Sunrise

Overnight, I had trouble sleeping due to severe stomach cramps. I barely had any sleep and not to mention my upstairs neighbors were blasting their television at 6:18 AM. They were watching American Dad and you could hear the dialogue loud and clear, not only in my apartment but in the building stairwell. I couldn't fall back asleep due the cramps and hearing every word of American Dad. I decided to walk to the store to get some Coca-Cola to settle my upset stomach and a couple other things. As I walked to the store, it was slowly becoming light outside and I noticed the sun rising among the glowing clouds. I barely get the chance to see an actual sunrise and I decided to take some pictures. Sometimes it's worth getting out of the apartment.

Golden sun slowly rising

Bright golden obelisk gently making it's appearance  

A bright rising sun illuminating the silvery clouds

Wishing for an early spring...

With all this warm weather making an early appearance, it makes me want for an early Spring. I am so sick of this cold-warm-cold rollercoaster weather. I just want it to be warm in the 60-75 range all the time. Here are some pictures taken over the past two years to get you in the springtime mood.

Blossoming tree in the bright blue sky

Black-eyed  Susans popping out

Blue and white blossoms peeking out

Cherry Blossoms on a overcast day

Cherry Blossoms at close range

Cone-flower rising above

Daffodils bobbing up and down in the sun

Daisies glistening in the sunlight

Honeysuckles just about to blossom

A soft pink tree blossom at close-up

Purple wildflowers resembling an alien landscape

Red flowers at extreme close up

Tiger-Lily in your face

Up-close with the Tulips

Bright red Rose peeking out from the fence

Yellow flowers sprouting from the ground

Full moons rising

I have always been fascinated by the sight of the full moon. Last Friday coming home from work at dusk, I noticed the almost full moon (known in scientific terms as "waxing gibbous" moon) rising amongst the bare tree branches and dark lavender sky. Had to take a picture:

A glowing yellow dot amongst bare branches.

Earlier tonight I noticed the full moon glowing amongst the increasing clouds. A big bright yellow dot rising from the rooftops and bare tree branches. I tried to get a good picture, but it was difficult with all the streetlights (damn light pollution) and the zoom focus on my Samsung is not as great (my previous cell phone-a Nokia had great zoom power). This is the best one:

Bright glowing moon eerily rising from neighborhood rooftops.

New Years resolutions and considerations

2011 is almost gone and 2012 is about to take its place in about less than twenty-four hours. I hope 2012 will be a better year than 2011.  The current year had its good moments, but it could have been a better year though.

I have many thoughts about 2012 in which I want it to be a good year, and the only way it can be a good year-is that I have to make it happen myself.  I have a feeling that a lot is going to happen in the upcoming year and I hope it is good. There are several things that I have been thinking about, some of them are resolutions but some are considerations:

1. Not multitask as much and take one day at a time. Lately I have been doing a lot of multitasking due to the holidays and nearly exhausting myself. Even tonight I have been multitasking: doing two loads of laundry, surfing the net, playing an online game, and even chatting online with a family member. I need to only concentrate on one thing and remind myself that Rome was not built in a day.
2. Like multitasking, I should not overload my mind on so many things, and only concentrate on the most important thoughts.
3. Sometimes I just got to take a deep breath and get my thoughts together, and not let unpleasant minutiae get to me. As my late father said: "consider the source," which was the best advice he ever gave.
4. I should always think positive no matter what. 
5. If I want it to be a good day, it is up to me to make it a good day.
6. I should always make time for exercise, even if I am not in the mood, I need to make the time.
7. I need get at least 8 hours of sleep, drink plenty of water, just only drink two carbonated beverages a day, and remember to practice portion control.
8. In order to save more money, I should only buy the things I need, and make more of an effort to save my pocket change. I also need to cut out cable television, which I hardly watch anymore.
9. I have accumulated so much stuff (i.e. old clothes, toys, kitsch items) that I really don't need anymore. All this stuff is taking up a lot of space in my apartment and I seriously need to downsize. I have already made some progress on this: during the past two months I have donated old books from college, old history and craft magazines, and some old toys to the local thrift shop.
10. No matter what, I should always consider this mantra:

I wish everyone a wonderful and awesome 2012! Remember it is up to you make it a great year!   : )

Hole in a cloudy sky

I went out to the store during a lull in the torrential rain and wind today. On the way back home, I saw a patch of bright blue within the clouds. I thought my eyes were giving me problems or I was coming down with a migraine, but it was a blue sky peeking out from the moving clouds. I only had seconds to catch this photo, because the clouds were moving real fast.

Wishing a Merry Christmas!

Saw this house earlier tonight-lights were on and in every part of the house and in the front yard. Some of the lights were even flashing and blinking. It reminded me of the Griswald's house in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Lights

One of the things I like during the holiday season is seeing Christmas lights and displays. Seeing such a sight brings joy and wonder, as well as a smile.

Apartment balcony lights brightly shining.

Colorful lights at the Ronald McDonald House.

'Christmas under the sea' store display.

Glowing apartment porch lights.

A big pufferball ornament at the local art gallery.

A shopping mall display with a gift wrapping reindeer.

The same mall display, which was sadly tucked away in a corner where it could be hardly seen.

Lighted Christmas tree decorated with baby toys, bottles, and bibs.

Apartment tower balcony lights of various colors.

Lighted toy duck display during the day at the beach.

Lighted Jack-in-the-box display at the beach.

I hope these pictures brought you joy, wonder, and a smile too. Merry Christmas!!