ADYTUM-

 " A sacred place that the public is forbidden to enter; 

an inner shrine. "

A L O H A !

Welcome to our Adytum

click-ture   the picture

" A slight daily unconscious luxury. . .

like the gentle air

of a genial climate. . .

  is a perpetual 

minute

enjoyment.  "

Walter Bagehot

" It is the spirit behind your actions 

and words 

that announces

your inner state.  "

Rene Char

A gentle word, a kind look,

a good-natured smile 

can work wonders

and accomplish

miracles.  "

William Hazlitt

" In a gentle way,

you can shake the world. "

Mohandas Gandhi

   > < } } ( ° >

Now SHAKE it!

                                                  

                               warmly, cloudia

Walking in the Rain

A L O H A !

click to enlarge the photos

The weather in Honolulu 

has been mesmerizing:

Breezy Trade Winds,

blue skies,

and clouds of all sorts 

scudding along

high & low.

Temps in the 70c F.

The other evening

I got caught in a steady downpour 

walking home 

from the Waikiki Post Office.

Having recently moved off of the boat 

after 20 years,

it was a distinct pleasure

to enter my new, sturdy, 

DRY building!

Passing through the INDOOR garage,

I noted my scooter

playing a hand of cards

with my small car 

in the same parking space.

Nothing looks quite so bedraggled,

as a scooter or motorcycle

huddling under a dripping cover,

sitting in a puddle,

in the middle of a rain storm.

"There's my scooter,

dry in a rain storm."

I thought with satisfaction.

Instead of having wet rain

slide off of canvas

and down my neck,

I rode upstairs in the elevator

and entered my dry apartment.

Through the window, 

I could see squalls

pouring over Honolulu Town.

Then I took a hot shower.

Soon my husband returned home.

The winds did not stir us.

The rain did not reach us.

We prepared & ate food,

while Kitty played on the carpet.

Ah!  Civilization!

I shall never take it for granted.

And the next day,

Hawaii of post card fame

waited outside:

Thank YOU for visiting!

For a taste

of what I'm talking about

look at what happened

one year ago

HERE

Your comment is a gift we share -

Warmly, cloudia

Orange You Glad

" Try not thinking 

of peeling

an orange.

Try not imagining 

the juice running down your fingers, 

the soft inner part of the peel. 

The smell.

Try and you can't. 

The brain doesn't process 

negatives. "

 
Doug Coupland

 > < } } ( ° > 

" whatever is true,

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about THOSE things."

 Philippians 4:8

" This itself 

is the whole of the journey:

opening your heart 

to that which is lovely.

  This is the way

you must train yourself: 

closely observe and embrace 

all states of mind

that are

good. "

Buddha

It is GOOD

to see you here!

Thank YOU

What's the good word?

                 Tell us in comments-

                                                                                                           Warmly, cloudia

How to be Right, while Dead Wrong

A L O H A !

“ People may not remember 

exactly what you did

or what you said,

but they will always remember

how you made them

feel. ”

Tony Hsieh

" Boldness

is a mask

for fear,

however great. "

John Dryden

" There is only one judge. . .  So who are you
to judge your neighbor? "

 GOD'S WORD ® Translation

"who art thou that dost judge the other? "

Young's Literal Translation

James 4:12

Bible

  > < } } ( ° >

     

Was there ever a time

when we debated ideas?

Today

what we do
is choose sides

and attack!

We have no patience

for the details-

everything 
is a chance

to argue.

We used to try to 

convince

in good faith;

Now the most shocking assertions

get all the attention.

There is no career to be made

with common sense.

To keep passion alive,

(and reason asleep?)

  assertions need to be 

more

and more extreme.

And since we only listen

to those we already agree with

the extreme gulf in partisan views

only grows wider.

Who is building a bridge?

How can you invite agreement
with a combative, angry tone?

Our "news" &

politics is reported the same way

that celebrity gossip is,

repeating the same trivial,

school-yard stuff

over and over again

without un-packing it.
Gotcha!

So what are we trying to accomplish?

Media, pundits & radio personalities

want attention, airtime and money.

What do YOU want?

In a free society,

can either extreme win,

then rule 

their neighbors?

So what's your bottom line?

Would you rather make the best put-down

or find common ground upon which 
society

- all of us -

can move forward
together?

Do you want to be "right"

or be effective?

Merciless - or wise?

You can be technically
correct,

but the person you argue with
is telling you

what is Emotionally True to THEM,

what matters most to THEM.

Do you care enough to listen
instead of merely
preparing your 

ammunition?

Can we even really
hear each other
anymore?

Yes,
you may be "correct"
on your facts,

but be DEAD WRONG
in your attitude,
behavior,
results.

This is a Democracy -

not a winner-takes-all 

demolition derby.

Or is it?

We do not need to agree
on everything,
in order to live agreeably.

But we do need to understand
what really motivates
people
who hold opinions that seem
incompatible with our own.


To do that,
we need to regard them
once again
as
people,
not as stereotypes.


We need, in a real sense,
to 'love' our neighbor
as we do ourselves;
That is: as
basically good persons;
Persons who deserve
to be listened to.

So what is missing today?

Please share your opinion with us
in comments.

& Thanks for your valued visit.

                                                                    Warmly, cloudia

Motoring Icon

ALOHA, CHAPS

An early Swallow Sidecar

Swallow Sidecar Company

was formed in Blackpool England

by William Lyons on his 21st Birthday,

 4th September, 1922.

 William Walmsley, nine year older,

was his equal partner.

The company was formed

 to produce

sidecars for motorcycles.

  Walmsley previously

  had a business
reconditioning WWI-surplus 

Triumph motorcycles

& fitting sidecars.

In spite of the economic stagnation

of the early 20's

the company bloomed 

after showing at

  the 1923 Motorcycle Show.

  By 1926 growth was sufficient

to enable the company to move 

into larger premises 

and to change their name

to Swallow Sidecar and

Coachbuilding Company.

In 1927 the company announced

the Austin Swallow Two-Seater 
an
automobile!

Lyons quickly gained orders

for close to 500 of the cars.

By 1934,  the newly formed
SS Cars Ltd

was an automobile manufacturer 

and subsidiary of Swallow.

One car that William Lyons

was not fond of was

the Airline Saloon - 

regarding it as a passing fashion.

He was correct.

Streamlining wasn't in fashion
in the UK

so the more modern
Airline Saloon

kept flowing wings

and separate headlamps

but had a rounded tail 

usually referred to as a fastback.

The windows also extended

towards the rear

and it had a boot
(or "trunk" in America).

Maximum speed was 80 mph.

 This car was only produced 
for two years.

Today
it is a sought after model

by collectors.

Have you guessed 

the familiar name 

of the cars

that we are talking about?

( ! )

Jaguar XF

Historic information courtesy of Jag-Lovers

Thank YOU for motoring by!

Toot your horn & leave a comment-

                                                                                                 Warmly, cloudia

Courtesy Rider

A L O H A !

" You're only given

a little spark of madness.

You mustn't lose it.

Robin Williams

" Thanks

are the highest form

of thought. "

G.K. Chesterton

I like this shot

because it accidentally captured a plane 

and a bird;

but the bird is higher.

Click for a "birds eye view"

  > < } } ( ° >

     

I'm playing a new game

on my scooter.

It's SO much fun to be on two wheels-

just like that anonymous quote:

"Riding a horse is like riding the sky."

It feels like flying close to the ground.

A twist of the wrist 

propels, elates,

elevates!

Cars are driven, but you

RIDE a motorcycle.

Bikers call cars:

"cages."

4 Wheels get you there;

2 wheels make it

FUN.

 " RIDE TO LIVE-

-LIVE TO RIDE! "

This holiday season

I am playing a NEW game called:

"Courtesy Rider."

It was indirectly suggested to me

by the angry Honolulu Police Officer

who gave me a stern talking-to

last week.

He threatened to write me a ticket

but didn't.

Too much fun

can look reckless

I suppose. . .

So I now I am:

COURTESY RIDER!

No more zipping around through traffic

like a UFO.

Legitimate acceleration,

feels better

than playing hound & hare

with ME as the hare.

Thanks Officer.

Maybe you even saved

my life.

Nice early Holiday gift!

Now YOU be safe, my friend.

& Thank YOU for your visit!

What story, experience, or pet peeve

do YOU have

about DRIVING, traveling, or Riding?

Tell us all in comments.

                                                 Warmly, cloudia