Tears

You don't get everything you want. Even you want it most, you may not have it. It is shown in Jordyn Wieber's tears and ours. But there is no blame or excuse. You have to be the best of the best. You has to be ready when opportunity comes. Even you have trained and prepared all your life for this dream, you have to be prepared for this very moment. If you are not the toughest, you should never complain or whine.

Marta said it was like someone passed away feeling. Speechless. There is no point to blame the plan that Wieber wasn't the last to compete on floor. She is just not good enough to compete for the all round final. Poor girl. It looks like Shawn Johnson history replay. Those biggest favorites have too much pressure, and they are still in teens.

Life is not perfect. Sometimes we just want to cry for the things we want most but can't have. Life goes on. We move on. At certain point in the future, if we still have that disappointment memory and look back, are we going to be in tears again?

Blue Bird and White Cat

There is a small beach shop along the dock side of Beaufort, NC where we found layers of well-designed soap blocks (loaf).

They are sold by inch. Their sight, smell, shape and feel are the trademark of Primal Elements soaps.The colors and shapes coordinate with unique scents for a beautifully fragrant presentation; all soaps contain vegetable glycerin, which moisturizes the skin with a luxurious lather that rinses cleanly away. Pure essential oils and popular fragrance oils are used for optimum fragrance.

What we picked are: a white cat with kind of lanvender smell, and a blue bird with rain drop or forest smell. We wish we have others as well.

Lovely gift for your beloved ones on holidays. You can order them from online too.

http://www.primalelements.com/vegetable-glycerin-bar-soap.html

We did like the experience when we watched the shop staff cut the piece of soap from a long soap loaf. Some day, I am going to make one of those myself. Just need action ....

Enjoy!

Side note: here hello kitty soap I have

Triangular Theory

The triangular theory of love is a theory of love developed by psychologist Robert Sternberg. In the context of interpersonal relationships, "the three components of love, according to the triangular theory, are an intimacy component, a passion component, and a decision/commitment component."

1.Intimacy – Which encompasses feelings of attachment, closeness, connectedness, and bondedness.

2.Passion – Which encompasses drives connected to both limerence and sexual attraction.

3.Commitment – Which encompasses, in the short term, the decision to remain with another, and in the long term, the shared achievements and plans made with that other.

"The amount of love one experiences depends on the absolute strength of these three components, and the type of love one experiences depends on their strengths relative to each other." Different stages and types of love can be explained as different combinations of these three elements; for example, the relative emphasis of each component changes over time as an adult romantic relationship develops. A relationship based on a single element is less likely to survive than one based on two or three elements.

The three components, pictorially labeled on the vertices of a triangle, interact with each other and with the actions they produce so as to form seven different kinds of love experiences (nonlove is not represented). The size of the triangle functions to represent the "amount" of love - the bigger the triangle, the greater the love. The shape of the triangle functions to represent the "style" of love, which may vary over the course of the relationship:

(1) Nonlove "refers simply to the absence of all three components of love. Nonlove characterizes the large majority of our personal relationships, which are simply casual interactions."

(2) Liking/friendship is "used here in a nontrivial sense. Rather, it refers to the set of feelings one experiences in relationships that can truly be characterized as friendship. One feels closeness, bondedness, and warmth toward the other, without feelings of intense passion or long-term commitment."

(3) Infatuated love: "infatuation results from the experiencing of passionate arousal in the absence of intimacy and decision/commitment...like Tennov's limerance." Romantic relationships often start out as infatuated love and become romantic love as intimacy develops over time. Without developing intimacy or commitment, infatuated love may disappear suddenly.

(4) Empty love is characterized by commitment without intimacy or passion. A stronger love may deteriorate into empty love. In an arranged marriage, the spouses' relationship may begin as empty love and develop into another form, indicating "how empty love need not be the terminal state of a long-term relationship...[but] the beginning rather than the end."

(5) Romantic love "derives from a combination of the intimate and passionate components of love...romantic lovers are not only drawn physically to each other but are also bonded emotionally" - bonded both intimately and passionately, but without sustaining commitment.

(6) Companionate love is an intimate, non-passionate type of love that is stronger than friendship because of the element of long-term commitment. "This type of love is observed in long-term marriages where passion is no longer present" but where a deep affection and commitment remain. The love ideally shared between family members is a form of companionate love, as is the love between close friends who have a platonic but strong friendship.
(7) Fatuous love can be exemplified by a whirlwind courtship and marriage - "fatuous in the sense that a commitment is made on the basis of passion without the stabilizing influence of intimate involvement."

(8) Consummate love is the complete form of love, representing an ideal relationship toward which people strive. Of the seven varieties of love, consummate love is theorized to be that love associated with the “perfect couple.” According to Sternberg, these couples will continue to have great sex fifteen years or more into the relationship, they cannot imagine themselves happier over the long-term with anyone else, they overcome their few difficulties gracefully, and each delight in the relationship with one other. However, Sternberg cautions that maintaining a consummate love may be even harder than achieving it. He stresses the importance of translating the components of love into action. "Without expression," he warns, "even the greatest of loves can die." Thus, consummate love may not be permanent. If passion is lost over time, it may change into companionate love.

Crystal Coast Lady

At a summer evening, I boarded Crystal Coast Lady cruise (right) for a planned Sunset Dinner Cruise experience along the beautiful crystal coast (NC). It turned out there would be a thunder storm. So we would miss a nice evening with well-known beautiful sunset colors along the islands. The little one was excited because she thought that would be special – no one had have a thunder storm cruise before, without worrying if it was safe sailing under the thunder storm. The captain assured everyone it would be very safe. Here are some pictures I captured before the thunder storm. Crystal lady was almost the only ship sailing that night. It was special while we dined inside with pink color thunders outside.

Life is not perfect. When things happen beyond your expectation, are you going to be disappointed, frustrated, upset, or take a U-turn, and be positive and be happy with it? How to re-gain your inner calmness and enjoy whatever you have instead of those you should not have?

You may be disappointed with a couple of classes that are not so good this week. Do you need to complain and upset with the wasted time, or think positive like you had spent and enjoyed precious time with a friend to know something different, or do something funny, or just togetherness doing nothing?

Even with something really can upset you like a friend’s betrayal, you can still let it go. Friend betrayed you - then he may be not good choice as your friend. Not everyone in this world will like you. Why bother to be frustrated by certain unworthy people. Be positive and happy!!! No matter whatever others say!!! Your friend will still love you even you are not perfect!!! :-)))))))

Cute 3

I am alone but not lonely, what's the opposite?

I am not alone but I am very lonely?

Okay, I bite my tail ...... sorry for saying that

the old bad hair day is long gone, I like cute short hair cut

that cute old scholar with glasses, although he insists he is young :-)))

politics and economics are very important!!!

I told you I can not eat buffet anymore .... :-(

So warm and safe still ....

my darling, you are so cute and sweet

peace in mind forever

Imaginable Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus.

According to Hesiod's Theogony, she was born when Cronus cut off Uranus' genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the sea foam (aphros) arose Aphrodite. Thus Aphrodite is of an older generation than Zeus.

Because of her beauty, other gods feared that jealousy would interrupt the peace among them and lead to war, and so Zeus married her to Hephaestus, who was not viewed as a threat. Hephaestus was overjoyed at being married to the goddess of beauty and forged her beautiful jewelry, including the cestus, a girdle that made her even more irresistible to men. Her unhappiness with her marriage caused Aphrodite to seek out companionship from others. Aphrodite had many lovers, both gods like Ares, and men like Anchises. Aphrodite also became instrumental in the Eros and Psyche legend, and later was both Adonis' lover and his surrogate mother. Many lesser beings were said to be children of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite had no childhood: in every image and each reference she is born as an adult, nubile, and infinitely desirable. She is often depicted nude in many of the images she is in. Aphrodite, in many of the late anecdotal myths involving her, is characterized as vain, ill-tempered and easily offended. Though she is one of the few gods of the Greek Pantheon to be actually married, she is frequently unfaithful to her husband. Hephaestus is one of the most even-tempered of the Hellenic deities; in the narrative embedded in the Odyssey Aphrodite seems to prefer Ares, the volatile god of war, as she was attracted to his violent nature. She is one of a few characters who played a major part in the original cause of the Trojan War itself: not only did she offer Helen of Troy to Paris, but the abduction was accomplished when Paris, seeing Helen for the first time, was inflamed with desire to have her—which is Aphrodite's realm.

hmmmm   stop it

Sea Beauty

Herbert James Draper (1863 – 22 September 1920), born in London, was an English Classicist painter whose career began in the Victorian era and extended through the first two decades of the 20th century.

He was educated at Bruce Castle School in Tottenham and then went on to study art at the Royal Academy. He undertook several educational trips to Rome and Paris between 1888 and 1892, having won the Royal Academy Gold Medal and Travelling Studentship in 1889. In the 1890s he worked also as an illustrator, settling in London.

1894 was the beginning of Draper's most productive period. He focused mainly on mythological themes from ancient Greece. His painting "The Lament For Icarus" from 1898 won the gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900 and was later bought for the Tate Gallery by the Chantrey Trustees. He was also responsible for the decoration of the ceiling of the Drapers' Hall in the City of London. Though Draper was neither a member nor an associate of the Royal Academy he took part in the annual expositions from 1890 on. In later years as the public tastes changed and mythological scenes became less popular he concentrated more on portraits.

During his lifetime Draper was quite famous and a well known portrait painter. In his last years his popularity faded, though there has recently been a revival of interest in his work on the art market. The sale of his painting The Sea Maiden by the Royal Cornwall Museum in 2010, to help secure its finances, generated debate about the policy of disposing of art works for this purpose.

Read James Allen

Our Epoch

James Allen (November 28, 1864–1912), born in Leicester, England, was a British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry and as a pioneer of the self-help movement. His best known work, As a Man Thinketh, has been mass produced since its publication in 1903. It has been a source of inspiration to motivational and self-help authors.

In 1898, Allen found an occupation in which he could showcase his spiritual and social interests as a writer for the magazine The Herald of the Golden Age. At this time, Allen entered a creative period where he then published his first book of many books, From Poverty to Power (1901). In 1902, Allen began to publish his own spiritual magazine, The Light of Reason, later retitled The Epoch.

In 1903, Allen published his third and most famous book As a Man Thinketh. Loosely based on the biblical proverb, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," the small work eventually became read around the world and brought Allen posthumous fame as one of the pioneering figures of modern inspirational thought.

Following his death in 1912, his wife continued publishing the magazine under the name The Epoch. Lily Allen summarized her husband's literary mission in the preface to one of his posthumously published manuscripts, Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success saying:

"He never wrote theories, or for the sake of writing; but he wrote when he had a message, and it became a message only when he had lived it out in his own life, and knew that it was good. Thus he wrote facts, which he had proven by practice

·         From Poverty to Power; or, The Realization of Prosperity and Peace (1901)

·         As a Man Thinketh (1902)

·         All These Things Added (1903)

·         Through the Gates of Good; or, Christ and Conduct (1903)

·         Byways of Blessedness (1904)

·         Out from the Heart (1904)

·         The Path of Prosperity (Copyright, 1907 by R. F. Fenno & Company, Barse & Hopkins New York)

·         Poems of Peace, including the lyrical-dramatic poem Eolaus (1907)

·         The Life Triumphant: Mastering the Heart and Mind (1908)

·         Morning and Evening Thoughts (1909)

·         The Mastery of Destiny (1909)

·         Above Life’s Turmoil (1910)

·         From Passion to Peace (1910)

Inner Calmness - Morning & Evening Thoughts

First Morning
In aiming at the life of blessedness, one of the simplest beginnings to be considered, and rightly made, is that which we all make every day-namely, the beginning of each day life.
There is a sense in which every day may be regarded as the beginning of a new life, in which one can think, act, and live newly, and in a wiser and better spirit.
The right beginning of the day will be followed by a cheerfulness permeating the household with a sunny influence, and the tasks and duties of the day will be undertaken in a strong and confident spirit, and the whole day will be well lived.

First Evening
There can be no progress, no achievement, without sacrifice, and a man worldly success will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance.
And the higher he lifts his thoughts, the more manly, upright, and righteous he becomes, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and enduring will be his achievements.

Second Morning
None but right acts can follow right thoughts; none but a right life can follow right acts; and by living a right life all blessedness is achieved.
Mind is the Master-power that moulds and makes. And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes. The Tool of thought, and, shaping what he wills, Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills;- He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass: Environment is but his looking-glass.

Second Evening
Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought-evolved being. . . .
And he as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect, he ceases to fret and fume, and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.

Third Morning
To follow, under all circumstances, the highest promptings within you; to be always true to the divine self; to reply upon the inward Voice, the inward Light, and to pursue your purpose with a fearless and restful heart, believing that the future will yield unto you the need of every thought and effort; knowing that the laws of the universe can never fail, and that your own will come back to you with mathematical exactitude-this is faith and the living of faith.

Third Evening
Have a thorough understanding of your work, and let it be your own; and as you proceed, ever following the inward Guide, the infallible Voice, you will pass on from victory to victory, and will rise step by step to higher resting-places, and your ever-broadening outlook will gradually reveal to you the essential beauty and purpose of life. Self-purified, health will be yours; self-governed, power will be yours, and all that you do will prosper.
And I may stand where health, success, and power Await my coming, if, each fleeting hour, I cling to love and patience; and abide With stainlessness; and never step aside From high integrity; so shall I see At last the land of immortality.

Fourth Morning When the tongue is well controlled and wisely subdued; when selfish impulses and unworthy thoughts no longer rush to the tongue demanding utterance; when the speech has become harmless, pure, gracious, gentle, and purposeful, and no word is uttered but in sincerity and truth-then are the five steps in virtuous speech accomplished, then is the second great lesson in Truth learned and mastered. Make pure thy heart, and thou wilt make thy life Rich, sweet and beautiful.

Fourth Evening
Having clothed himself with humility, the first questions a man asks himself are:-
"How am I acting towards others?"
"What am I doing to others?"
"How am I thinking of others?"
"Are my thoughts of, and acts towards others prompted by unselfish love?"
As a man, in the silence of his soul, asks himself these searching questions, he will unerringly see where he has hitherto failed.

From James Allen's "Morning & Evening Thoughts" (1909)

Bear Hunt in Bear City

New Bern, North Coralina was founded by Swiss and German immigrants in 1710, named after founder’s hometown Berne, Switzerland. “Bern” is an old Germanic name for bear, thus the bear becomes the city’s symbol. There are about 50 fiber class bear statues in Great New Bern area. The New Bern downtown has 27 of them. Each bear was adopted by different organization or group. The bears were hand-painted and have a theme desired by the owner. For example, there is Police bear in front of Police department, a harvest bear at the location of farmer’s market, and a resort play themed bear in Fairfield Harbor resort community that I stayed for my vacation. During 2012 bear city bear hunting, I collected totally 14 of them. So this bern bear hunting mission has to be completed sometime in the future. How lovely the bear is.  :-)))))

New Bern City Hall Bear (US and New Bern Flags)

Inside Bear Plaza

Business Man

Farmer's Market

Police Department

Server bear on Main Street

Colonial Bear

Lawyer Bear

Pirat Bear at the Neuse river side

Dentist Bear at the corner ot dental office

Fairfield Harbor Community Bear

Fairfield Harbor Resort bear

Fairfield Harbor resort bear

New Bern Realtor office

The Kiss - Gustav Klimt

The Kiss (1907 - 1908)

Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907)












Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862– February 6, 1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects. Klimt's primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism—nowhere is this more apparent than in his numerous drawings in pencil.

Klimt's 'Golden Phase' was marked by positive critical reaction and success. Many of his paintings from this period used gold leaf; the prominent use of gold can first be traced back to Pallas Athene (1898) and Judith I (1901), although the works most popularly associated with this period are the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907) and The Kiss (1907–1908). Klimt travelled little but trips to Venice and Ravenna, both famous for their beautiful mosaics, most likely inspired his gold technique and his Byzantine imagery.

In 2006, the 1907 portrait, Adele Bloch-Bauer I, was purchased for the Neue Galerie New York by Ronald Lauder for a reported US $135 million, surpassing Picasso's 1905 Boy With a Pipe (sold May 5, 2004 for $104 million), as the highest reported price ever paid for a painting.