electroencephalographically challenged

electroencephalographically challenged: Comes from every part of the world.  Over the last week, it truly does describe where I have been lately.  Specifically attacks those who least expect it.  Yes, I am talking about – Brain Fog – puddin head – hazy – jello brain – mush brain – foggled

“The weather varies between heavy fog and pale sunshine; My thoughts follow the exact same process.” ~~  Virginia Woolf.

“Sometimes when you lose your way in the fog, you end up in a beautiful place! Don’t be afraid of getting lost!”

– Mehmet Murat Ildan

Getting lost – I know this trick all too well.  It usually ends up being an awful fun time.  Lately it’s been forgettable.  Like I really do not know where I am or how I got there at times.  I forget words, to-do lists, appointments, or why I went into a room.  Yet I will remember the most ridiculous minutia that bears no relevance on a conversation I am currently having.  Or had.. or .. or.. wait.. what were we talking about?  Well, you get the point… even if I do not!

cc: Ian; sadje; beverley; quiall; jeff; christine; arlene; yassy; mitch; shruthi; phillip; merrild

Groke

Groke: To stare intently at someone who is eating in the hope that they will give you some.

That awkward moment when you are trying to pretend that you do not notice when someone is staring at you. Now I’m pretty sure that this person was not actually groking at me.. but it sure felt like it!!

I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.  ~~Audrey Hepburn

words and laughter:  cristine; oceansideanimals; libby; rogblog; minda; 

 

 

Taradiddle

No Gossip! no! our Neighbour’s name
So tenderly we handle!—
A Taradiddle— Fib, or so:—
But not a word of Scandal!
Yankee doodle &c.
— Thomas Read, The British Harmonist, 1795

Taradiddle:  noun – Informal British

This word comes from the town of Taraddle, Ireland.  Actually that is not entirely true.  Or rather, that is entirely not true.  There is no such town.  Which of course makes the legend itself a taraddidle.

The reason I talk to myself is because I’m the only one whose answers I accept.”
― George Carlin

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
― Mark Twain

So many ways to say someone is lying but pretty much one perfect way to say the opposite.

Definition – 1: a fib 2 : pretentious nonsense

• synonyms: trumpery, balderdash, skimble-skamble, nonsense, baloney, bosh, drool, humbug, tommyrot, bunk, hokum, tosh, twaddle, fables, fabrications, falsehoods, falsities, fibs, lies mendacities, distortion, hoodoo, fiddle-faddle, codswallop, crapola, flapdoodle, hogwash, horsefeathers, exaggeration, ambiguity, equivocation, obliquity, defamation, libel, slander, perjury, jive, prose, pretense, myth, canard,  bluff, dishonesty, duplicity, fraudulence, misinformation, misstatement, story, untruth, whopper, folly foolishness, moonshine, muck, piffle, nuts, humbuggery, malarky, rot, hot air, rigmarole, double-talk, hocus-pocus, etc
• antonyms:  truth

taradiddle \tair-uh-DID-ul\ noun. 1 : a trivial or childish lie : fib. 2 : pretentious nonsense. Examples: “The time came when she not only told her taradiddle about having ‘hunted quite a lot,’ she even came near believing it.” — George Orwell, Burmese Days, 1934.

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truths through the eyes of lies: ben; jane; jahna; sadje; sandra; hartless; jeffrey; hope; fandango; troy; reluctant; Ab; pat; taggart

Novaturient

Novaturient (adjective) Origin: German | nO·va·’tUr·E·ent  A desire to alter your life; The feeling that pushes you to travel

“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

By deciding to alter my life and travel, I have been exposed to so many wonderful people, places, experiences, foods, drinks, ideas, visions, smells, sensations, and a never-ending supply of learning opportunities.  Each of these experiences have increased my desire to alter my life and travel more.  Some of my favorite or most memorable experiences:

1.  Living and teaching in Seoul, South Korea. It was hard for me to limit it to just these photos. In three years, I must have lived through 50 life times.  I went there in 2007 with my youngest daughter.  She stayed a year then moved back to the U.S. at which time my oldest daughter came to visit me and ended up staying a year.  Between traveling through Korea, volunteering at orphanages and soup kitchens, participating in theater, stand up, movie making, reiki, tea ceremonies, and on the list goes.  The most memorable experience of my life.  One day I will go back.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your Balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

“Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Festival Seoul Korea

Festival Seoul Korea

Festival Seoul Korea

Korea

Korea

Dongdemun market kOrea

Festival Seoul Korea

Dongdemun market kOrea

Seoul, South Korea

The white balloon symbolized peace and freedom and often these balloons were let loose into the air with candles inside so the white would glow bright and high into the sky.

Yes, another hike in Korea. The hikes were amazing and such vistas.

Korean palace wall

Rain on a hike – Korea

Obviously there was something very unsettling with the small, Korean bananas in my daughter’s left hand. Now I knew there was nothing wrong. but even to me it did not seem right.

Korean Traditional Festival

Fake smiling in Korea

Volleyball game in Korea with daughters

Sport Chumps smile for the fundraiser.

Korean subway, met Elvis’s doppleganger.. though not wrong.. didn’t feel right..

Wow.. another favorite smiler in Korea

Smiles or fishlips in Korea – favorite smiler

Smiling in Korea.. another favorite smiler

One of my favorite Korean smile pictures

Korean smiles

DMZ – woot woot – Korea

Evolution of Madison – Korea

Good-bye lunch – Korea

Mask Festival – Andong – Korea

Low water rafting in South Korea. water was so low we had to pirate-ize ourselves and tip the other boats to get wet.

Rugby match viewing in Itaewon, South Korea with friends.

South Korea

South Korea

South Korea

South Korea

South Korea

Seoul, Korea

Who are you fighting? Seoul, Korea

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

2.  Venezuela. 2010 – 2012. friends, food, festivities, hikes, rafting, paragliding, sky-diving, animal safaris.  My oldest daughter, her husband and my grand-daughter lived with me for about 8 months.  This was another of my favorite locations and times.  I can’t describe how sad I was to leave Venezuela.  I am fortunate to be in contact with so many of my colleagues and friends from this time period.  One day, I dream we will meet again.

coffee in venezuela

coffee in Venezuela

Skydiving in Higuerote, Venezuela with Skydive Venezuela

Venezuela

Turgua, Venezuela, Charity toy drive for local community in Venezuela with very dear friend

sister time, Venezuela

delta orinoco, Venezueal

Guamanchi animal safari in Los llanos – anaconda capture

More of the liquid city. Catatumbo, Venezuela

Canyoning in Merida with Guamanchi Tours

Venezuela Los Nevades to Barinas Hike – Coco Frio

Venezuela Los Nevades to Barinas Hike

Paragliding with Guamanchi in Merida, Venezuela

Los Llanos, Venezuela

Venezuela, Marine Ball with son-in-law and friend

Skydiving in Higuerote, Venezuela with Skydive Venezuela

Venezuela

Skydiving in Higuerote, Venezuela with Skydive Venezuela

Venezuela Los Nevades to Barinas Hike

Barinas, Venezuela farmland

The job and the net

The Avila in Venezuela

Venezuela Los Nevades to Barinas Hike

3.  Cambodia – 2009 – This trip will also stay forever in my heart. It was my first solo trip. No kids, no friends, no knowledge of what I would get myself into.  I ate fried frogs, dried out grasshoppers, visited temples, made folks smile, folks made me smile.  I randomly ran into a couple of friends that I had known from Korea but also made so many more friends.  Visited a floating village and heard the stories of children who were the only source of income for their families.  An incredible place.  I have been back two times since 2009, more as a typical tourist doing more typical touristy things.  Nothing will ever compare to that first time.  It was a magical place.

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.”  – Anita Desai

Face in Cambodia

Cambodia friends and random travelers

Floating Vietnamese village in Cambodia

beautiful happy children in Cambodia

Cambodia

Cambodia

Cambodia

Cambodia

Eating bugs in Cambodia

Cambodia

Zoom in on the face of a little boy begging in Cambodia

Cambodian Cooking Class

Street gaming – Cambodia

Peaceful walk – Cambodia

Snakes and smiles.. nervous smiles

Flat tire repair.. showering in yard – Cambodia

Free living in Cambodia made me smile a lot

Cambodia boat cruise night time

Flowers blooming in the City in Cambodia

moto taxi – Cambodia

Drying fish – Cambodia

Colors – Cambodia

Vietnamese floating village tour guide – Cambodia

Everything is for sale – Cambodia

They know how to do dinner – Cambodia

Great foto ops in Cambodia

6 weeks hiking solo in Cambodia.. but never really alone with road found friends.

Cambodia

Cambodia

4.  Nepal – 2013-2015 – This was a uniquely different time of travel.  Kathmandu was amazing and wonderful and full of temples, and crowded and dirty.  I went on hikes and hashes weekly.  The food was ok, my colleagues were great.  I had friends from all over come and visit me. The most outstanding experience though was going through an actual earthquake.  I think what I learned most in Nepal was how resilient the Nepalese people were.  Not a single colleague missed a day of work after the earthquake.  Despite their homes being destroyed.  Despite their families living in tents outside of their home.  I will never forget that experience.  I think I also learned a little more how resilient I was.  How being in a situation that has devastated an entire country can change your life.  Seems like an obvious thing to say, but sometimes I will go back and look at photos or watch a CCTV clip from that time and just be in awe.  I also learned that it is unlikely i will ever again ride an elephant.

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain

Tika Colors in Nepal

Tikka in Nepal

Nepal

Water’s edge Chitwan Nepal

Nepal

White nosed Elephant in CHitwan Nepal

Edge of decency, Chitwan Nepal

Nepali Dictionary.. duh

A random hill with random kids yelling random happy Nepali phrases at us.

Leaving the tourist area

Nepali whiskey

Back edge of an elephant – Chitwan

Nepal

bamboo swings set up all over Kathmandu.

Nepal

Nepal

Nepal

Electric candle with Kathmandu in background

Bananas on the edge of a field Chitwan Nepal

Child in Pink, Nepal

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Obviously I have been in many more places and have thousands upon thousands of examples of the things I have done and what I have learned and how I have grown.  All I know is that this adventure I have been living will likely never end.  I may retire from my work/travel life.  But travel will be something that I will never retire from.  it’s something that is in my blood and in my soul.  It is actually this journaling began.. and it is likely how this journal will end.

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag

“Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aesop

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin

Traveling souls: Sheree; Coreen; wanderingcanadians; tempranillo; albatz; dewetswild; woollymuses; carol; stephen; awara; Leane

Fluctisonant

‘Fluctisonant’ is a rare word for “sounding or roaring like waves.” It’s little used today, which is a shame.

So many different memories and images of various beaches around the world.  They are big, they are small, they are rippling and riffling.  There are decumans, and spindrifts, swashes, that are undisonant and fluctisonant.  I have been fluctivaganted, beached, ripped, and chopped by waves.  I’ve seen bootyfloss and the 9-eyed monkey, while watching folks go puffins on the beach.

So hang ten dude! And for sure, I have no idea if I used the words above correctly.

In this big ball of people, I’m just one grain of sand on this beach. Aurora

beachy: Goff; Merrildsmith; Ted; Debbie; minustide; Sherry; Dianna; reflect; murray; crispina;