Christmas Sensory Overload

This time of the year our brains may have been worked overtime or at least inundated by lights, music and action and maybe we are on sensory overload.

To help you refocus, I am putting a link below for a picture of a group of snowmen. Among the snowmen is one lone panda. How long will it take you to find the panda?

Find the Panda

You can read about why or why not at this link where I first read of this “puzzle.”

Read the explanation and details at Mental Floss

I think I found it rather quickly and you may as well, but if not, at least you can blame it on sensory overload of the Christmas season!

STATUS QUOtes — 20151223

“A full cup must be carried steadily.” — English Proverb

“I’m not the strongest. I’m not the fastest. But I’m really good at suffering.” — Amelia Boone, sometimes referred to as the Michael Jordan of obstacle course racing (OCR)

“When someone does something good, applaud! You will make two people happy.” — Samuel Goldwyn

“Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” — Jim Carey

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

STATUS QUOtes — 20151222

“Design is thinking made visual.” — Saul Bass

“It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.” — Douglas MacArthur

“We look up at the stars, and see such different things.” — Unknown

“If you understand it, it’s obsolete.” — Bitton’s Postulate on State-of-the-Art Electronics

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

Paddle Up for Pickleball Success

Although I enjoy pickleball and I count myself among the sport’s enthusiasts and I have become a USAPA Ambassador, I am not a top-notch player. I enjoy the game and one thing I learned early on is the importance of keeping the paddle in the up position. The video below demonstrates the technical aspects of accomplishing this and gives examples of why it can be a big step in improving most people’s game.

Pickleball 411: Paddle Up and Win with Prem Carnot

From the YouTube link:

Published on Dec 17, 2015

Stop helping your opponent win! Proper pickleball technique can make or break a game. This week we share a simple concept that can make a big difference in winning a match or losing it. Play smart and watch this episode of Pickleball 411 with Prem Carnot, “The Pickleball Guru”. Pickleball Channel was fortunate enough to have Prem join us to talk about the paddle up position. He breaks it down so you can improve today. Don’t let the year end without making a difference in your game. Watch it now!

STATUS QUOtes — 20151221

“O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” — Percy Bysshe Shelley

“If you understand everything, you must be misinformed.” — Japanese Proverb

“Be the same person you are in the dark that you are in the light.” — Thomas S. Monson

“Some of the greatest love affairs I’ve known involved one actor, unassisted.” — Wilson Mizner

 

JBRish.com originally published this post

Kitten Kaboodle

My wife and I have had a couple of cats as pets and I must admit that dogs ARE more lovable and warm and fuzzy, but there is still something quite attractive and mysterious about cats.

Our last cat was Kitty Carlisle (KC) named after a popular TV and game show personality of the 1950’s – 60’s. I guess I am showing my age a bit here. At first when we mentioned the name of the cat some people who were a bit older would smile knowingly. Now we rarely get any recognition whatsoever so it is just a cute cat name.

Here is a picture of Carlisle enjoying her favorite pastime and perhaps a favorite of every cat!

Kitty Carlise, our cat, napping

KC didn’t always sleep. Sometimes she just rested. Here she is in an open fall window enjoying the last warm breezes of autumn. Yes, that is a towel under her. You wouldn’t want her to lay down on a hard, uneven window sill would you?

Kitty Carlisle resting in an open window.

If you happened to walk in on her and disturb her routine such as when cleaning herself while sitting in the papasan chair, she would stare you down.

Kitty Carlisle staring from the papasan chair

One of her very favorite times was when my wife would bring a towel straight from the clothes dryer to assure that she had a warm cozy place to…what else…Nap!

Kitty Carlisle under a warm towel straight from the dryer

We also enjoy cartoons, drawings, poems and other creative works featuring cats and lucky for me, I live with a quilter. If you are not familiar with Laurel Burch, she has some fantastic, multi-colored and often nearly psychedelic designs. As luck would have it, I think she liked cats too.

Here is one of her squares of a cat family with a very loving kitten.

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

Momma cat and Tom have a young one of their own. Please forgive the wayward thread.

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

This conservative cat family seems very organized and I guess they have a routine.

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

This block pays homage to multiple births among cats.

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

This family group seems a bit blue!

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

This is cat couple and child seem very much in love!Once again, please forgive the wayward threads.

Laurel Burch Cat Quilt Square

Although Kitty Carlisle is no longer with us, her spirit remains strong within us and we still have a feline affinity, as you can probably tell.

 


JBRish.com originally published this post

STATUS QUOtes — 20151220

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” — John F. Kennedy

“I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.” — J.R.R. Tolkien, Return of the King

“I wanted to write down exactly what I felt but somehow the paper stayed empty and I could not have described it any better.” — Unknown

“At my house we pray AFTER we eat.” — Rodney Dangerfield

 

JBRish.com originally published this post