Hawaii is known for its shave ice, but our local Taiwanese population introduced a different kind of ice treat to the islands a couple of years ago. Taiwanese snowflake ice comes in many of the island’s favorite flavors and the presentation is a joy to behold.
Per Krista at the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge:
“Twist” is filthy with meaning: it’s the unexpected, it’s surprise, it’s even an amazing ice cream choice. What does “twist” mean to you?
Kɪlauea Iki Pit Crater
Do you think of manmade when you hear the word monument?
I am always inspired by Mother Nature’s work, so naturally I had to go a different direction. Differences make our word more interesting after all.
Volcanoes are monuments to Earth’s origin, evidence that its primordial forces are still at work. — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park home page.
This week, for the WordPress Daily Post weekly photo challenge, Ben asks:
In this week’s challenge, show us your take on a monument (broadly defined). It could be a fresh angle on a well-known tourist site, or a place nobody knows outside your community. It doesn’t even have to be an official monument. A legendary coffeehouse, a churchyard cemetery, the remains of a treehouse you’d built as a kid — anything can be monumental as long as it’s imbued with a shared sense of importance.
Have you seen one of these?
This morning started out uneventful. I dropped my son off at a school event and then decided to take advantage of the trade winds by taking a morning stroll with my camera.
It was such a nice day that I took longer to explore than normal. Yet, I was just about to return home when I noticed her out of the corner of my eye.
Initially I assumed she was an escaped pet. Still, she is pretty and since I’ve never seen one like her, I was curious. Imagine my surprise when I found:
Abnormal coloration in birds: Melanin reduction « Sibley Guides.
It seems that birds can have decreased melanin causing coloration changes. My bird is likely a Red-crested Cardinal. Read Cardinals not always redbirds | The Columbus Dispatch to see photos of two other birds who have different coloration related to this.
Whether these differences are just a fluke or related to something larger is unclear. Still with humans having more problems with vitamin D deficiency and now birds changing colors due to melanin, it does make one wonder. Could they be related? Will we see an increase in birds of a different color?
Honestly, I do not know, but I do know that differences are okay and evolving is not necessarily a bad thing. Today I’m grateful I saw this bird while I had my camera. I for one will continue to embrace differences. I hope you will too.
I purposefully avoided posting this past week. My meeting with the new administrator of the former school was disappointing although I was proud of how I handled myself. I wonder if he can say the same.
I lost hope in ever getting through to anyone at the school because this man is known for implementing an empathy program at his former school yet, I did not feel any compassion from him. Aloha was certainly missing from this meeting.
Still, I know there are good people in this world and my children are safe. They are both amazing and kind despite the world and despite the former school’s attitude about doing the right thing. I am not going to pursue trying to talk sense into the senseless anymore. I have more important things to do with my time than waste it on those who seem unable to be compassionate. My family needs me to drop it, so this is my last post about my daughter’s school experience. She is happy again and is working towards her goals and that is all that really matters to me. I am grateful that we have supportive people in our lives and both of my children have good friends.
The news out of Connecticut last Friday shocked my very core and deeply saddened me. The news media continues to promote stigma instead of the need for more support and understanding, and the list goes on and on.
I pray for a kinder world for all children. I send prayers to the families in Newtown. I send out prayers that someday the rest of the world will understand that supporting children and their families should be the norm regardless of whether the child has a physical illness, a developmental delay, a neurological difference, a mental diagnosis, a physical difference, or any other difference. We support victims of senseless violence and of disease and we should, but we should also support everyone else.
I wonder what if:
Would things have turned out differently last Friday? We have no way of knowing for sure. Yet, I can imagine a different outcome. I can imagine a kinder, more understanding world where everyone really is safe.
I hope I am not alone. I hope you can imagine it too. Help to change your corner of the world to a more supportive place for all. Help the Adams of the world before it is too late. Everyone deserves more kindness in this world.
Delightfully Different Life 