Author brilliantviewpoint

Create ART using water; Buy a Buddha Board

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86F99B28-B5D9-4164-9D01-13AC68056F8DA friend of mine sent me a picture of this Buddha Board. She knows I have been practicing drawing, but also focused on a zen lifestyle.

Founder and CEO, Eric Thrall, created the Buddha Board to give children and adults a fun, relaxing and quick way to “be creative” and “in the moment.” With the Buddha Board, you draw with water, within 10 minutes your drawing fades away. So, you don’t have to be perfect, instead you are FREE to be as creative as you like.

This would make a great gift. Also, be wonderful at the office. We have a candy jar and employees come by for a treat. I bet if we had a Buddha Board by the candy jar, people would enjoy being creative.

When I was young, we all had an “Etch A Sketch.” We LOVED drawing, even though it was a bit cumbersome to use, we enjoyed it. The Buddha Board is modern and allows for more freedom in drawing and a lot easier to use. I’m excited about this, I want to try it out!

Dating, not having luck… Send your daughter to Japan

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5B5B8AAF-17D2-4999-B095-4D1623605C6EOk, the title is misleading. I know, you’re probably thinking… “WHAT, send your daughter to Japan to find a boyfriend?” No, let me explain.

What I mean is…  when we are trying to find someone, we need special prayers. If it’s not working on our own, we need to dig a little deeper with our  prayers. So, why not go around the world, best way to reach God, right!

My daughter was in Japan recently. I mentioned to her, that if she was by one of the Shinto Shrines, I’d like her to buy a prayer plaque for me. As a Catholic, we go to church, we light candles and we pray to certain Saints for assistance. St. Anthony ALWAYS helps me find a lost item.

So, she brought back this prayer pouch, saying it was “specific” for finding a boyfriend.

Now, BEFORE I pray to this, I NEED to know what it says.

What if by accident she got me a prayer pouch for flying to the moon OR finding a cat… WHO knows?

Can anyone help?

Fitness: Weight lifting routine

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Exercise - weight liftingHow do you remember YOUR weight lifting routines? I’ve been working out with a personal trainer. When we’re going through a routine, I think I’ll remember everything he taught me.

Then I get to the gym on my own…

NOPE, NO MEMORY –  I think, “How did he do that, what size weight, did I bend up or down?” You get the idea.

So, I smartened up, after each session, I started doing quick stick drawings.

Guess what, I’m becoming a PRO.

AND I have a start of a new exercise book!

SPECIAL NOTE: Never tell your trainer you don’t like a certain exercise. WHY?? Because he will MAKE YOU DO the exercise you HATE every single time, i.e., planks!

Chicago – Visit “21c Museum Hotel – MGallery,” newly opened

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The talk of the town in Chicago this week is the newly opened “21c Museum Hotel.” It’s an elegant boutique hotel, which has a small contemporary art museum. The art gallery features some thought provoking pieces.

I found this art piece interesting called, ‘The Police State,” by Sebastian Errazuriz, his take on the three world leaders. There were other interesting pieces, but since the museum is so small, I’ll let you visit to see the rest.

The Reception desk said that 21c Museum Hotels have quite a few other locations, you can visit their website to see where. Condé Nast Traveler has written about this hotel chain, so worth a visit. Now, I am inspired by art, need to go to the Art Institute.

Happy Lunar New Year 2020 – Year of the Rat

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I was at the Post Office this week mailing a package. I was almost done with my transaction when I asked for some stamps. GUESS WHAT — the Post Mistress brought out these stamps for Lunar New Year! She asked, “Would you like these?” Why, of course!

I believe the Year of the Rat starts off the 12 zodiac signs. If that is true, looking at the sheet of stamps, it appears the Post Office has their next 11 stamps set up for the next 11 years. We will see.

This illustration of the Rat is really beautiful. Personally, I think it looks more like a jaguar than a rat. However, as I keep looking at it, this rat clearly has a magical look.

I realize I am a little late, but better late than never!

Wishing you ALL a Happy Lunar New Year!

Japan – An employment office…?

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Japan - Need a fun jobRecently, my daughter was in Japan and sent me this photo.

I smiled!

Maybe the objective of this door was to make us think, smile and wonder.

An employment office?

Unfortunately, she was was not able to go in and ask for the meaning of the door.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A FUN JOB IN LIFE?

Puzzles… exotic travels

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14B9E8F5-458A-4694-9E92-33DD6FBCFFC6I’ve always enjoyed doing puzzles. When my children were little we had a few favorite Disney puzzles that were about 35 pieces. Super easy, but just enough pieces to put some effort into making them without getting bored or tired.

For a few years now, I have been looking for a good puzzle, nothing caught my attention. This Christmas though, I found this puzzle by accident. I immediately liked it. Exotic travels, super colorful, and it looks like a group of stamps put together.

I started my puzzle with such excitement.

THEN THE LET DOWN… turns out this puzzle is an oversized shaped 24 x 30. As I was making the puzzle my pieces were not going to fit on my table. My table is 24 inches long, I need 30.

So, I started investigating puzzle tables. I didn’t even know they existed. However, do I really want a big table? Where would I store it when I’m not making a puzzle?

I don’t have the answers yet, BUT I do want to make my puzzle!

Not sure where to start… Rome, Hong Kong, Egypt, Bahamas?

My puzzle — HOW WILL IT GET DONE?  I need a puzzle expert!

Fitness challenge 2020. I’ve been thinking…

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Thanksgiving Confused Man

This is a new year. Exercise is important. I’ve been wanting to join an athletic challenge of some sort. Welcome Walkingspree.com. It’s an App that a company uses to challenge employees to exercise. We have a challenge at work right now. It’s for a month. We are walking around the Island of Hawaii. The goal is to walk 8,000 steps a day. They have different prizes at the end of the one month challenge. I signed up a week late… so, I’m already behind for winning prizes, but I signed up in an effort to challenge myself.

FitBit

I bought a FitBit to track my step count. I decided on a bright purple watch band. It’s hard to miss and keeps reminding me to step up my game and WALK, walk, WALK! After a few days, I found that it is not so easy to get 8,000 steps a day in with a desk job. This is a good eye opener for me. While it is a “small exercise challenge,” it is a challenge, because at least for now, I have to get 8,000 steps a day in. I looked at the map of Hawaii. I’ve made it to 2 stops… ONLY 5 more stops to reach the FINISH LINE!

Already thinking, after February, WHAT will be my next athletic challenge?

Climb a mountain in Canada, Austria, Seattle? I am not a runner, but I like hiking. Hum?!

Chicago dreaming…

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View of Lake MichiganTime to visit Chicago. Look how beautiful the view is. We’ve had a mild winter (knock on wood); however, that is about to change. Temperatures have dropped and tomorrow we are supposed to have snow.

When I see this view I think Harry Potter is going to be flying by soon.

A perfect view to spark a writer’s creative thoughts!

Imagine in July when the Blue Angels are flying by. It’s spectacular!

Can you tell I am getting ready for Spring?