Happy Birthday to Me!
This is my 56th turn around the galaxy and my 73rd week of Awesome Stories. I would love to have a giant blogger’s party. Thanks for sharing in my journey. I appreciate each of you for being part of my life and blog. Blessings, Brad
Granny Going Strong at 103
This particular grandmother is a whale and she is considered the world’s oldest known living orca, and therefore called “Granny”. Granny was recently sited in Cowichan Bay off the coast of Washington state. According to scientists who have pictures of her dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, they can estimate her age by extrapolating from her known offspring. She is considered very healthy judging by the “peanut head” around her blow hole and a recent 800 mile trek with her great-grandchild in their pod. Go Granny!
Photo by Capt. Simon Pidcock
Creative Language Learning
This is a wonderful idea. CNA language schools in Brazil have many students who want to learn to speak English, but can’t afford to go to the US to have an immersion experience. In turn, there are many elderly folks in the US living in retirement homes who crave more connection and conversation. FCB Brazil had the brilliant idea to put these two groups together. They speak and bond over the internet on private YouTube videos. Then the conversations are graded by their Brazilian teachers. From the video, it looks like everyone is having fun and benefiting. Now that’s creative marketing!
Pentatonix Rocks!
I love this acapella group. They keep re-inventing themselves with new and fun styles of performance. Enjoy.
The Conditioned
This is a touching story and video about a homeless poet named Raimundo Arruda Sobrinho who was living on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Many of us fall into a life of habits, neglect or even despair. If we’re brave and lucky, we pull ourselves out or receive a helping hand. Raimundo received several helping hands. First he was befriended by strangers, then helped by Facebook fans, reunited with his lost family, and now about to have a book published! Nice testament to the power of kindness and our connected nature.
We Care Solar
What an awesome story! Dr. Laura Stachel was taken back while volunteering in Africa by how often the lives of mothers and their children were at risk due to inadequate electricity. This contributes to Nigeria having some of the highest maternal death rates. Dr. Stachel was determined to find a solution and started brainstorming with her husband who was a solar educator. They came up with ideas for large solar systems for the hospitals and clinics, but their prototype solar kit, meant only for demonstration, turned out to be a hit. They have since perfected the design, supplied about 400 units and started a company called We Care Solar, Their “solar suitcases” come with 2 solar panels, cell phone charger, head lamp and a monitoring device. We Care Solar continues to work on larger solar projects to help improve maternal health care in developing countries too.
Seeds that Feed
This is a wonderful start up here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Four friends were looking for something more meaningful to do with their lives and came up with the idea to feed people from food surpluses. Currently, almost 40% of food produced goes to waste. This is a huge problem in the US and world that thankfully more people and organizations are addressing. Seeds That Feed collect food surpluses and distribute it to those in need who often have poor access to healthy and fresh foods. To date, they have distributed over 26,000 pounds of fresh produce from local farmers in just two seasons.
Grace Hearth
This is another lovely food venture called Grace Hearth. Keri Keifer and Jocelyn Jackson turned their passion for food and cooking into a new way to nurture, celebrate and connect.
What are you doing to feed your body and soul? Celebrate life today for my birthday. The party’s at 6PM! XD
Happy Birthday Brad!
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Thanks Neha! 🙂
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Wonderful stories!! And…just be happy you don’t have to “hear” me sing Happy Birthday to You!!!! Wish you so many blessings…and by the way…I believe you get to have a Birthday Week!! So party on! Blessitude 🙂
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LOL, My singing is OK, but I had a giant laugh thinking about off key singing. I’ll gladly accept a week or more of celebrating. Thanks Lorrie! 🙂
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Birthday smiles are good!
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Happy birthday Brad! 🙂 Wishing you all the best.
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Thanks Iana. I appreciate you and others who are sharing in my birthday. Let’s celebrate! XD
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Enjoy a Happy Birthday Brad, for a work well done!!
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Thanks Belén. No work, only play today! XD
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Like the language learning experience. Simultaneously novel and gratifying for all involved!
So you’ve been around the galaxy! We are impressed. 🙂 May your subsequent turns yield what you seek and desire. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Brad!
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Thanks for the birthday cheers Eric. I may have to be more precise with my language with you and Line watching the galaxy turns. I took poetic license! I’ve only gone ’round in my imagination. XD
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Congrats, Brad,and Happy Birthday. birthweek and birth month to you!
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Thanks Cynthia, I appreciate your support. I’ll celebrate extra for you!
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Way to go!
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LOL
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Break a leg!
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Happy birthday!!! A week-long birthday celebration is not unreasonable at all! Have lots and lots of fun!!!
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Thanks Angela, only a week? I want 2 or 3! 🙂
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Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Braaad!! Happy Birthday to you!! 🙂 🙂 Hope you are having, or perhaps had, a lovely lovely day!! 🙂 By the way what is a galaxy-turn?
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🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m so happy for your wishes Line. Yes, I had a wonderful day, part quiet, part service, then small gathering with friends and soon off to bed. Thanks for being a dear and enthusiastic cyber friend. I made the phrase up, simply meaning that the earth has been orbiting the sun & the galaxy rotates, all during my 56 years. I’m not a science guy! XD
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Happy birthday, AWE-and-then-SOME Brad! And thanks for always sharing such AWESOME stories!
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Very clever. I’ll have some more awe-some fun to write about in my awesome stories! Thanks for the birthday wishes. XD
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🙂
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Happy birthday.. You look like a youngster… Our new look in this day and time as I will be 58 soon …so glad I have connected to your blog!!
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Thanks Earth Angel. Yes, thankfully I look and feel youthful and healthy. Glad your health is good too. Thanks for connecting and the birthday wishes.
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Another portfolio of hits, Brad. I love the idea of seniors from the US teaching English to Brazilian youth over the Internet. Awesome. The one that really got me this time was the whale. It always amazes me to remember how long some animals and plants live, and to reflect upon all that they have seen. And you’re having a birthday plays right into this theme… Well-played, my friend. 🙂 I was struck by the fact that Nature can be so abstract in our minds. How great to know whales by name. To know their age. To know their coming and their going. I was just struck by the difference it might make to know more of the natural world with such intimacy.
HAPPY GALAXY-TURN!? (Don’t let them razz you too much. Everyone would be doing it if they could…)
Michael
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Thanks for the laughs and clever repartee Michael. Hafiz shared his galaxy turning tips. XD. I appreciate your kudos and reflections. I believe we have a profound disconnect from nature. Naming, appreciating and remembering that nature supports us seems like a good plan. My feelings became more intimate when I started doing closeup photography and gardening. Both helped me appreciate the details and awe. Maybe the language tutoring is in our future. It could be fun. To galaxy turning!
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Happy birthday, Brad…
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Thanks lumar,
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Thanks for sharing your awesome stories.
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Thanks Lee, I appreciate you reading and am glad they touch you. I love your photo selections too!
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