Paraprosdokians & The Back Roads of Ohio

A “Sunday Drive” post.

“A paraprosdokian /pærəprɒsˈdoʊkiən/ is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, or larger discourse is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect.”

Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

 I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars but check when you say the paint is wet?

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever.

  I drove up to the one stoplight in a nearby town today and saw the entire police force (2?) with lights flashing, I studied the scene. On one side of the street, men are throwing straps over a semi load of hay. Further down 3 men are rolling one huge bale of hay down the street. "Wow!"  "I'm glad I quit drinking. Look at the tests they're giving now."

Paraprosdokians & The Back Roads of Ohio..  A “Sunday Drive” post.

Technorati Tags: Paraprosdokians,BACK ROADS,OHIO,WANDERING

***All photos were taken near Lancaster,Ohio on Sunday 1/11/2015.. Many are near Clear Creek Metro Park*****

Spring Hike at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park---#Ohio

OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO

How about a hike at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park near Lancaster,Ohio… (on the first day of spring)

Park includes  a couple of walking loops with nice diversity; old homestead and great views.

As spring progresses the diverse habitats will make the park  a great place to look for wildflowers and birds.

Well maintained walking paths

Chestnut Ridge Metro Park

EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Ohio

I took a side trail to check out the old farmstead.

Steep trails = workout opportunity as cross country runners and backpack hikers know from their training sessions in this four season park. Look at the next photo closely. Do you see the cross country runners?

I didn’t have my camera ready when the three deer went through the woods just beyond the downed log.

Pond: Children 15 and younger and adults 60 and older can fish from the pond's two docks. An observation deck for viewing waterfowl and wildlife is also available.

There is one LONG HILL that makes for a good workout.. close to home..well maintained…and scenic…. Hope everyone had a great 1st day of spring..

 Sorry I couldn’t resist:: What is the moral of this story?

While hiking in the woods, Nate and Sam found this huge rock
which had an old iron lever attached to it. Etched into the
rock was the following inscription: "If this lever is
pulled, the world will come to an end!" Nate wanted to pull
the lever and see what would happen, but Sam, being a
paranoid pessimist, greatly feared this! He said to Nate
that if he tried to pull the lever, he'd shoot him! In a
daring attempt, Nate lunged for the lever, and sure enough,
Sam shot him! What is the moral of this story? Better Nate than lever!

 

Technorati Tags: OHIO,METRO PARK,CHESTNUT RIDGE METRO PARK,SPRING

OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO,OHIO

Meditation and Love of the Woods/Trees for some Quality Time in the Hocking Hills of Ohio

  #8 count down to 500th blog post…….amazing…

A QUALITY TIME POST

“Trees in particular were mysterious, and seemed to me direct embodiments of the incomprehensible meaning of life. For that reason, the woods were the place that I felt closest to its deepest meaning and to its awe-inspiring workings.”  C.G.Jung

An Often forgotten principle: Go to the Woods to Meditate.

Those “woods” may be  referred to as A wilderness,A hill or mountain,A forest,Our secret places,A place apart.Where is your “secret place?

“Listening to trees is  a relaxation and meditating exercise. Listening to the communications of trees  is a way of attuning our hearing and paying more attention to what we hear around us rather than letting sounds invade our space unawares.” Find a suitable place for spending time with the trees. Choose a place that is convenient and relatively easy to get to yet as isolated from the noises of humanity as possible.Be prepared to spend a decent amount of time (in my case several hours). Notice the silence and the sounds with greater precision. For the rest of the story CLICK

Woods Does & Don'ts:: Never step over a log or fallen tree if you can’t see what is on the other side! Always check above for widow makers and dead branches before starting your meditation/listening.Carry your cellphone with you in case of emergency (no reception at my spot though) but turn it off while meditating. Make sure someone knows generally where you are going and be prepared. Most importantly, be comfortable and if you have time/inclination pack a lunch.

 

In the beginning there was silence, and it was good. When I visit my “secret spot” in the woods the only sounds I hear are of nature but for one exception, an occasional airplane overhead. This past fall Linda and I went into the woods and spent an hour or so listening to the leaves fall and hit the ground and each other. The time spent that day I will remember forever.

“Silence has the ability to centre us and connect us with the essential harmony of the universe.” The Joy Of Silence… Silence: "the dissolving of the limits of selfhood until the infinite alone seems real". Tennyson

“When I enter a forest, the first thing I smell is the damp earth combined with old fallen leaves. For me this earthy smell has an instinctive calming effect.” Several years ago my son and I were camping in the Canadian “Bush”. My son went outside the tent and came right back in and said,”Dad there is a wolf on the other side  of the inlet.” I was comfortable in my sleeping bag and really wasn’t sure about the wolf so I said, “it’s time to get some sleep  no wolf is going to bother us.” Well, the wolf got at lot closer to the tent.  The smell was unmistakable and powerful. I then thought Oh…..Shi…….t…..Photo below from that camping trip.

 My hair wasn’t white then LOL.(Summer of 1989).. Take a handful of leaves and crush them,inhale deeply and enjoy the aroma. 

Lying on my back in the woods admiring the intricate interplay of branches and breeze….Once in awhile a short nap is appropriate. Photo below is about the same spot at a different time of year

This is “my spot”….A small short ridge with the land falling off in three directions and  easily accessible from only one direction.I can be there in about 45 minutes. A short drive and hike. I know you are suppose to “STAY ON THE TRAIL” BUT “MY SPOT” is about 100 feet off a little used trail and it is quiet.

 Thanks for stopping by and get out there and enjoy the day…………

Meditation and Love of the Woods/Trees for some real QUALITY TIME

Technorati Tags: Meditation,Love,Woods,Trees,QUALITY TIME

Another good read::  The Smell Of Nature

I almost always start my meditation with this prayer: Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love.Where there is injury, pardon.Where there is doubt, faith.Where there is despair, hope.Where there is darkness, light.Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

Ludwig Richter

 

 In the HOCKING HILLS OF OHIO