></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8TYuF-ZVwurff0tMyk2iuHAn9VaC1akBJjIFJDr4uthhInKgjNCsqSh5M2jfT7_u_xCZupdbJ20vjXA1YDUFoSzbOSXI9TWN5lujVGRDOyDDVmqmEbi70fNhgLpe-nHzumWR31AiJ2mo/s1600/Photo+on+2014-02-12+at+20.31+%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8TYuF-ZVwurff0tMyk2iuHAn9VaC1akBJjIFJDr4uthhInKgjNCsqSh5M2jfT7_u_xCZupdbJ20vjXA1YDUFoSzbOSXI9TWN5lujVGRDOyDDVmqmEbi70fNhgLpe-nHzumWR31AiJ2mo/s1600/Photo+on+2014-02-12+at+20.31+%233.jpg" height="300" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-10133290018485540322013-07-03T16:29:00.000-04:002013-07-03T16:29:10.700-04:00Magical Moment 628, "Home is Where the Bread is"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the best things about visiting home, is spending time with not only the people that you feel most comfortable around, but at the places you feel most comfortable in. One of those places is my Grandma's house. She's lived there with my Grandpa since I was born, and I myself spent 6 years of my life calling that house, "home."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you asked any of my siblings or cousins, they would tell you that one of the staple memories of our childhood, are the squirrels. They've been lovingly hand-fed for decades by my grandparents. I remember my Grandpa even naming some of them... Bertha and Clyde. Well, Bertha and Clyde have gone on to produce many generations since I was 4, but they all still know right where to get their daily meal. From my Grandma's own hand. When I went "home" last month, it was good to see that some things never change.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With me, this guy was kind of tentative. But when it's just my Grandma, she has to block the doorway with her body to keep them from coming inside!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk9HKSgk1j0b83bWcGPgE8xYK5UJfx8FfqjzON0UbpU9VxvTlJ3mFiw930KcAHgQqEyqMxG3u2PrIaCEwwQn9i_3weiuvGzl7BbDn_VJldY8UT1Y71kuTGycxH9ZQSSyD3mRHpiqL95ht/s1600/IMG_8725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk9HKSgk1j0b83bWcGPgE8xYK5UJfx8FfqjzON0UbpU9VxvTlJ3mFiw930KcAHgQqEyqMxG3u2PrIaCEwwQn9i_3weiuvGzl7BbDn_VJldY8UT1Y71kuTGycxH9ZQSSyD3mRHpiqL95ht/s400/IMG_8725.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXj8EsR0sRY_KNA7AoWTTWxCJDNGSEHGkChRHbMatlmNs_kG03Y_10VYKRKyTnDvm116DouHID67RaJS4KT32RNMzyNiz8aGUkXe-wOb54Li_177ECiOa9GQua6Loz93sLY2Urgqfvp3x/s1600/IMG_8609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXj8EsR0sRY_KNA7AoWTTWxCJDNGSEHGkChRHbMatlmNs_kG03Y_10VYKRKyTnDvm116DouHID67RaJS4KT32RNMzyNiz8aGUkXe-wOb54Li_177ECiOa9GQua6Loz93sLY2Urgqfvp3x/s400/IMG_8609.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE-hOmY1z2ZF_z_gASSmHVf8930Y7lShwjnQ9WWIQudT1TgiIlw2968rjBvahu4BtDj1XSPMACXVGpyGBlLP_andoqeMKrYPMBAWZd5crjzHkK9b5xu-F0VWnhPmegM3rkSt6rDoJfTbi/s1600/IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHE-hOmY1z2ZF_z_gASSmHVf8930Y7lShwjnQ9WWIQudT1TgiIlw2968rjBvahu4BtDj1XSPMACXVGpyGBlLP_andoqeMKrYPMBAWZd5crjzHkK9b5xu-F0VWnhPmegM3rkSt6rDoJfTbi/s400/IMG_8613.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-6423531640367696922013-06-24T11:13:00.000-04:002013-06-24T13:04:12.783-04:00Magical Moment 627, "Shadow"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few weeks ago, I assisted my family in around the clock care for the family dog, Shadow. He had been diagnosed with canine lymphoma and was getting close to his final days. We made an effort for someone to be nearby at all times in case of an emergency.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though Shadow was in his final stages, our family was only beginning to understand that after 11 years, inevitably we would no longer see his powerful, wagging tail when we entered the house, or hear his deep bark that a stranger would mistake for ferocious, but would soon learn it was only a friendly ‘hello.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I began to think about these things one day as I ran the bike trail. The song “Awake My Soul” by Mumford and Sons came on my iPod. And my thoughts turned to my Sheltie of 14 years, Duchess, whose passing broke my heart 4 years ago. There is no easy way to lose a pet or any loved one and I wondered how my family would get through Shadow’s passing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I came to a fork in the road - either go back home, or run an extra 3 miles - that day I chose to run the extra 3. When I came to the end of my path finally, I saw a woman walking her dog in the distance coming towards me. As she got closer, I squinted to make out the dog…it was a Sheltie. Of all the breeds in all the world, today I would see a Sheltie, a breed of dog you rarely see. I kneeled, and petted, and chatted, and smiled. That moment meant a great deal to me as I know it was not merely a chance encounter that day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone has experienced a great loss of some kind. But in those moments of loss and grief, we can always find something beautiful or significant within them. My Duchess waited for me to get home from work before she passed in my arms. When I learned of my Grandpa’s death, I was in church, sitting next to my best friend. These things are not accidents. They are gifts, orchestrated by the Creator of the Universe to help ease our pain. Because He feels pain when we do. And He cares so deeply for us, for our loved ones, for our pets, for the sparrow that falls to the ground. How painful life would be without His love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shadow Daugherty 2002-6/22/2013</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucaPAfTq28xGWrWE-q5d9UefUseY6pxCm_ZZQTVDl5_VnXDo7ySeB8tkOc5kjElOBB5z9lVzOUD_bwwl6Lz90pU8mdAcS1LURirSoXK3K3mdfvNdQpEgYn17l2tHSHUZbqAH1-5HVYDyn/s1600/IMG_8655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucaPAfTq28xGWrWE-q5d9UefUseY6pxCm_ZZQTVDl5_VnXDo7ySeB8tkOc5kjElOBB5z9lVzOUD_bwwl6Lz90pU8mdAcS1LURirSoXK3K3mdfvNdQpEgYn17l2tHSHUZbqAH1-5HVYDyn/s640/IMG_8655.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life."</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-Mumford & Sons</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~~~</span></i></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-11666810593799820532013-06-21T14:51:00.001-04:002013-06-21T14:51:30.250-04:00Magical Moment 626, "Thailand - The Leftovers!"<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks! Since my last post, I have made a trip home to Nebraska, quit my jobs, and moved with Eddie to southern Georgia! We are here temporarily until Eddie completes a training course. While he is hard at work with training, I am exploring the music scene down here and have high hopes for our 7 month stay. :) So, I apologize for not getting around to as many posts as I wanted.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wanted to finish up sharing about our Thailand trip with some "leftovers." These are pictures I wanted to share that made me smile, that really didn't fit into any other category of religion, elephants, etc.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On our plane ride to Bangkok, I excitedly read the electronic tour guide on my airplane screen. I was a little bummed to find out that at a little over 5'8, I may have trouble with the shopping.... "Unless you are a tall western woman." Hmmm.</span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcZvKZ6l1VPpgFZcha6FevG8vsllAhfnElaoG-JtcZ8oZDDCQmHiXZh36KlOq3cOVQBEzJ1bmlVGQVZrSNCj2R14SLkiDNn2dGZF6XNjIPGxigb7cLs70tdkA9QOo77-dLv5WxcVgfvbj/s1600/IMG_7655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcZvKZ6l1VPpgFZcha6FevG8vsllAhfnElaoG-JtcZ8oZDDCQmHiXZh36KlOq3cOVQBEzJ1bmlVGQVZrSNCj2R14SLkiDNn2dGZF6XNjIPGxigb7cLs70tdkA9QOo77-dLv5WxcVgfvbj/s640/IMG_7655.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One late night, our exhaustion forced us to have pizza delivered to our hotel room. It came with no less than 16 packets of ketchup...apparently a local necessity!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8VvtwTOxSDZeHxqAlsNEq4zhDGk5gIvCrsp1jUc0fOEQDIVSvpUS07z4neB3i9llU0RQOjcyCkIlZ_A4rn-k17C9wt-l9MPoVD5GFLS7SZSlS9B1PbZ7tEMy1XunuluPGsGk87oz3rOD/s1600/IMG_7744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8VvtwTOxSDZeHxqAlsNEq4zhDGk5gIvCrsp1jUc0fOEQDIVSvpUS07z4neB3i9llU0RQOjcyCkIlZ_A4rn-k17C9wt-l9MPoVD5GFLS7SZSlS9B1PbZ7tEMy1XunuluPGsGk87oz3rOD/s640/IMG_7744.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Thailand, the action of putting your hands together and bowing slightly is done with pretty much every hello, goodbye, and thank you. Many statues and religious symbols are show doing this. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VKdqlEF-vs71uC5NmYE0WLcLrMdnR7cKFzux2OEzM64BmZoNsEK0MxeWl3W5ulvW2iYYIGJ2TNWumDMbe_2M-8vzc1Z6rhqtkPoaAjgRsUJHhQR0OcnbmoH7nXDeQ7Uz9wxDgQnPMNhy/s1600/IMG_8543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VKdqlEF-vs71uC5NmYE0WLcLrMdnR7cKFzux2OEzM64BmZoNsEK0MxeWl3W5ulvW2iYYIGJ2TNWumDMbe_2M-8vzc1Z6rhqtkPoaAjgRsUJHhQR0OcnbmoH7nXDeQ7Uz9wxDgQnPMNhy/s400/IMG_8543.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="223" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And so is Ronald McDonald.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH-Lmcrvcf6N9uzz8PL67eMQuUBYZoWQGb04IwY15cxuYpaLK-lQrrFl2uknHQ8EBt8VyqcVpt4KLGkETHmkTnqn6IaPVBeCBOfwDyoJTC0xmDfE7v7Ii4iFSICg09gyfCN2YmospX4nx/s1600/IMG_8544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH-Lmcrvcf6N9uzz8PL67eMQuUBYZoWQGb04IwY15cxuYpaLK-lQrrFl2uknHQ8EBt8VyqcVpt4KLGkETHmkTnqn6IaPVBeCBOfwDyoJTC0xmDfE7v7Ii4iFSICg09gyfCN2YmospX4nx/s400/IMG_8544.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="223" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Dogs and cats (most of them stray) fill the streets of Bangkok. This one didn't budge as we stepped right over him twice on our way in and out of this 7/11.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp22jJG4uaoMdC6VL75vek_BZ4rzS3LB3rs7pV0F29zazx8_QyHyYcUu-Mx01Xs9GJK9MrNHKXw4bRfZmYHo-8xjcTH1O7IQk8hKTgvr9uk6Pi9N6TIIzuHtyQFalsGSnsKsKNArrPRxh/s1600/IMG_7750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp22jJG4uaoMdC6VL75vek_BZ4rzS3LB3rs7pV0F29zazx8_QyHyYcUu-Mx01Xs9GJK9MrNHKXw4bRfZmYHo-8xjcTH1O7IQk8hKTgvr9uk6Pi9N6TIIzuHtyQFalsGSnsKsKNArrPRxh/s640/IMG_7750.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="504" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've never seen such a graphic restroom sign!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2HEFocoe3lciLTaZogFYIPm0pKiezWqTSEDapVShchxkUNgQ1VY9XWwowb31i9vZRC8Nm6ydyrpMmCYThKpokLk2qpqLueJ_Tn5O_Hh11mvAl7SpXGJ8j1znuTtLcW4PRPV42K-T25Or/s1600/IMG_8505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2HEFocoe3lciLTaZogFYIPm0pKiezWqTSEDapVShchxkUNgQ1VY9XWwowb31i9vZRC8Nm6ydyrpMmCYThKpokLk2qpqLueJ_Tn5O_Hh11mvAl7SpXGJ8j1znuTtLcW4PRPV42K-T25Or/s640/IMG_8505.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, I really got a kick out of this one. How would you like a spa day where tiny fish nibble all the dead skin from your feet? I passed on that one. :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHuf2mCc05U0UqUzovNkmlGDHfTWmD60oRPgEqzWQWjrm2A8IiS2ImS5jWiQIztPrzoCTm0Ktyq0RN61VtvTpoE3W_eSJR4xiP7Fv_G4Vzbnwfh1U0mu5or05lLD2IVRBQoiO33F_19WS/s1600/IMG_8445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHuf2mCc05U0UqUzovNkmlGDHfTWmD60oRPgEqzWQWjrm2A8IiS2ImS5jWiQIztPrzoCTm0Ktyq0RN61VtvTpoE3W_eSJR4xiP7Fv_G4Vzbnwfh1U0mu5or05lLD2IVRBQoiO33F_19WS/s640/IMG_8445.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="358" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-621-thailand-journey.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Journey!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-622-thailand-markets.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Markets!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-623-thailand-temples.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Temples!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-624-thailand-music-and.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - Music and National Parks!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-625-thailand-elephants.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - The Elephants</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-80875298429590857332013-05-23T22:22:00.002-04:002013-05-24T17:16:58.557-04:00Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at <a href="http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/">Elephant Nature Park</a>!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC9wYelE421qYWcNvFcR5qPS1sU4qwVt7HgpecxJ749qyx-ndy8_J1RY6Edqlru4HghCJ976-vG4zIiAYVm9e0lqlV7qTGrigRqNIEVsoedGu2L5ffS3rfcOZiGuGAFTbyDoxZIE4deGu/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC9wYelE421qYWcNvFcR5qPS1sU4qwVt7HgpecxJ749qyx-ndy8_J1RY6Edqlru4HghCJ976-vG4zIiAYVm9e0lqlV7qTGrigRqNIEVsoedGu2L5ffS3rfcOZiGuGAFTbyDoxZIE4deGu/s640/IMG_7907.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YcvGGe-zpIA" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The only elephants in Thailand who do </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">not</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, legs broken and never properly healed, and one is even being weened off methamphetamine that she was given in order to force her to work long hours. These elephants will never return to the wild, but will live happily in a caring and open sanctuary. The ultimate hope is that their offspring can someday be taught to live in the wild.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elephant Nature Park has rescued over 30 elephants, and has used the support of tourism to help the animals rather than exploit them. We were given jobs such as working in the elephant kitchen preparing food, or cutting corn for them. But we also had a lot of free time, and usually we worked right along side the elephants so we could stop to feed, bath, or take photos with them. (Click to enlarge) </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Left: washing pumpkins and melons, Right: the shelves in the Elephant Kitchen</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpJgSkf6ID-1FydRy5DsoXuUnEoHQfiOXvrZSWCmU7en_IjeFooRUz6cLclJ3iA8BB6deOF4Le6hzhSsbghLPmU2dSlovZE-Zr09p3Nlsw2aV4ar8g47VcWoQ2AaT6HvlOVWVk_pN_Scn/s1600/IMG_8123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpJgSkf6ID-1FydRy5DsoXuUnEoHQfiOXvrZSWCmU7en_IjeFooRUz6cLclJ3iA8BB6deOF4Le6hzhSsbghLPmU2dSlovZE-Zr09p3Nlsw2aV4ar8g47VcWoQ2AaT6HvlOVWVk_pN_Scn/s200/IMG_8123.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="195" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudRo1Yb6dIfpjCz0JBe_0G2i-CFXu89rPd5yID1KfcL3qnko9Xq8C6L-pTBw-N8GyEvi3BP9PwXLNVJH9_EMRNwu_7wcKDwlaC5Nb1_fiXZWcX-soActYCSWeIehiey5eFrpR4wBivj1X/s1600/IMG_8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudRo1Yb6dIfpjCz0JBe_0G2i-CFXu89rPd5yID1KfcL3qnko9Xq8C6L-pTBw-N8GyEvi3BP9PwXLNVJH9_EMRNwu_7wcKDwlaC5Nb1_fiXZWcX-soActYCSWeIehiey5eFrpR4wBivj1X/s200/IMG_8126.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This elephant showed off for Eddie</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlfbcYf7zv-ZHnatykCKsA6syKIgWqyZr9RgPtFmqxO98SeB7LvgEM2376ozpvgNhHEwqpqWFNiKuKuatWZWcoqvgfkQi8itRfthNDryztHiKpuxIoMDm-pzHE7FQGMZj7GbKnx0wn_lc/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlfbcYf7zv-ZHnatykCKsA6syKIgWqyZr9RgPtFmqxO98SeB7LvgEM2376ozpvgNhHEwqpqWFNiKuKuatWZWcoqvgfkQi8itRfthNDryztHiKpuxIoMDm-pzHE7FQGMZj7GbKnx0wn_lc/s640/IMG_8165.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of the elephants here are gentle and happy to be around visitors. But there is a herd of about 5, that no longer trust humans and their behavior is too unpredictable to be around tourists. We encountered this herd accidentally, led by the elephant appropriately named Naughty Boy, one day on a small work detail. We drove a truck to a remote part of the river to collect sand. When Naughty Boy spotted the group, he led his herd toward us. Our guide immediately got nervous and told us to stay behind the truck. When they kept on, he told us to get </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> the truck. When they kept on further, he drove the truck towards a nearby tree house and told us to climb up!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PLYrgtW15hE" width="560"></iframe></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our group taking refuge in a tree house</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3klLPWp99-KSjqb6cB-JE3q7BdOwMDCQgRjKNK7V_QxtFrJjzCf7iwAVgRndlouFomoJN-oQTC7Br0ie1pA54iFm1E3KNiCwZYbyIG5ska-ePxTURRnwr8h2QAxMcdV7GhLDLsSuBAL1_/s1600/IMG_7991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3klLPWp99-KSjqb6cB-JE3q7BdOwMDCQgRjKNK7V_QxtFrJjzCf7iwAVgRndlouFomoJN-oQTC7Br0ie1pA54iFm1E3KNiCwZYbyIG5ska-ePxTURRnwr8h2QAxMcdV7GhLDLsSuBAL1_/s400/IMG_7991.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That was our excitement, but there were plenty of tender moments as well. The 2 new babies stole our hearts. This is 1 month old Dok Mai and her mother. They are kept in confinement until she is strong enough to be with the herd.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzn2jAI0UH9pCx_nK9Hzoq6Aw_ILw1cEerBWY6OGCCpFom_aNIlmAQ3ovBfLjApbVTS_s5ojd6_9dgG3vq7f48io63eOpt7cXQqm_wmuB7HYRZIte0XnurckgCDEjJKrkgMrhcID-qHys/s640/IMG_7865.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TyUlpjA0ycjb_dCYQXHpd9kKuCCEkBPGb5NpewaEnnk3gntBofA6CEuMfkaLNLw01kUW5hOnpU1upNHGFBj9-e-DvPw65IEYfvXyplJSG6R18e80tZCRJHL6zQ0w8G_L-_rqQokzvzQ2/s1600/IMG_8317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TyUlpjA0ycjb_dCYQXHpd9kKuCCEkBPGb5NpewaEnnk3gntBofA6CEuMfkaLNLw01kUW5hOnpU1upNHGFBj9-e-DvPw65IEYfvXyplJSG6R18e80tZCRJHL6zQ0w8G_L-_rqQokzvzQ2/s200/IMG_8317.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrkzW_2jvyQE4-woH7Ug384rFRrDvAQ4s52AnuGACbiLyRIlN-wI7sqOJqievt_68UUAdlA2zglJiqYH7YFEMtLyY146WdYGxxMEBRu90StBoEhazN-bTDbe3GgdNHgPpbhjc0E-bK1-2/s1600/IMG_8319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrkzW_2jvyQE4-woH7Ug384rFRrDvAQ4s52AnuGACbiLyRIlN-wI7sqOJqievt_68UUAdlA2zglJiqYH7YFEMtLyY146WdYGxxMEBRu90StBoEhazN-bTDbe3GgdNHgPpbhjc0E-bK1-2/s200/IMG_8319.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And of course, 6 month old Navaan. In this video, he playfully strolls to the river.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WfvBvDGyDi8" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I found some very special elephants that didn't mind me showing my affection.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2GcuxZ0tXBvkdbRuiyyzfyDcDGVdrpWx34c8M0mxzslYKpT2VCzCbGPpAXgJkY-4FXogxyrV5TmdpV-bTnaOqjnvalsHTCEVnHVtKkpq2kdnQFGRgguN4UPlYoydpLmyPZbbBcpaEZrm/s1600/IMG_8285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2GcuxZ0tXBvkdbRuiyyzfyDcDGVdrpWx34c8M0mxzslYKpT2VCzCbGPpAXgJkY-4FXogxyrV5TmdpV-bTnaOqjnvalsHTCEVnHVtKkpq2kdnQFGRgguN4UPlYoydpLmyPZbbBcpaEZrm/s640/IMG_8285.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mae Perm and Jokia especially touched me. Jokia was blinded with a slingshot by her previous owner. When ENP rescued her, she met Mae Perm who immediately accepted her. They are never apart now. Mae Perm leads her tenderly around the park and does not leave her side for a moment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kvZmEdhCPeY" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jokia's eye, hard to look at.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_1k6i1J-bl54xmAeWNDz2LEDmDRrdEW52tnuB6P36OIhsznj45Nixo_uINiJVoLwCFX7kTn3yzDPKs7x7U6r2OfJeW0SMHfNn6-F7U-xh3XAGuaHSVunYsvUP4BNNOqkYdwa4wFly-hF/s1600/IMG_8055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_1k6i1J-bl54xmAeWNDz2LEDmDRrdEW52tnuB6P36OIhsznj45Nixo_uINiJVoLwCFX7kTn3yzDPKs7x7U6r2OfJeW0SMHfNn6-F7U-xh3XAGuaHSVunYsvUP4BNNOqkYdwa4wFly-hF/s400/IMG_8055.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the park's only "white elephant." She's really only about 30% white elephant. True white elephants must be turned over to Thailand's Royal Family.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcQi_LKfFXXUPCPum3r0R_9BUNDB_2oNuUAvFaJoVyhTrVA05M-XW5Z8ZOe6d_EHNGzhRLGDixK3QxRwBvhr68AfA__vq1mvoZj2jvThkAyUCdmiA0adejv368Waqyvwom200V7pBFmpr/s1600/IMG_8008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcQi_LKfFXXUPCPum3r0R_9BUNDB_2oNuUAvFaJoVyhTrVA05M-XW5Z8ZOe6d_EHNGzhRLGDixK3QxRwBvhr68AfA__vq1mvoZj2jvThkAyUCdmiA0adejv368Waqyvwom200V7pBFmpr/s640/IMG_8008.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The issue of elephant abuse certainly tugged at my heart and I was happy to contribute. These magnificent creatures have changed my life and made me see things in a different way. It has made me more conscious of what I do or don't support with my time and money. And has made me more aware of not only how animals are treated, but all living things.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A friend of mine so eloquently captioned this photo for me, in the words of Sir Mix A Lot...</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I like big butts and I cannot lie."</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pGwbYYeOzrWvTQXu_LnVab0SWN_KR-hILBop7-lu7dfsIw9aF416DTA1USb8SRv1oxvUddFzcoXJOWcGM0XDKaCX4jTwpyGLgWCjGkhx53ofcwLgYypyUNr4GLFcdlG5cCGDB4gu0OIq/s1600/IMG_8415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pGwbYYeOzrWvTQXu_LnVab0SWN_KR-hILBop7-lu7dfsIw9aF416DTA1USb8SRv1oxvUddFzcoXJOWcGM0XDKaCX4jTwpyGLgWCjGkhx53ofcwLgYypyUNr4GLFcdlG5cCGDB4gu0OIq/s640/IMG_8415.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm sure you will see more of my elephant photos in the future!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-621-thailand-journey.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Journey!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-622-thailand-markets.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Markets!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-623-thailand-temples.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Temples!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-624-thailand-music-and.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - Music and National Parks!</span></span></a></div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-55846912903433146432013-05-22T07:07:00.001-04:002013-05-22T07:07:15.689-04:00Magical Moment 624, "Thailand - Music and National Parks!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We stayed in the city of Chiang Mai for a few days at a hotel near the Tha Phae Gate, which is the remnants of the ancient city that dates back to the 1300s. On Sunday evenings, this gate is the beginning of an </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enormous</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> walking market. This mostly caters to tourists and is a chance for them to see and purchase authentic souvenirs made by the local people. Eddie and I got the chance to go 2 different Sundays. It goes for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">miles</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and we never even got to all of it. (click to enlarge)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyACuuRKFgnfmYBBW34bK-hbmgnwq1LyVIDD-UEPL4e1MaICUm-qd2H19Uor7Ltel0yo0IYPmH7EB92FK0TqRR42DHjUnzhQ7OKayKKp6QznB1Xr9ylOvhcehzwFol4cNc9rOmbCSt6hQ/s1600/IMG_7819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyACuuRKFgnfmYBBW34bK-hbmgnwq1LyVIDD-UEPL4e1MaICUm-qd2H19Uor7Ltel0yo0IYPmH7EB92FK0TqRR42DHjUnzhQ7OKayKKp6QznB1Xr9ylOvhcehzwFol4cNc9rOmbCSt6hQ/s320/IMG_7819.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTmAjaDqIDX6XelO6hmJt5mUMWxOE8AThEGt1E77Q87jg2ddKHKnkL9lovb0jweCxy_AbTDSY8tuUfbFl_lP8sZlEhqw2LvbY5K4UY7W95Ys3yBLpWdiVHnAWrj0DBZQspIEPQ2gX2rKP/s1600/IMG_7788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTmAjaDqIDX6XelO6hmJt5mUMWxOE8AThEGt1E77Q87jg2ddKHKnkL9lovb0jweCxy_AbTDSY8tuUfbFl_lP8sZlEhqw2LvbY5K4UY7W95Ys3yBLpWdiVHnAWrj0DBZQspIEPQ2gX2rKP/s320/IMG_7788.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here, we witnessed some pretty interesting things. At one point, a loud speaker announced something in Thai. Suddenly, the thousands of people that filled the streets stood to their feet in silence. We realized they were playing the Thailand National Anthem.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mXCQ9NnkVqo" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We saw and heard so many interesting musicians in Thailand. I wished I could have recorded them all.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKoBadnxGOq-ljhQwid-avuUYgjFfP1u85Vj70gskygqj32Zwoora1TWGGRGHTx5nl5HwYKuT2XVn6vf2BQzxBL2IbGZK4vf_FnfEtK8-NCsvKeb-yYojQB4va0rn6UGtVZwLsYb2OMPE/s1600/IMG_7795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKoBadnxGOq-ljhQwid-avuUYgjFfP1u85Vj70gskygqj32Zwoora1TWGGRGHTx5nl5HwYKuT2XVn6vf2BQzxBL2IbGZK4vf_FnfEtK8-NCsvKeb-yYojQB4va0rn6UGtVZwLsYb2OMPE/s320/IMG_7795.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="179" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF6AaYIAmnL5UTVA8pTjySQmWNcUk3A0RmrQbf4zIr7o3zlqO3Z_AWKK9iAOOoMO-Njjjqm_Tlp_A_0zZLHVXqufUoO1GR6-H5U_nb6XAKitq-blCB-TVUBvyALigNmOboOklDIETxVdH/s1600/IMG_7732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF6AaYIAmnL5UTVA8pTjySQmWNcUk3A0RmrQbf4zIr7o3zlqO3Z_AWKK9iAOOoMO-Njjjqm_Tlp_A_0zZLHVXqufUoO1GR6-H5U_nb6XAKitq-blCB-TVUBvyALigNmOboOklDIETxVdH/s320/IMG_7732.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Left: This man stopped his traditional Thai song when he saw me with a camera</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and began playing jingle bells...way to read to your audience,</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">my fellow street musician! He got a tip from me.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the most interesting was this man...I was so impressed with his multi-tasking!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i1FpviQuffY" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the most memorable experiences with music that I had, was when we stayed at Elephant Nature Park and I noticed an old, acoustic guitar at the office. I discovered it was one of the employees, whose dream it was to become a performing musician. I asked if he knew any American songs and he said yes. He learns them to improve his English. So together we sang and played "Stand By Me," "Poker Face," and a few other random songs (whatever we both kind of knew and I could strum...which is not much.) Funny how musicians always find music, no matter where they are.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since we got a chance to see so much of what I do and love, we also got the opportunity to visit one of the National Parks for Eddie (who is a U.S Park Ranger). We went to Doi Suthep Pui National Park, just outside of Chiang Mai. (If you enlarge, you'll see that Eddie's hat has a US National Park crest on it similar to the one on his left.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLCYCmQF-X7SSlWHtd11MMdcIIGLNxooUL8t9dh1yClS8ZIGmDyhvZjHxqWA8jNahS_0cSKmZ51RvfpmHrsDZQKUmES2b4xFNFWyaYs-zPMmnrIO2T20DysDzNvGy_uV4f9PDQ5QQ_bQJ/s1600/doi+suthep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLCYCmQF-X7SSlWHtd11MMdcIIGLNxooUL8t9dh1yClS8ZIGmDyhvZjHxqWA8jNahS_0cSKmZ51RvfpmHrsDZQKUmES2b4xFNFWyaYs-zPMmnrIO2T20DysDzNvGy_uV4f9PDQ5QQ_bQJ/s320/doi+suthep.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here, we visited Huaykeaw Waterfall, which I enjoyed climbing and exploring. See me?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_OHh5ByDnuZBBDUteY_eV3s1kxbpu7IwtgqCn7nm-AsC1ezEqAew4g3NItWJebF3dZKRD0bmObbxmouunqbwGjrh0cPOQvsR-ndzVEfPCtGac0drhN23-tFU1gNZlSJ7zFODVJ2cvdFP/s1600/Beth+at+waterfall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_OHh5ByDnuZBBDUteY_eV3s1kxbpu7IwtgqCn7nm-AsC1ezEqAew4g3NItWJebF3dZKRD0bmObbxmouunqbwGjrh0cPOQvsR-ndzVEfPCtGac0drhN23-tFU1gNZlSJ7zFODVJ2cvdFP/s640/Beth+at+waterfall+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="345" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eddie, ever the park ranger, followed the rules however. Oops.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_OHh5ByDnuZBBDUteY_eV3s1kxbpu7IwtgqCn7nm-AsC1ezEqAew4g3NItWJebF3dZKRD0bmObbxmouunqbwGjrh0cPOQvsR-ndzVEfPCtGac0drhN23-tFU1gNZlSJ7zFODVJ2cvdFP/s1600/Beth+at+waterfall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVDedH307dyDHAHXJXcJcfD7IpH6IHchHMgRNfTNbTu4vRim-G0S5_ubktu5b23jee_JXPR3JqhTVW6jtQDggAizEXSUvDuOxeBZllZTX7DZZ73rEK4F0zSAoiEvSqgoD-_WXXzjBl012/s1600/no+climbing+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVDedH307dyDHAHXJXcJcfD7IpH6IHchHMgRNfTNbTu4vRim-G0S5_ubktu5b23jee_JXPR3JqhTVW6jtQDggAizEXSUvDuOxeBZllZTX7DZZ73rEK4F0zSAoiEvSqgoD-_WXXzjBl012/s320/no+climbing+sign.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We saw this sweet boy staying cool in the heat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUsplKDrph9wq1F53agIHoNEOsMp23fn8N967pDrXr-yCtzU5kVDXI1sgffVQM67qJjJhogHC5elkIaVhhf8K2q6rDSyWNWHAYB9N7B1c914pH36R1HJ5U0S-Z3topTkSAwZ8MDzeMImP/s1600/little+boy+swimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUsplKDrph9wq1F53agIHoNEOsMp23fn8N967pDrXr-yCtzU5kVDXI1sgffVQM67qJjJhogHC5elkIaVhhf8K2q6rDSyWNWHAYB9N7B1c914pH36R1HJ5U0S-Z3topTkSAwZ8MDzeMImP/s640/little+boy+swimming.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There were some great opportunities to identify with people from the other side of the world. I guess there's always something in common, no matter how different we are!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-621-thailand-journey.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Thailand - the Journey!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-622-thailand-markets.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Thailand - the Markets!</span></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-623-thailand-temples.html">Thailand - the Temples!</a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-74170875802559622612013-05-21T09:10:00.002-04:002013-05-21T09:10:52.486-04:00Magical Moment 623, "Thailand - the Temples!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Buddhist religion is an enormous part of Thailand's life and culture. We saw more temples than I could keep track of. They're beautiful and ornate. Most are open to tourists to visit. They ask visitors to cover their knees and shoulders and remove their shoes out of respect. (click to enlarge)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrylNMSRlN6uS6n0ZOncB6z5Y0uSlwtCUVKVsaXGJo70QinAtfqL6VisNaH4lejIbmUSbaGSq0OeQRWRoib9w3WEHWfybLcfAHwnx3WfnFQMDrXsoC8bISdeFh3XiX7jY7PQ14Gh42LBaV/s1600/IMG_7800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrylNMSRlN6uS6n0ZOncB6z5Y0uSlwtCUVKVsaXGJo70QinAtfqL6VisNaH4lejIbmUSbaGSq0OeQRWRoib9w3WEHWfybLcfAHwnx3WfnFQMDrXsoC8bISdeFh3XiX7jY7PQ14Gh42LBaV/s400/IMG_7800.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="227" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-faYfYyRHxWFz6H9cNgXRB7X_aKNvzFf4r7QREuCGQEwwWx6SmuYp_7n0SuDD_SxyHKMrmy4oaIMEU_4lIlTtx73dIro5l9AAuhwj97yIAj8laJBg_S8rexa4OTS9JFcPPJxtKx3wrT5/s1600/IMG_7801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-faYfYyRHxWFz6H9cNgXRB7X_aKNvzFf4r7QREuCGQEwwWx6SmuYp_7n0SuDD_SxyHKMrmy4oaIMEU_4lIlTtx73dIro5l9AAuhwj97yIAj8laJBg_S8rexa4OTS9JFcPPJxtKx3wrT5/s400/IMG_7801.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="223" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4OoG1_U0gAArSEMQXguRhLM5lzovi1xyGHlAoatfBgMSHTSyo8lCRGjYVSbFQu7Fw1uk82RmR98Vj9_PsI-GQSg_aU4FeohyphenhyphenB77A8TmGv5rGRQYr2on368IgdtaxfScgjqUPbGOpzjnG/s1600/IMG_7810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4OoG1_U0gAArSEMQXguRhLM5lzovi1xyGHlAoatfBgMSHTSyo8lCRGjYVSbFQu7Fw1uk82RmR98Vj9_PsI-GQSg_aU4FeohyphenhyphenB77A8TmGv5rGRQYr2on368IgdtaxfScgjqUPbGOpzjnG/s400/IMG_7810.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="236" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EdIzQQCgg__C3DQRG-OYVAohHUliRfRDb3wLzsrfdQVs-_gRRhlxdTMyBTWj329tdWugyb1xt8PBk_LQfl2TrN7ZT1-N21bT1KjXA7o8Fix_zYJHVcqEDU9n6s77QtUs4lId-ke33B6D/s1600/temple+and+statue+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EdIzQQCgg__C3DQRG-OYVAohHUliRfRDb3wLzsrfdQVs-_gRRhlxdTMyBTWj329tdWugyb1xt8PBk_LQfl2TrN7ZT1-N21bT1KjXA7o8Fix_zYJHVcqEDU9n6s77QtUs4lId-ke33B6D/s400/temple+and+statue+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="223" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another interesting aspect were the numerous Spirit Houses that were kept in businesses, homes, even open fields and roadsides. It was explained that these houses are more or less tributes to ancestors and those who have passed on. You will always see water bottles, meals, even beer or fried chicken sitting on these Spirit Houses as gifts to those gone. They may be to passed away loved ones, or to unknown spirits. If someone is building a business, they will also make a spirit house in tribute to whoever lived and died on that land before them, though they never knew them personally. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This was a large Spirit House by our hotel in Bangkok</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuskbs_Byp4pqPBXIVwRidWIdJCLD8BEP1nRg36bQV73cfDrXouaXzjw1z7FQFnGpor1BPR1U_fraEQzTWnFVWu4TSwARMCHmCpi0Trld7_yry9mE8v6ycleaoJ5zokoMqwNkIBVBMoj3/s1600/IMG_7747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuskbs_Byp4pqPBXIVwRidWIdJCLD8BEP1nRg36bQV73cfDrXouaXzjw1z7FQFnGpor1BPR1U_fraEQzTWnFVWu4TSwARMCHmCpi0Trld7_yry9mE8v6ycleaoJ5zokoMqwNkIBVBMoj3/s320/IMG_7747.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV-2RJ9sNKRn8EUNJSmCCHMwa4wclN73QhuSTWchHy2i2my8TlzzYZ-a2mwjHAOb8TH8q8gANb-JAaSn4S4QJv-oWqtJTrBvBlYrBjS7LU7llbE_IgA6frKtkj2-AkGO6Poyg_5fngR34/s1600/IMG_7748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV-2RJ9sNKRn8EUNJSmCCHMwa4wclN73QhuSTWchHy2i2my8TlzzYZ-a2mwjHAOb8TH8q8gANb-JAaSn4S4QJv-oWqtJTrBvBlYrBjS7LU7llbE_IgA6frKtkj2-AkGO6Poyg_5fngR34/s320/IMG_7748.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These workers take a break near a small Spirit House</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2mzJTdBVt54tkoGnMVRJ5JaTBwlzE0Dw_X7eOjeBwA82E5_wBp8WJU45JFTwaeLAVyBvtAe1DUYFbX0Ne6MlhzQCXVlvFeLeJmS41IbJ9yrTvVNZZuIi9MxG5FQuQVjdIzCgz5fy7Stf/s1600/IMG_8130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2mzJTdBVt54tkoGnMVRJ5JaTBwlzE0Dw_X7eOjeBwA82E5_wBp8WJU45JFTwaeLAVyBvtAe1DUYFbX0Ne6MlhzQCXVlvFeLeJmS41IbJ9yrTvVNZZuIi9MxG5FQuQVjdIzCgz5fy7Stf/s640/IMG_8130.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA10rdvQijN_qBV4B3lwIB0pVpQB9v1UtirJ3sRlriJnWX7WomHTjlcb_01TsJTGoBYFbgYSlgrN29Ova3E75mSthK0AqV5fO7ftdDBbLGKSg8alz0NX8Rl06NEHU2vePHTN2KmYdwO9wq/s1600/IMG_7809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA10rdvQijN_qBV4B3lwIB0pVpQB9v1UtirJ3sRlriJnWX7WomHTjlcb_01TsJTGoBYFbgYSlgrN29Ova3E75mSthK0AqV5fO7ftdDBbLGKSg8alz0NX8Rl06NEHU2vePHTN2KmYdwO9wq/s640/IMG_7809.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's also common to see monks. Buddhist in Thailand (which is around 90% of the population), the men are required to be a monk for a period of time. We were told the minimum amount of time is just 1 week, but it's a major part of a Buddhist's life. I wanted to get better photos, but I felt a little odd trying to snap their picture. That's why these are from behind!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This group of monks sat in front of us on the plane ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO0eWkr5s_IE7-7_f73Yh_KELt2O4wE9iMckwBoWAgGdRK-MRNQKjNUW1vwgWfxUBDgn-GP-UJfubU2NgvDYtjyIYFH4HpyxVMHdHbSP3U882UQ4bGxMeKCuEHPa_zCTf9v0CH3TrZixw/s1600/IMG_7786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO0eWkr5s_IE7-7_f73Yh_KELt2O4wE9iMckwBoWAgGdRK-MRNQKjNUW1vwgWfxUBDgn-GP-UJfubU2NgvDYtjyIYFH4HpyxVMHdHbSP3U882UQ4bGxMeKCuEHPa_zCTf9v0CH3TrZixw/s400/IMG_7786.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="186" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO0eWkr5s_IE7-7_f73Yh_KELt2O4wE9iMckwBoWAgGdRK-MRNQKjNUW1vwgWfxUBDgn-GP-UJfubU2NgvDYtjyIYFH4HpyxVMHdHbSP3U882UQ4bGxMeKCuEHPa_zCTf9v0CH3TrZixw/s1600/IMG_7786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLYlnDdfhX0LaIBaWm7HmgRi4wUJYU3Qku6ZJnZEgVmlFZmmMuJUR6s_ToTEDwmzGCMp6K_Ilv6CokENNJe4bWA5IPepUs6zeRxAuPWIbUJGKueusvqzVA1S4FHHbOR06deg4hrRTMLDx/s1600/monks+at+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDLYlnDdfhX0LaIBaWm7HmgRi4wUJYU3Qku6ZJnZEgVmlFZmmMuJUR6s_ToTEDwmzGCMp6K_Ilv6CokENNJe4bWA5IPepUs6zeRxAuPWIbUJGKueusvqzVA1S4FHHbOR06deg4hrRTMLDx/s640/monks+at+lunch.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I admit, I never knew much about the Buddhist religion, and still don't really. But I learned that they do teach love and respect for all living things. This makes the common practice of elephant abuse and torture all that more puzzling, considering the elephant is not only a national symbol of pride, but a religious god as well (Ganesha). However, there are probably just as many Christians in the world who don't practice Christ's teachings of love and acceptance. I guess in any case, human nature gets in the way and no one has the right to judge. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-621-thailand-journey.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thailand - the Journey!</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-622-thailand-markets.html">Thailand - the Markets!</a></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-48746370744868312532013-05-20T07:11:00.003-04:002013-05-20T07:11:41.706-04:00Magical Moment 622, "Thailand - the Markets!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We got our first true taste of Thailand in Bangkok. We knew we only had a short amount of time here and wanted to make the most of it, so we went straight from the airport to Taling Chan where we visited a floating market. This cab ride was most interesting because our awful American pronunciation of "Taling Chan" did not register with this cab driver. He made several cell phone calls (while driving through the terrifyingly chaotic streets of Bangkok) to friends who had a better understanding of English, and finally we made a connection!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span id="goog_2055327491"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were mesmerized when we arrived and wandered around (suitcases and all) through the Taling Chan Floating Market. Here we met a Thai woman working at a stand who spoke impeccable English. She kindly offered to keep our bags safe with her while we explored unhindered. Of all the scary stories we'd heard of Bangkok, thefts, and scams, she certainly proved there were exceptions to that stereotype.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Floating markets are numerous throughout Thailand, and it's amazing to see the traditional way of selling vegetables, fruits, and all kinds of other goods. Fresh, as well as cooked food is prepared right in their boats and they sell to passers by. It was beautiful.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Daily fresh food is a must in Thailand, as refrigeration is rare in many places.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0Fdyqd3lfG8kHyVSgP64f-Ugnnx8t65yy5xDhhXlJvLOjNQarpQSs22siz7u6iyVCZnnOTenQLywnBTyWhPt-caTfOOLpO5f2K8D5EfD4zUIONY6ToO6IBISFGnNfacfu4tCG7sOLffJ/s1600/IMG_7736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0Fdyqd3lfG8kHyVSgP64f-Ugnnx8t65yy5xDhhXlJvLOjNQarpQSs22siz7u6iyVCZnnOTenQLywnBTyWhPt-caTfOOLpO5f2K8D5EfD4zUIONY6ToO6IBISFGnNfacfu4tCG7sOLffJ/s640/IMG_7736.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was 100 degrees, Farenheit. The cooking raised the temperature by 10 at least!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdRdDuCQiNy1pk0sW6zoznKl8eVelH-P0nuU5GwSMpsuHLUQJw9nUKoa30HiVCZE2btfQJJAlz5-Payh3Jb-cyp68e-SdM51fSM24teDhyMlpfjZIi01XEjDxF_ZAbxanWMni-q5LvIUc/s1600/IMG_7709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdRdDuCQiNy1pk0sW6zoznKl8eVelH-P0nuU5GwSMpsuHLUQJw9nUKoa30HiVCZE2btfQJJAlz5-Payh3Jb-cyp68e-SdM51fSM24teDhyMlpfjZIi01XEjDxF_ZAbxanWMni-q5LvIUc/s640/IMG_7709.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: auto;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Decorated boats</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDYuD9KJSNzr-goXIDv2rsQkudqtqCoF0aM1ImV8MUSm2AKfm9H1twgonIKx5drMzOEs6nFp5Jcxh020RpnZm85uhsPe6WzP3tF7na1xJst1eD2W8j5gyja1gJlemnmILDPYymgpVnx01/s1600/IMG_7715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDYuD9KJSNzr-goXIDv2rsQkudqtqCoF0aM1ImV8MUSm2AKfm9H1twgonIKx5drMzOEs6nFp5Jcxh020RpnZm85uhsPe6WzP3tF7na1xJst1eD2W8j5gyja1gJlemnmILDPYymgpVnx01/s640/IMG_7715.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The catfish were jumping!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaocrIAFr7iSBcQRQUGgsR552mvMzh1ywtgHCwoA-W2KEuwZS7OLTQ-MkbIDmszLvAVYtkL81Kfx5-lRze3MVqjbVTicLq02K864BJcmM1ha53EBwl-DWpbAwLeC_A4W2jYeJX-G5IJVAK/s1600/IMG_7728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaocrIAFr7iSBcQRQUGgsR552mvMzh1ywtgHCwoA-W2KEuwZS7OLTQ-MkbIDmszLvAVYtkL81Kfx5-lRze3MVqjbVTicLq02K864BJcmM1ha53EBwl-DWpbAwLeC_A4W2jYeJX-G5IJVAK/s640/IMG_7728.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is where I experienced my first meal in Thailand. And thus began my love of wandering from stand to stand, experimenting with new and strange foods on a stick! And Chang beer! Of course, for the first meal I played it safe with pork, a spring roll, and what I can only describe as a spicy hush puppy. Most markets are extremely cheap. This meal probably cost the equivalent of $1.50 and it was delish!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TQyHXPwKS1QcD2OFeVXV66oZN3VO-HWTMaoKNSVCRAr-sjLREjDxVfeDc6k5sha2VzwKwOSENYg8mKU6YfCKwVxDeruqHmTFNNWTGzwfFV7v-jXdZWzMIzHM3zALADypaFrU6nusOiAX/s1600/IMG_7703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TQyHXPwKS1QcD2OFeVXV66oZN3VO-HWTMaoKNSVCRAr-sjLREjDxVfeDc6k5sha2VzwKwOSENYg8mKU6YfCKwVxDeruqHmTFNNWTGzwfFV7v-jXdZWzMIzHM3zALADypaFrU6nusOiAX/s400/IMG_7703.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="223" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Taling Chan Floating Market also had a regular street market, which was just as charming.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR4uPadPC_vd-7JF4VY0tBg3e5J1f2nGvWaqsh2iCZkovts-aRIa-QM8be5xrT5FHUwIKhcz_ov2OJcVOjRFFNoFhsw2iQksBRSdjZrvx7z2BjdSy6gAEJRNDjeJ7ez-W9OiAQL_CvD1Y/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkR4uPadPC_vd-7JF4VY0tBg3e5J1f2nGvWaqsh2iCZkovts-aRIa-QM8be5xrT5FHUwIKhcz_ov2OJcVOjRFFNoFhsw2iQksBRSdjZrvx7z2BjdSy6gAEJRNDjeJ7ez-W9OiAQL_CvD1Y/s640/IMG_7702.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gjH8QDyHP_Prd24ovOMi2SL2lePpneExcWqxVMUgvqQ_ELEFU3EfPq-fmmC-bYt901XtNLfe1ePKNAr0_kC9v2XtOtpEls1swRzxRvOg29ziM3EqDNkrioZzpJtxtzFTHbTqhdZ3XcIL/s1600/IMG_7697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gjH8QDyHP_Prd24ovOMi2SL2lePpneExcWqxVMUgvqQ_ELEFU3EfPq-fmmC-bYt901XtNLfe1ePKNAr0_kC9v2XtOtpEls1swRzxRvOg29ziM3EqDNkrioZzpJtxtzFTHbTqhdZ3XcIL/s640/IMG_7697.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="358" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">80 baht (Thailand money), is about $3.50 USD.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2Cwd31YSGcyQklP_ph7JcZnEAwh3q6-ngxM8jzGoWNP5H-Bf7M9jDJZFDeKzjD80mpd-IVF6btvgkfXXwLt1KedyHT7sbYig1lzC5TNC8deh_TgaudBZG06lO4EBhg2jWPyr0qlGfKPz/s1600/IMG_7699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2Cwd31YSGcyQklP_ph7JcZnEAwh3q6-ngxM8jzGoWNP5H-Bf7M9jDJZFDeKzjD80mpd-IVF6btvgkfXXwLt1KedyHT7sbYig1lzC5TNC8deh_TgaudBZG06lO4EBhg2jWPyr0qlGfKPz/s640/IMG_7699.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don't you want to try something?!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhtFj7YF9pk9f-3JFeWou-jeYkQ6m89qxHXGgxCtxSKuqd05e8Ho2DEZpueHYlwfpKpo51i_xxgM4Hs70YJVOic0LUFudYHDTkPEJUtwOzfckAJIUYSwn8cqPmwK4xxTz8IOfYjzPOVRB/s1600/IMG_7701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhtFj7YF9pk9f-3JFeWou-jeYkQ6m89qxHXGgxCtxSKuqd05e8Ho2DEZpueHYlwfpKpo51i_xxgM4Hs70YJVOic0LUFudYHDTkPEJUtwOzfckAJIUYSwn8cqPmwK4xxTz8IOfYjzPOVRB/s640/IMG_7701.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next morning before our flight, we went to one more market near our hotel. This was HUGE and indoors. It was interesting, but after a while, the mix of the smells started to get to me. There were no tourists in this area, so I feel like this is a more accurate representation of a typical Thailand market.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are called Rose Apples. We tried one and it tasted a lot like a pear. This is 50 baht for 1 kilo of fruit. So, about a dollar a pound. She let us just buy 1 for 5 baht.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFM1E0ewuJeFkk4H6PsNJgMYqJ0A732QRRVUG5XoA6E7vue-Vpjhe9VhK3vRsyBBeWr-1EtYMjQYpNT7GJijJJ99ceBJvmR8-xieqhXJqyyYWxg_0bMfnFVgSc5N2kyxp2-IwSON80PS5/s1600/IMG_7763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFM1E0ewuJeFkk4H6PsNJgMYqJ0A732QRRVUG5XoA6E7vue-Vpjhe9VhK3vRsyBBeWr-1EtYMjQYpNT7GJijJJ99ceBJvmR8-xieqhXJqyyYWxg_0bMfnFVgSc5N2kyxp2-IwSON80PS5/s640/IMG_7763.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This guy was nice enough to strike a pose for the "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">farang</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" with a camera. That's Thai for "</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gringa</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">." :)</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JqrFmVGDxurFIWpto5KKWS9zIrDHyhwZy2iIvbfHClSiZ4UTRgnZkdDsV2H8L4SgPTWghb_LriU8Swq2JRc6cNMfCftXdw2IDkXm3GiK4V4zIB8YuNcRl6DogP7YE3vk0Qnio716Sr3H/s1600/IMG_7756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JqrFmVGDxurFIWpto5KKWS9zIrDHyhwZy2iIvbfHClSiZ4UTRgnZkdDsV2H8L4SgPTWghb_LriU8Swq2JRc6cNMfCftXdw2IDkXm3GiK4V4zIB8YuNcRl6DogP7YE3vk0Qnio716Sr3H/s640/IMG_7756.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These poor little guys were probably someone's lunch.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHteXJp9dzxj7b_V8G6h1ICYIjpkQ0T_Dc5TQQAH8tMR959NfngHz1jdUxXYkQTXgE6j1054EX5ioT294L886feJDWEOe7AYfOVENmpgxifEZgDQTFA5zkNXcUuenfXR1GRaIfM5LzChh/s1600/IMG_7761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHteXJp9dzxj7b_V8G6h1ICYIjpkQ0T_Dc5TQQAH8tMR959NfngHz1jdUxXYkQTXgE6j1054EX5ioT294L886feJDWEOe7AYfOVENmpgxifEZgDQTFA5zkNXcUuenfXR1GRaIfM5LzChh/s640/IMG_7761.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The stands went on forever. We spent over an hour here and didn't even get to half of them. There were also clothes and household goods sold here, but we mainly explored the food.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFNPlhNGO5H8h9vlkM4uFgFj5jmzp-y5eLW2kHFq_z_C0oQM2b-LqFvZvDjHcx10yOuxHFZHW6Ts3STfsPhQUASFqzZ2_U5pHP0TY6hvw02Cn0RvLLm6q7AosksA3H5AVBZOojzKS1MbE/s1600/IMG_7764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFNPlhNGO5H8h9vlkM4uFgFj5jmzp-y5eLW2kHFq_z_C0oQM2b-LqFvZvDjHcx10yOuxHFZHW6Ts3STfsPhQUASFqzZ2_U5pHP0TY6hvw02Cn0RvLLm6q7AosksA3H5AVBZOojzKS1MbE/s640/IMG_7764.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food tastings weren't as successful at this market. We tried something that looked like a hot dog in a bun...it was not a hot dog...and it was not a bun! We finally were able to be satisfied with a toast stand. That's right. Toast, butter, and sugar. Hard to go wrong there! The nice thing was, everything is so cheap, you can try many things and not be out much money if you don't like it.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4UtfnTUnKpAXhHwQErQh2ZY_MjqsMx8pwZmDlgYp7woRp8QfSxbCS_mdKhZTvpYnLmYKj5VtdK0U8wtFRbNVaYuUQdm59R_DI3x0-tEZWzoYJylLmhqcHO2UwDXLvtIZOOXhWzsD6CeJ/s1600/IMG_7759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4UtfnTUnKpAXhHwQErQh2ZY_MjqsMx8pwZmDlgYp7woRp8QfSxbCS_mdKhZTvpYnLmYKj5VtdK0U8wtFRbNVaYuUQdm59R_DI3x0-tEZWzoYJylLmhqcHO2UwDXLvtIZOOXhWzsD6CeJ/s400/IMG_7759.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Markets are a huge part of Thailand daily life and culture. They don't buy in bulk at Wal Mart and keep it in the freezer for later, so it's important to have fresh food daily. Even the 7/11 stores have a market feel to them.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaBVlKgqKkeK1HKKkNlnM17ti1aaN_KjT_oV-gSDuDXb06atJvF4CvKLE7Iql8xBAobc9T-9s0ZzHawufUcSgHaq9viZ5mvHe22MQrH5gJMiOh2eNdqwqvO1CwhIyp4J8oA230WoSL_Xo/s1600/IMG_7685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaBVlKgqKkeK1HKKkNlnM17ti1aaN_KjT_oV-gSDuDXb06atJvF4CvKLE7Iql8xBAobc9T-9s0ZzHawufUcSgHaq9viZ5mvHe22MQrH5gJMiOh2eNdqwqvO1CwhIyp4J8oA230WoSL_Xo/s400/IMG_7685.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our first impression of the markets in Thailand really set the scene for the rest of our trip. It helped us begin to understand the people and way of life. I loved walking through them, trying new things, and watching the people who made their living selling goods. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">~~~</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://onemagicalmomentperday.blogspot.com/2013/05/magical-moment-621-thailand-journey.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Thailand - the Journey!</span></a></span></div>
</div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3630092967410938880.post-69202967577789792372013-05-19T06:21:00.000-04:002013-05-19T06:21:04.183-04:00Magical Moment 621, "Thailand - the Journey!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I meant to take the summer off blogging...and ended up staying away for over a year! A complete accident and I can't believe it's been that long already! But I HAD to return to blogging now in order chronicle the amazing vacation that Eddie and I recently took to Chiang Mai, Thailand. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eddie and I had been wanting to take an overseas vacation for years. It's always been my dream to visit Venice and when the time came to choose our destination, I was sure that would be our selection. Just in case though, we went through a few other suggestions and suddenly, the thought of interacting with wildlife seemed like a no-brainer. We're both animal lovers. We've seen whales, sea lions, dolphins, and a heap of other animals in the wild here in the US. So we wondered, what else could we see that would be a once in a lifetime opportunity? Elephants!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We chose to spend 1 week as volunteers at the </span><a href="http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Elephant Nature Park</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in Chiang Mai Thailand. This is an elephant sanctuary that rescues abused, injured, and exploited elephants. We thought, what better way to support responsible tourism? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is a little teaser of what's to come in a few posts:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5HeLvvnbqOddrm-K4YnapLY2sma3g7F2HfBg0KwpDKgnm0gR3-ii7ZPD6GvgilbTxRT_YpTYJbc6MwXX7uBY9kidgpfCVHvvwif01OyGOLal3kbpXHmF-VYL2qHlLkdFer7XxI0n2d_4/s1600/IMG_8174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5HeLvvnbqOddrm-K4YnapLY2sma3g7F2HfBg0KwpDKgnm0gR3-ii7ZPD6GvgilbTxRT_YpTYJbc6MwXX7uBY9kidgpfCVHvvwif01OyGOLal3kbpXHmF-VYL2qHlLkdFer7XxI0n2d_4/s640/IMG_8174.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But first, I'd like to share about our journey to and from Chiang Mai. I want to give the elephants the time and care in a post that they deserve. If you're curious about where on earth we were (geography is not my strong suit), these were the 4 flights that it took to get us there! (click to enlarge)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NYC to Osaka, Japan</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicep4vQdzhCtRqyOaqukQ_t9WVoBQLRxnaz9eXTIu7-bQMiidDtRrW5bbvg0cNZRKrXCyZ2DcdhyGDURoh1XBfqeeyRmlHcrBAfUxShodWTI4gaoBzsEpZosKau75k2NxpQfe7PxEunrgR/s1600/IMG_7636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicep4vQdzhCtRqyOaqukQ_t9WVoBQLRxnaz9eXTIu7-bQMiidDtRrW5bbvg0cNZRKrXCyZ2DcdhyGDURoh1XBfqeeyRmlHcrBAfUxShodWTI4gaoBzsEpZosKau75k2NxpQfe7PxEunrgR/s320/IMG_7636.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Osaka, Japan to Taipei, Taiwan</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5uHv-LXMISuKrsVanRUx3kg7mWcei34VmjchRsttW4ts4F4kuMWNZ46U6xkMhSg-wrk25BNn40IwWaeft5cM0diA1SNso3mVpmxtM4EbKz_s7nP6iNpDnXF5Q7dwIzBk8SctJFTnUESC/s1600/IMG_7645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5uHv-LXMISuKrsVanRUx3kg7mWcei34VmjchRsttW4ts4F4kuMWNZ46U6xkMhSg-wrk25BNn40IwWaeft5cM0diA1SNso3mVpmxtM4EbKz_s7nP6iNpDnXF5Q7dwIzBk8SctJFTnUESC/s320/IMG_7645.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Taipei, Taiwan to Bangkok, Thailand</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotoTDCTk9SAVZM3o322r4zC5rqDe25dgXdrhtC-A7D_SGqyGroYMvM1RYeG21GQnckAie3C7resDeHEUYBhi1uiMdvs7oNGOJFIjcrE3AvZWMWxOCaPSXLrj2uSpIBg9DuVIhE96BOYgz/s1600/IMG_7654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotoTDCTk9SAVZM3o322r4zC5rqDe25dgXdrhtC-A7D_SGqyGroYMvM1RYeG21GQnckAie3C7resDeHEUYBhi1uiMdvs7oNGOJFIjcrE3AvZWMWxOCaPSXLrj2uSpIBg9DuVIhE96BOYgz/s320/IMG_7654.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bangkok to Chiang Mai (no fancy airplane screen for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">this</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> flight....no sir.)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaDq2quObIDAbOiKA896B-XF32PIvhxhQKX1aA-KpHnakw4yjQNQGQX2fm3xYH9OHX5TTOCbpi0AnmmNSCrz41rvtN46bTbqB6wb9IhSP7CzSWua1Yn12XWj7oDCyPxtL2QvuBADkG3Wu/s1600/bangkok+to+chiang+mai.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaDq2quObIDAbOiKA896B-XF32PIvhxhQKX1aA-KpHnakw4yjQNQGQX2fm3xYH9OHX5TTOCbpi0AnmmNSCrz41rvtN46bTbqB6wb9IhSP7CzSWua1Yn12XWj7oDCyPxtL2QvuBADkG3Wu/s320/bangkok+to+chiang+mai.png" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We flew </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">way</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> above Canada, I searched out the window to see if I could spot Santa at the North Pole. No Santa, but I'm pretty certain we saw some glaciers. I can't be sure of course, it could just be a lot of snow for all I know, but I was excited just the same. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8035ykgDVNY-SV_AvVrPVxNagYwwN1irwvp8wSzCMXoiW_Y6TvSgXakFlekjN4QBuE8Lr0yHAbLli_Zl0CboaBmLWApZRUzzYqWhSh0ghbQZJsETQUVfui3DMgXOQCxcEywZr87VQBRg/s1600/IMG_7631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8035ykgDVNY-SV_AvVrPVxNagYwwN1irwvp8wSzCMXoiW_Y6TvSgXakFlekjN4QBuE8Lr0yHAbLli_Zl0CboaBmLWApZRUzzYqWhSh0ghbQZJsETQUVfui3DMgXOQCxcEywZr87VQBRg/s320/IMG_7631.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, we only got a glimpse of Osaka from the plane as well. It was interesting that in our 18 hours of flying, the sun never set on us! :) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFCqWeLNIdJBAjNjwKAlGtdDCE7X8CTq66BD7mu5F_cO2NEwJiodx3dmYvXfGyvYYHrLr45w7Hk762NfSmNkMvMswIopfOdHS_CUHjTM9JasO8UJ7zOKfMf7ZB1C0AtPWkabfL3HaKavz/s1600/IMG_7643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFCqWeLNIdJBAjNjwKAlGtdDCE7X8CTq66BD7mu5F_cO2NEwJiodx3dmYvXfGyvYYHrLr45w7Hk762NfSmNkMvMswIopfOdHS_CUHjTM9JasO8UJ7zOKfMf7ZB1C0AtPWkabfL3HaKavz/s320/IMG_7643.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Luckily we were able to spend some time in Bangkok, Taiwan, and the city of Chiang Mai (not just the northern mountainous jungle where Elephant Nature Park is located). Tomorrow I'll share all the amazing sights and sounds from the colorful markets that cover the streets. Hope you enjoy the photos. It's great to be back blogging, and I can't wait to catch up on everyone's posts!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Elizabeth Grimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13283397561867581379noreply@blogger.com14