Sheem Sheem Shalah-Beam

Daily writing prompt
You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?
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The mystery of the Genie-in-a-bottle becomes very clear after watching “Being John Malkovich.” Two-thirds of the way into the movie–maybe a little bit more–tidbits of secrets are revealed about our social-memory-complex in revealing what was well understood by the Draconian race and culture–which had or still has–working knowledge about reincarnation.

Our vessel, our channel, our local-energy network–basically, our bodies–are curated from our spiritual wishes into genetic code to act out experientially–lessons we wish to learn in our incantation–our decanting–so to speak–as a wonderful wine to drink in the sip of life here on this beautiful blur of blue and green.

Earth.

World leaders would do well to heed this wisdom.

My first wish is to elevate consciousness in the art of the mundane, and make it colorful and psychedelic like a Sunday walk in the upper Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco.

Below is my latest rendition of the cable car terminal at California and Drumm:

Wish 1. Put this on your wall or carry it as an image on a tote or travel bag:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cali-and-drumm-cc-blur-douglas-m-griggs.html?product=canvas-print

My second wish would be to peel away the veneer of a blue-class driving job–and turn it into a whole new Taoist way of living–using a title reminding us of the ‘Zen of Motorcycle Maintenance.’ And re-Kindle it into a ‘Line Trainer’s Guide’ for navigating a Talking Heads’ notion of a large automobile–a bus–onto the ‘Streets of San Francisco;’

Wish 2. Put down the remote and find some good reading light and open this:

The Art of Driving a Bus

Finally, to turn graffiti into high-art–like Peter Quill’s (aka Star Lord’s) messy cockpit and cabin–into a Jackson Polloch painting! So as to ‘work’ and live in a loft in Manhattan with paint all over my coveralls and forget the 9-to-5 pension world altogether–using a title heralding the recall of Tommy James and the Shondells–released in a Crimson and Clover album cover in 1968. Now–updated to graffiti on a bus in San Francisco in the 2000’s, by yours truly:

Help me reach my destiny by looking at this below:

–to turn this image of graffiti inside a bus–

Wish 3. To comment on these canvas prints found in this url link on the button:

Layers of History

And ship it, damnit.

What have I got to lose?

Just do a little rubbin! Or as Starlord would do–Do a dance off!

My Dream Come True

What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

I would attempt to find a place to stay that has a nice view and a pool.

2rmOceanview.
Oh, and a paddle in case I’m in a riptide, and a great wave rider!

Haring and the Bean

Daily writing prompt
Who are your favorite artists?
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If you live in Honolulu and are familiar with the Duck Butt Cafe, you’ll be in the know about artist murals and graffiti in the Kaka’ako–the industrial slash artist neighborhood bordering downtown sandwiched between the Civic Center and Waikiki. My favorite artist in Hawaii is Bean, who recently took his life– may he Rest In Peace.

But like any good artist, his legacy and followers remain to treasure his style, one theme of which–is the duck bill, or bird’s bill in his paint on concrete media. The image above is classic Bean.

Nationally, though, I also like Keith Haring–who like Bean–used public ways and means to put up art. Keith in the subway tunnels of Manhattan, and Bean in the concrete walls dividing properties in Kaka’ako. Either way, I like artists who paint on walls and put their stuff into tiny balls!

img_2971

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/yardstarter-douglas-m-griggs.html?newartwork=true

The iPhone Generation

Your life without a computer: what does it look like?

I needed two MacBook Pros to keep me sane!

Though the intent of this daily prompt is probably referring to desktop computers and software—and the screen time that consumes our attention at our desk— the life we have with our phones does count as part of our daily routine.

Numerous studies show that people born in the era of the smartphone behave differently than those born before the flip phone. I know I wax nostalgic for the old days of texting and talking with the cool shaped eggs resembling a Star Trek communicator.

Having been a transit operator for 21 years, I got used to having my phone off most of the day. It is still easy for me to go out the door and leave my smartphone at home and charging. And I don’t feel left behind or out.

Life without a constant computer companion is okay. I am more aware of my surroundings and my own body. I enjoy special moments along the way.

I do know that I have a serious problem in pulling away from my desktop. I miss in-person meetings and I am late more often than not. I admit my personal relationships suffer from the availability of a computer.

But the convenience can’t also be denied.

Oh well, I guess I can put this blog post up on my WordPress site and wait for the results to come in!

No More AV Ports after 2017

What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

Learning more about computers’ ports when going to buy technology items online.

I just turned-in my perfectly good 2017 MacBook Air for a new 2022 model and the new laptop is fantastic.

But I was shocked when I found out that the new MacBook Pro and Air don’t have video out ports that I can use on my HDMI ports for my new flatscreen television. Apps connecting devices to the television just aren’t compatible or reliable enough when going through blue tooth or wireless connections.

Fortunately there’s online used devices available for purchase that will allow users to hook up directly with cable.

Oh well, I hope I get better with due diligence in shopping for tech!

Sharing the Road

Learning how to Yield the Right of Way has been a lifelong challenge.

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

I love smiling and waving a car, truck, or bicycle on at a 4-way stop when we arrive at the same time to the stop line. Especially when they are on my right.

Do you know what Right-of-Way means? How about Stop Line?

The line at any intersection is the stop line.

If a vehicle is across the stop line, cross walk, or lane marker, that means that the road is blocked and is not safe to continue forward. This is why folks don’t understand why driverless cars don’t move. In a word, AI has the potential traits of a safe driver. Too bad following the rules doesn’t mean peaceful transportation!

Behind this trait of sharing is the principle of patience.

https://www.daoofdoug.com

Learning How To Eat Less–and do More

Daily writing prompt
What could you do more of?
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Subject: Re: Keep Pushing! email topic from my trainer Doug Woo:


Coolness.  I am going to bed right after this….early too because I did not get enough sleep for the last two nights, so I am going to catch up now rather than take in caffeine and sugar tomorrow and go off of my food plan.  Thanks for the tip about the 16 ozzies of cold water in the morn, and YES to packing the lunch.  This sets up my day for success and not failure.  And I will go to the gym BEFORE I doodle with email and then watch my whole lunch hour go away without any exercise.    THANKS FOR THE THOUGHT.

Doug Woo <doug.woo@hotmail.com> wrote:

First of all, I know you are working hard to achieve your ultimate fitness goals.  This takes time, and requires a total commitment of consistent workouts and proper nutrition.  I know this process is noteasy, so here are some easy steps to follow:

1. Wake up to water

From now on, drink at least 16 ounces of chilled H2O as soon as you rise in the morning. German scientists recently found that doing this boosts metabolism by 24 percent for 90 minutes afterward. (A smaller amount of water had no effect.)

2. Eat breakfast every day

Within an hour of waking, have a meal or protein shake with at least 250 calories. Cap your intake at 500 calories.

3.  Pack your lunch

By using this approach, you’ll keep your body well fed and  satisfied throughout the day without overeating. You’ll also provide your body with the nutrients it needs for your workout, no matter what time you exercise.

4. Keep your exercise routines consistent

For the best results, workout 3 – 4 times per week

5. Don’t up too late at night

Lack of sleep may disrupt the hormones that control your ability to burn fat.. Over time, this leads to fat storage around your belly.

Try these steps, and let me know how they are working out for you.  Keep Pushing!!!

Doug Woo

Body For The Ages, General Manager

Fitness Specialist/ Personal Trainer

doug.woo@hotmail.com

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.

Why Am I Talking? — W.A. I. T.

Daily writing prompt
What could you do more of?
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There’s only one thing I–or anyone else for that matter need to do: Start Listening!

End of Story. . .

Print!

What would life be without Shuffle?

Daily writing prompt
What would your life be like without music?
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Here I am looking at art with my ipod shuffle ready to go. . .

And on the soccer field stretching after a jog around the fence. . .

And while on a walk . . .

I can’t figure out why we had to go to big bulky phones, just to have music. These were cheap, portable, and easy to switch tracks and volume–without looking. Sigh.

New Year’s Eve Free Ride

Daily writing prompt
How do you celebrate holidays?
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Halloween is a few days away as I write this chapter, and it’s a Saturday and already I have seen costumes last night, and even earlier in the week. But the holiday season vibe is picking up and everyone is in the change of gears of the season. The air is crisp and clear. The trees and grasses are making themselves known in the warm still afternoon air by the scent they let out as we walk by.

I don’t know about you, but when I recall working on All Hallows Eve, and driving through the Castro on the 24 or the 33, my brain jumps ahead to the next disaster, New Year’s Eve. For some reason, especially on New Year’s Eve, there is the prevalent thought to let it all go. But now, not having had a drink in 27 years, and not really missing it at all, I begin to see a false promise about New Year’s Eve. What the heck is the deal for a calendar click, and why does it call for a drink?

To celebrate the New Year. Oh, yeah. But you might find that transit operators have a different idea about it if working on New Year’s Eve! Perhaps this title should read, “You Get What You Pay For.” If Muni is free from 8 p.m. on, what do we know from experience about things that are free? Such as the futon frames we see scattered on our sidewalks, or the Christmas trees on the corner on January 7th? Worthless. Those riding home at 9 p.m., great deal. But as 10:30 p.m. approaches, and folks are headed out to party, the buses become not unlike the 8x in Chinatown, packed. And so on to the most memorable story I have about New Year’s Eve, or should I say, New Year’s morning, at about 2am.

There on the island on Duboce, just outside of the tunnel, stood over 100 people taking every square inch of the island. And this is a two-car island. With overflow intending passengers waiting on the curbside sidewalk. But trains leaving downtown and the Ferry Plaza fireworks were exiting the tunnel and going out of service to return to the barn at Balboa Park. The cars were full and dumping off more people to wait to go out to the avenues and the Sunset. Muni’s free service ended at midnight that year, and only the regular motor coach N Judah service remained. One standard diesel bus every half hour. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that one standard forty foot motor coach every half hour, does not cover those coming from two-car light rail vehicles every ten minutes.

I was pulling-in on the 22 line and gasped at the huge crowd waiting at Duboce and Church. Once again relieved that I was a crosstown line. And to my horror of horrors, I looked left at Market and saw a new operator driving an outbound N Judah motor coach on Market, ready to make the turn to Church and then left to Duboce. Oh my God.

If ever there was a ninth level of hell this was it. She had a relatively empty bus, as those downtown were taking the underground to head away. If I could relive this moment, I would have run to her coach at the light before she turned to Church and warned her about what lay ahead on Duboce. Take the Haight Street route and don’t look to the left! Put on your neutral face and pray you can make it through the stop sign! I never knew what happened, but suffice it to say it was not pretty.

This operator, who ever she is, should win some kind of hero’s medal of honor for having to make her next stop. I read in the paper the next Monday about complaints about owl service, but nothing, nothing, in writing the day after, could do justice for the battle cry that must have gone up when she made the turn to the island. All I can say is girl, you deserve a vacation to Hawaii or some other fantastic place. Whew! It was really cold that night, and I wonder how her next trip went. Peace be with you!

http://www.daoofdoug.com

The Art of Driving a Bus Thank You for Riding
The Art of Driving a Bus