tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53490288825669417792024-02-06T23:33:23.896-08:00Reflex ReactionsI always know where I was headed once I get there.Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-24306109748034887682014-05-13T02:43:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.655-07:00#atozchallenge 2014 Reflections post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz8xv4GH9qiOmyjjJoDMnr9RVRtMp-2etwfyIBSj3Xu4HRnSIqhYLlCb0CF2RoW15BSSnWfK5YRuD6ZjV-cka8wd3lIvTF8KdnwiU73I7-KTHD5SiunTbZUfYUe2Fhb05-6GQDfsxfpIu/s1600/A-to-Z_Reflection_%5B2014%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHz8xv4GH9qiOmyjjJoDMnr9RVRtMp-2etwfyIBSj3Xu4HRnSIqhYLlCb0CF2RoW15BSSnWfK5YRuD6ZjV-cka8wd3lIvTF8KdnwiU73I7-KTHD5SiunTbZUfYUe2Fhb05-6GQDfsxfpIu/s1600/A-to-Z_Reflection_%5B2014%5D.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></div><br />I survived the 2014 A to Z Challenge did you?<br /><br />There's a few too many people who deserve extra mentions for me to list them all here. <br /><br />In general thanks need to go out to -<br /><br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.dk/" target="_blank">Arlee Bird</a> and the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/co-host-helpersassistants-2014.html" target="_blank">co-hosts (and their helpers)</a> - a lot of effort goes into keeping the sign up list tidy.<br /><br />People who shared posts and left comments (so many were heart warming)<br /><br />Organisers and participants of the #AZChat on twitter (leading up to and during the challenge) It was a great initiative and certainly improved the social/interactive aspect of this years challenge.<br /><br />The challenge is certainly a great source of information and inspiration as far as improving the overall look and feel of a new blog too. <br /><br />My most successful post was my theme reveal post. The hop within a hop - another great idea. Makes me wonder about the benefits of a smaller hop. This years #Atozchallenge 'festival' attracted over 2000 followers. *crowd cheers*<br /><br />It was overwhelming. I found it impossible to keep up the pace I set in the first couple of weeks and was grateful that I had scheduled the tail end of the alphabet before the challenge started. Otherwise I might have dropped out.<br /><br />A big congratulations to everyone involved.<br /><br /><br />My theme this year was '26 Greatest loves of my life.' Below are the links and a brief explanation of each post -<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Adam</a><br />5 years old - who wants to play kiss chasey?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_2.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Lets call him Baranaby</a><br />6 years old - risk taker.<br /><br /><a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_9.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Cazaly</a><br />Love me - love my football team<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_4.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Dog</a><br />I was surprised by the amount of tears - mine and the commenters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call-him-erik.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Erik</a><br />There can only be one number 1<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_7.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Father</a><br />Seems a lot of people wish they had a Dad just like mine.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Geronimo</a><br />First embarrassing kiss moment.<br /><br /><a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_9.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call them Hormonal teenagers</a><br />keeping my love hormones to myself until I sorted out the brutes from the gentlemen.<br /><br /><a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_10.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call her Ida</a><br />What's in a name - A lot if your name is Ida<br /><br /><a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_11.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Jeremiah</a><br />A girls best friend... is sometimes a man.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_12.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Ken</a><br />His Mother put an end to this budding romance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_2675.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call it a Love song</a><br />A real love song - from a friend... written, recorded, perfumed, and you-tubed :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-great-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_15.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call her Mama</a><br />Pearls of wisdom because there isn't enough words.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_16.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life... Nature</a><br />Nurture nature = nurture yourself.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call-himoh-my.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Oh my Odin</a><br />Riské but worth it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_17.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Peridot</a><br />Adult love<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-quiet-im.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call it Quiet I'm reading</a><br />Confessions of a reader.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call it Reflexology</a><br />Soul to sole.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_22.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Sherlock</a><br />Hard to resist.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_23.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call The Truth</a><br />Fundamental.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_24.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Ulysses</a><br />1 heart = 3 hearts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call-himvent.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Vent</a><br />Forgive and forget.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-great-loves-of-my-life-lets-call.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call them Wazza and Wyn</a><br />Write wrong to right wrong.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_28.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life - sounds like X's</a><br />Ode to my exe's<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-boyfriends-lets-call-himyarra.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Yarra</a><br />Open your heart.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-loves-of-my-life-lets-call-him-zoro.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life lets call him Zoro</a><br />Save the best to last.<br /><br />Thanks for joining me along the way. I enjoyed sharing this part of my life with you.<br /><br />Are you joining the <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/05/whos-ready-for-4th-annual-post.html?showComment=1399974503166#c4034537058512813252" target="_blank">A to Z challenge road trip</a>? <br /><div><br /></div>Ida<br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" target="_blank">A to Z challenge</a> here.</span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-43005094880846257502014-04-29T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.716-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Lets call him... Zoro. #atozchallenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxTherO0qhnZJD4NxfWoOA7R-IqX80c226FhFmVK0LWeD7CLuUrtVSMezpyDEYTeWRtETG1daH9JYkbo6FbhqjVpBc22OU7UY8XKsTBHGaAM8OY5eI0a3SjfPAQvtcRxgP45qW5vxsbbo/s1600/Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxTherO0qhnZJD4NxfWoOA7R-IqX80c226FhFmVK0LWeD7CLuUrtVSMezpyDEYTeWRtETG1daH9JYkbo6FbhqjVpBc22OU7UY8XKsTBHGaAM8OY5eI0a3SjfPAQvtcRxgP45qW5vxsbbo/s1600/Z.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />He was 'knockin' at my door, ringing' my bell and tappin' my window too,'* and I still didn't recognise him. What I saw in front of me wasn't the man I thought I wanted... Maybe this is what 'love is blind' really means. He had no choice but to give up. 11 years later, when I had finally grown up, he returned. The timing was perfect.<br /><br />It's the end of the alphabet but the beginning of my Greatest Love of all.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10294376_693886074002242_3106990475060960501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10294376_693886074002242_3106990475060960501_n.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NB: Sometimes you have to the cut it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />If ever a love there was, this is the easiest of them all.<br /><br />"Because, because, because, because -<br /><br />Because of the wonderful things he does."**<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zoro is of course The Captain, My Captain- you can read a snippet of our love story in the 'about me' section under the title of this blog. For the whole story, you have to wait until my WIP (currently titled 'To-get-her') becomes an inspirational romance novel.<br /><br />I'm telling the story from his perspective. More people need to read about what goes on in the minds of men just like him.<br /><br />His favourite Jim Rohn quote. "When you know what you want, you'll find a way to get it."<br /><br />He sails and see's lots of shooting stars. He wishes the same wish every time...I might name it 'Three stars one wish.'<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><br />Since our relationship began I have learned: The partner of your dreams doesn't always look/sound/dress/behave/act anything like you expected. <br /><br />Dreams come true so make sure you're dreaming good ones.<br /><br />I realise today that I wrote this entire theme for him.<br /><br />5 years ago he sent me this song.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9ydFezuTDHs" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br />Today I'm sending it to him.<br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for joining us during the #atozchallenge, I have been both busy and remiss (thanks Zoe) the last two weeks, but I'll pop in occasionally and see how you're doing. See you at the reflections post. </div><br /><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*lyrics from<a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/im-gonna-knock-on-your-door-lyrics-eddie-hodges.html" target="_blank"> "I'm gonna knock on your door"</a></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">**lyrics from <a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/were-off-to-see-the-wizard-lyrics-wizard-of-oz.html" target="_blank">"We're off to see the wizard"</a></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-59814078990716021142014-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.724-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him..Yarra #atozchallenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Y</div><br /><br />At 36, I was fast recovering from my favourite mistake. I had my <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_4.html" target="_blank">dog</a> and my tiny apartment in a big city and I was living next door to Ben Jackson, the DJ/musician who wrote me a <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_2675.html" target="_blank">love song</a>.<br /><br />Quite regularly I'd spend an hour or two at seedy nightclubs at one of his rave sets.<br /><br />At that time of the night the silhouette of society gathers to the beat of the bass. The Rave culture cops a bad wrap but at the heart of the movement is music and the underlying principle is of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=plur" target="_blank">(PLUR)</a>. I met a lot of <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=grouse" target="_blank">grouse</a> people of all ages. Some of them crawled right under my wings, others helped my fly. Yarra did both.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/eeyrsja_Disco_Dancers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/eeyrsja_Disco_Dancers.png" height="286" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/" target="_blank">www.publicdomainvectors.org</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Yarra was a superb dancer, full of confidence and insecurities. We connected somewhere in the middle of our vast age difference. He gave me insight into the how the younger generation communicate. Constant text messaging. I could have been a Cougar, but there is no way I could have taken myself seriously. Our 'textashionship' was enough.<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/5/c/3/6/11954226271169522330transmission_tower_ante_01.svg.thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/5/c/3/6/11954226271169522330transmission_tower_ante_01.svg.thumb.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">www.clker.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It came at a time when we both craved, and wanted to give, some attention... without the heartache.<br /><br />Our private bubble. A connection to the world of 'I'm Okay - You're Okay.'<br /><br />Over time, the hours between text messages grew longer apart. He's a Dad now and I moved far away to be with The Captain. We have Facebook. He approves of the name I chose for him.<br /><br />Yarra is said to be a mispronounced aboriginal word that means 'ever flowing river.' It is the name of the biggest river that runs through our home town - the city of Melbourne.<br /><br />Those text messages taught me to express myself, unguarded. Evidence of which can be seen in the hundreds of pages of dialogue between The Captain and I, before we lived on the same continent.<br /><br />Successful flirting, for me, is the perfect balance of adventure and boundaries. It makes both the flirter and flirtee feel good about themselves. It is tasteful and respectful. <br /><br />Have you enjoyed harmless flirting or do you tame your flirt for fear of being misunderstood? Do you think flirtee should become an official relationship status? He's my flirtee... it works for me.<br /><br /><br /><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span class="s1">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span class="s1">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span class="s2">Google+ </span></a></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">***</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div class="p3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s3"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html"><span class="s4">A to Z challenge</span></a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html"><span class="s4">26 Greatest loves of my life.</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-65196835719033903982014-04-28T04:03:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.735-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call them...sounds like X's #atozchallenge<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3sYwpmOysvpnzt_RPTqejZ-5US1jkJuw5qRbADPkPw4vbiApEa7Kduhal9Jh0ZZrucwNQM-dtNh18OgQDQ-5QYHVby46vI8UmZ9mwmX4d-7jVmbfubdtzEo6xbEsArfDvZXdAzuGyATU/s1600/X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3sYwpmOysvpnzt_RPTqejZ-5US1jkJuw5qRbADPkPw4vbiApEa7Kduhal9Jh0ZZrucwNQM-dtNh18OgQDQ-5QYHVby46vI8UmZ9mwmX4d-7jVmbfubdtzEo6xbEsArfDvZXdAzuGyATU/s1600/X.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Wow we are at X already.<br /><br />This journey through the Greatest loves of my life started with an idea to write about all my ex boyfriends... so this is an ode to my eXes. <br /><br />Somewhere between my childhood loves and greatest love all, I found writing about my exes tedious. I had to find other things to write about, like my <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_4.html" target="_blank">dog</a>, <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life.html" target="_blank">career</a>, <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-great-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_15.html" target="_blank">mum</a>, <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_7.html" target="_blank">dad</a> and the <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life-lets-call_16.html" target="_blank">world around me</a>... but I did manage to clear up at least one remaining wound - so I'm claiming a victory.<br /><br />There are plenty of people that got no mentions. Some I dated once (possibly the best night of my life.) Some lasted a Summer (or two) like a repeated holiday romance...<br /><br />I can't remember how many times I have been proposed too. The two earliest proposals were from guys I didn't even consider my boyfriends - I can't even remember their names - so they didn't get a mention either.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/wedding/.cache/bride_groom_vows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/wedding/.cache/bride_groom_vows.png" /></a></div><br /><br />It used to annoy me that guys wanted to marry me. It made me feel less sexy. I didn't appreciate attracting marrying kinds when I was wild about the lead singer of the local club's band... and all he wanted was my friend. <br /><br />I once believed I could die of a broken heart. I still don't really understand what compels some young women to chase after bad boys, when all we really desire is a good guy. What I do understand is that women want to be loved... and men want to love them. The second we start trying to force someone to make us feel how we want to feel - something is wrong. <br /><br />Growing up I realised the pain I felt in the past was not caused by my exes but my own ego. The pain of a defeated ego doesn't compare to the pain of loss. The loss of beloved family members (including pets) and friends to accidents, suicide and illness.<br /><br />It is true that each of my exes is still a part of me. I remember kisses, lingering touches, places we visited and moments of truth with all of them... (I am aware that they remember too) Some of my exes I want to forget, some I want only the best for and at least one I know of, will just have to settle for what's best for them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br />I'm just so glad I have never been married.<br /><br />Why do you think some people have lots of relationships and others marry their first loves?<br />Is living together as big a commitment as marriage? Is it necessary to get married? If not for love than what are the other benefits of marriage? Why did you decide to marry? If you have been married twice or more, what made you decide to marry again?<br /><br />I'm asking these questions because I have a hard time understanding why people do it.<br /><br />I still do believe in love that lasts a lifetime. If mariage wasn't an expectation (and didn't save you money on taxes and insurance or help with visa applications) would you do it again and why? <br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br />***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">P.s if you are on my email list - sorry about all the updates... I had no idea what direction this post was heading in when I started it. </div></div><div><br /></div><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-14220408403931115922014-04-25T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.742-07:0026 Great Loves of my life - Let's call them Wazza and Wyn... #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxvC5KJ4Dt9PDOMny1AARjaGWIfolcBQiyUBQsGlABspnkUqx6s6ISe5vbFX5RCRaYpyj7ucnhBgeZSiW3tUu9M7KxulKlhArRn0TsqP5G2l8EdWL95cW1iRT0brL_pWh6FHVJlXLGZNC/s1600/W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxvC5KJ4Dt9PDOMny1AARjaGWIfolcBQiyUBQsGlABspnkUqx6s6ISe5vbFX5RCRaYpyj7ucnhBgeZSiW3tUu9M7KxulKlhArRn0TsqP5G2l8EdWL95cW1iRT0brL_pWh6FHVJlXLGZNC/s1600/W.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Wazza was a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bonzer" target="_blank">bonzer</a> bloke. He didn't just help frail old ladies across the road, he carried them. He was a sculptor of metal and concrete, and a jack-of-all trades. Wyn was a marine steward whose car needed some minor repairs. Always on the look out to save some money she offered to clean his office in exchange for his time.<br /><br />It was lust at first barter. The <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bingle">bingle</a> that could have been fixed in a few hours ended up taking much longer. After all the cleaning and repairs were done Wazza personally delivered her fully re-sprayed good as new car to her apartment. She cooked him mango stuffed chicken breasts with a melody of spring vegetables and smashed potatoes.<br /><br />Life's up and downs had taken their toll on Wyn. She was wary of men and some of their lecherous ways, but this sort of attention couldn't be ignored. Wazza was patient and persistent. After several months, and a few settled <a href="http://australiandictionary.net/blue" target="_blank">blues</a>, they became a couple in love.<br /><br />A year later he asked her to move into a new house with him. At the slightest suggestion she would think about it, he started moving her furniture out of the apartment. He was brave. At first she worried about protecting her assets then she embraced his enthusiasm. The procrastinator in her was in complete awe.<br /><br />They moved into a mini mansion with a pool and hosted parties that lasted for days. They endured each others bad habits and encouraged each other to heal old wounds. They argued about manners and the future, sometimes for weeks. It was harsh at times but they always managed to talk about or laugh their problems away.<br /><br />After a while his almighty laugh began to annoy her and their words became repetitive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/r34e9q1eErU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They were both unhappy. He ended the relationship. Wyn hated him for giving up, her family knew nothing of separations, commitments were meant to last. Wazza's family was a web of ex-inlaws and half brothers and sisters. He couldn't understand what she was trying to hold onto.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the future began to take shape Wyn realised Wazza was right. Their relationship had passed its use by date and she was much better off without him. Wazza was cracking open another <a href="http://australiandictionary.net/stubby" target="_blank">stubby</a> when he heard Wyn had found love again. He was happy for her and proud of his decision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Have you been guilty of holding onto a person that is holding you back?<br /><br />Can you look back on your time together and have a good laugh? <br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-3411437676162089182014-04-24T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.752-07:0026 Loves of my life - Let's call him...Vent #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNXmaZR8W76Er6cIGUgHnpGlj-_WSGljkmbtF0hI5hCx_DYomv3tcmOx-efG4JCG9J5QwgF6h_Xq5owfonUW_K5JxvCTrBTSqKsSJx2ssEeMtsaDKnXBOHKvNUcHCTOpte7AkvZ8oG3tX/s1600/V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNXmaZR8W76Er6cIGUgHnpGlj-_WSGljkmbtF0hI5hCx_DYomv3tcmOx-efG4JCG9J5QwgF6h_Xq5owfonUW_K5JxvCTrBTSqKsSJx2ssEeMtsaDKnXBOHKvNUcHCTOpte7AkvZ8oG3tX/s1600/V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNXmaZR8W76Er6cIGUgHnpGlj-_WSGljkmbtF0hI5hCx_DYomv3tcmOx-efG4JCG9J5QwgF6h_Xq5owfonUW_K5JxvCTrBTSqKsSJx2ssEeMtsaDKnXBOHKvNUcHCTOpte7AkvZ8oG3tX/s1600/V.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I resisted every advance, but I enjoyed that he was advancing.<br /><br />The attraction to his arms, was instant.<br /><br />At first it was easy to say no.<br /><br />He said he knew I wanted to be with him.<br /><br />I didn't want him to be with anybody else.<br /><br />I made deals with him I knew I couldn't keep.<br /><br />He wished he had kept me a secret.<br /><br /><br />I discovered love can be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovesickness" target="_blank">mental illness</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence" target="_blank">Limerence</a>, not love. Love is not always sacred or meaningful. Sometimes it is used as a form of self deprecation - self abuse.<br /><br />It was short lived, but if I could choose to forget one relationship this would be it.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1538903_448571618612013_540632555142952594_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1538903_448571618612013_540632555142952594_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thispageisaboutwords?fref=ts" target="_blank">Wordporn</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />When one of my girlfriends told me that he had betrayed me, I didn't believe her at first. <br /><br />I broke my own rules to be with him. I ignored the warning signs. I made excuses for him and pretended things that mattered, didn't. Who betrayed who?<br /><br />The hardest lesson of my betrayal was self forgiveness. The reward was grace.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="432" scrolling="no" src="//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/469063441?et=YJPrmT02EU2KXiAwsMPcGA&sig=2oL9zql-DZTIjWD6XHHSfH6-p4AzLT4BZAoQ-IRUE3s=" width="300"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />This love story is really about my girlfriend that was brave enough to tell me the ugly truth. I still love her.<br /><br />Have you ever had to pay the price of betrayal?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div><br /></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-39677576688131254192014-04-23T16:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.760-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him... Ulysses #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNWU8y17QG-MsV1BYx5EvIruAh0aKus7nWPoJgSRCOjLVct_pxKRp7wxK6K7qcipFGXMCKnBfi9sBseOy5_tUvveArqSOOeCxKv8ca4DE8PSZvWz9zYzO0nuUt9Ocj2ehyphenhyphenHRFl-MpF3p-/s1600/U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNWU8y17QG-MsV1BYx5EvIruAh0aKus7nWPoJgSRCOjLVct_pxKRp7wxK6K7qcipFGXMCKnBfi9sBseOy5_tUvveArqSOOeCxKv8ca4DE8PSZvWz9zYzO0nuUt9Ocj2ehyphenhyphenHRFl-MpF3p-/s1600/U.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I still have the love letters Ulysses wrote to me. I remember thinking I'd keep them as proof that I had at least once in my life, been loved. <br /><br />He looked like James Dean, complete with Levis and white t-shirt.<br /><br />There was a huge age difference between us. He was also a Dad with full custody of his two children.<br /><br />I felt safe, happy too, but like I was just biding my time. We were together almost 3 years but he was a shift worker and I spent most of time working away at sea, month on and month off, with lots of travelling in-between.<br /><br />He was right about our age difference in the end. I was in my early twenties and my desire for freedom was stronger than my desire for love. I wanted to love him more. When I realised I couldn't, I knew I'd cause more pain if I stayed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/5/k/8/K/0/valentine-heart-arrow-with-question-mark-th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/5/k/8/K/0/valentine-heart-arrow-with-question-mark-th.png" height="141" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image courtesy of <a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">clker.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Breaking up with him was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life. Leaving his young children and not explaining why was harder... I didn't fully understand why at the time.<br /><br />Almost 20 years later, through the magic of facebook, I caught up with him and his children again. He's doing mighty fine. His son is a Dad now. His curious little girl is in her early twenties now.<br /><br />I spent time catching up with her on Skype. We talked about the stray-cat I found that became their much loved family member for many years. We talked like women who had grown up together, or family members that hadn't seen each other in decades. It was a proud moment when she said the love we had shared was lasting. <br /><br />I recall many woken nights spent wondering if I had made the right decision to leave him. The pull drawing me back towards him was a difficult force to resist.<br /><br />Ulysses was a warrior in my mind, strong, dependable, a great Dad and a humble bloke. Just not my bloke.<br /><br />I knew the journey could have been a good one, but the destination wasn't a place I could picture us being together.<br /><br />Have you ever caught a train and realised you were on the wrong line? Did you hit the emergency brakes or take in the view for a while? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-67404001998992094142014-04-23T01:02:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.774-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call it...The Truth #atozchallenge<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0ZszEEwYv7OEkWGys1iAu0LiglNqvBJqXGtl3nk0uJpJ5uhGpaKUBkGDOItD9KxRdD0ZkBheqi0Hj5YUyQMdFUOKjD1KYFasPOG_xOViJPDB5eA2sHpm2WCBCrPDh4xelEOfBmeML3SB/s1600/T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0ZszEEwYv7OEkWGys1iAu0LiglNqvBJqXGtl3nk0uJpJ5uhGpaKUBkGDOItD9KxRdD0ZkBheqi0Hj5YUyQMdFUOKjD1KYFasPOG_xOViJPDB5eA2sHpm2WCBCrPDh4xelEOfBmeML3SB/s1600/T.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Ever noticed when kids tell the biggest lies? They don't want to get in trouble, they want people to believe they are smarter or stronger than they really are, or that their life is fabulous when it's full of fear. <br /><br />They want to be just like their parents (and their parents know everything). It seems logical to act as if you just know everything too. As children, lack of knowledge feels more like a weakness than an opportunity to learn something new. <br /><br />There is evidence to suggest the more intelligent a child is <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/43893/" target="_blank">the better they lie</a>. Perhaps Pinocchio is a better role model than we ever suspected. I ask children if their story is made up, real or both. I tell them I love listening to all types of stories. Fairytales are real to very young children. They don't know the difference between fact and fiction. (Neither do some sociopaths - not all lies are precious.)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/1/e/1/1/11949864711542079685smiley116.svg.thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/1/e/1/1/11949864711542079685smiley116.svg.thumb.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">clkr.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I have a special relationship with Truth, all seekers do. I made a conscious decision to commit to telling the truth at the age of 18. It took me a few years to break the habit of lying... I constantly would re-start sentences with - 'let me start again that was a complete lie.'<br /><br />The most incredible thing occurred, people stopped believing me when I told the truth. I never had people question my lies, yet my truth was questioned all the time. It seems I only told believable lies but my life stories were unbelievable...<br /><br />It wasn't easy to tell the whole truth, sometimes it's still hard - especially when it's something you know will cause pain. Especially, if it's something you don't want to admit to yourself. Especially, when you have done something wrong.<br /><br />The truth is I can't be bothered writing much more about Truth. Like most things in life when you seek it - you will find it (and/or it finds you.)<br /><br />My personal motto: Be true to yourself and honest to everyone else.<br /><br />Has finding out the truth about someone's lies ever really shocked you?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-91100984090442834092014-04-21T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.782-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Lets call him Sherlock. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfrCPJdIs-ezrEW8k8_1Ujwlx0MnaRfu32XKvhEL5SL6k-QJ1Q4DMNQ-0nN7RJCasUQ43WpWBZUxyGFA9zkhlIM90CV9xkL5vuEarlq30X9j7LrAY__mBUsnfOy7dHCUhEo6A1g72uikY/s1600/S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfrCPJdIs-ezrEW8k8_1Ujwlx0MnaRfu32XKvhEL5SL6k-QJ1Q4DMNQ-0nN7RJCasUQ43WpWBZUxyGFA9zkhlIM90CV9xkL5vuEarlq30X9j7LrAY__mBUsnfOy7dHCUhEo6A1g72uikY/s1600/S.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sherlock and I were workmates. We became friends. I didn't want to fall in love with him. I was convinced my heart still belonged to the <a href="http://www.idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/04/26-greatest-loves-of-my-life.html" target="_blank">Rooster</a>. I have never fooled anyone, quite as well as I have fooled myself.<br /><br />Unlike the Rooster, Sherlock was generous with his time and attention. He worked on the road, I was in charge of arranging his jobs. I lived close to the office. He began to visit during his breaks. It was convenient. He had a strong jaw and solid stature. We were both single. Well, technically he wasn't in <u>a</u> committed relationship. <br /><br />He had two women in his life. One he couldn't let go of, and one he wanted to hold onto. They were unaware of each other, or that he chased every other woman he came into contact with.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/8/6/6/2/1194984823427644192heart-ballons_benji_park_01.svg.med.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/8/6/6/2/1194984823427644192heart-ballons_benji_park_01.svg.med.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">clkr.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We promised each other not to develop any strong feelings towards each other. Just hang out, morning coffees, drinks after work, fun. This is how I developed my rule of three. Whether it's a relationship, drinks or a kiss - after the third time, something changes. Before you make your third move consider the consequences.<br /><br />Here's a poem, inspired by Sherlock circa early 90's.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two feet on the ground</div><div style="text-align: center;">your head in the air.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Searching for something</div><div style="text-align: center;">that will never be there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You go out with strangers</div><div style="text-align: center;">and stay out till late.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Skull a few lagers</div><div style="text-align: center;">then call 'em your mates.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lend a few promises.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Repeat a few lies.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Create misdemeanours</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the sake of no ties.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div>The journey to self<br />is hard for a while.</div><div>Start with the truth </div><div>and feel your self smile.<br /><br /></div><div>It's no fun to be loved,</div><div>if love can't be seen.</div><div>Accept who you are, </div><div>and what you have been.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Have you ever fooled yourself into loving the wrong person, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-55459645738924922582014-04-20T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.790-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Reflexology. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZU_VUcwsRNYnWWyyHN8nOsOl_HCXyBtTk21aAVRdLw0jaNRex4GAuyaHJazuuvyF25iRaSCp_9s22KxpJoNEjnE8trlSfRuCKO9gLs0PU-IWMqe0Gp41J5_I35bm-EfgR78T71BFHfjJ/s1600/R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZU_VUcwsRNYnWWyyHN8nOsOl_HCXyBtTk21aAVRdLw0jaNRex4GAuyaHJazuuvyF25iRaSCp_9s22KxpJoNEjnE8trlSfRuCKO9gLs0PU-IWMqe0Gp41J5_I35bm-EfgR78T71BFHfjJ/s1600/R.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Happy feet. Happy people.<br /><br />There are points on the feet that relate to the whole body. They are called reflexes. Reflexology is the study of those reflexes<br /><br />The first time I tried Reflexology I didn't get excited but I was impressed that the Reflexologist could tell I had back trouble and hormonal issues, just from touching my feet.<br /><br />I never saw her again, but I decided I wanted to know what she knew.<br /><br />A step in the right direction.<br /><br />I eventually enrolled at the Australian School of Reflexology and Relaxation. In 2003 I won Student of the year and the Trevor Steele memorial award. Since then I have worked with both longterm and short-term clients, sometimes as little as a few minutes.<br /><br />I can tell a lot from your feet and hands.<br /><br /><h3>The problem(s) with Reflexology.</h3><br />MRI scans have shown the optical nerve light up when the eye reflex is worked, but there is no exacting science that proves there is a link between the point on your foot to the organ we say it is.<br /><br />The other huge problem is there is no definitive map of the feet. They vary as much as the humans that produce them. Though, they are similar in sections. The toes generally represent the head, the balls are the upper torso, the arch - mid torso and the heels map the pelvis. The left foot is the left side of the body. Right foot, right side. But our brain controls the opposite side of the body so I question this, at least for the brain reflex. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpF4T3yH4Zsi4dzvu_9CCMeVmGd40hIiR4nhB4YUtbIMvbOdThHaj8kE6bKwTQEeEzehpT7AX7YRv-eTTn99xzzm5dwlhdR85c1Uvb4C7bCZb6bo3xiVa_DDC2r41Nx2Nf3Aph43CfcqE/s1600/IMG_2776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpF4T3yH4Zsi4dzvu_9CCMeVmGd40hIiR4nhB4YUtbIMvbOdThHaj8kE6bKwTQEeEzehpT7AX7YRv-eTTn99xzzm5dwlhdR85c1Uvb4C7bCZb6bo3xiVa_DDC2r41Nx2Nf3Aph43CfcqE/s1600/IMG_2776.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>We disagree about firm pressure, gentle pressure or intuiting client needs. Sequences differ, as do the descriptions of how they work and what they are capable of.<br /><br /></div><div>There isn't enough research.</div><div><br />There's also the placebo effect to consider.<br /><br /></div><div>It doesn't alway fix what you want it to, sometimes it doesn't seem to work at all.<br /><br />Perhaps the biggest problem is that a lot of people don't love their feet.<br /><br /><h3>What I love about Reflexology is:</h3><br />It gives me a reason to lay my hands on people, soul to sole.<br /><br />In the beginning I keep an eye on the time. I treat both feet wholly and equally from top to bottom. I determine the primary reason for the visit and adapt a plan to suit it. We discover areas of tension and points that are sensitive or painful together. I let the feet tell their story. Every pair of feet have a story.<br /><br />If your curious I explain as much as I can. Most of the time clients fall asleep, so I wait. I want it to be therapeutic and feel good. I compare the before and after of the feet and the way you walk and talk. I ask that you to do the same.<br /><br />It's a complimentary medicine. I've seen it reduce swelling, pain, asthma attacks and the heart rates of mothers-to-be and their unborn children. I've seen it improve sleep patterns, blood pressure and bowel movements. I know therapists who have built successful clinics treating allergies, childhood bedwetting and hormonal imbalance/fertility problems. Time and time again I've seen it reduce stress.<br /><br />Positive research has shown the benefits of it's use in cancer treatment and palliative care. <br /><br />It is an ancient therapy and both a science and an art.<br /><br />Even if you don't like your feet, it feels good. Just like pedicures or foot baths feel good. Only better.<br /><br />I found it at a time in my life when my head and heart were to messed up to make any sense of the world around me. It grounded me.<br /><br />My pudgy, curled up, ugly toes lengthened and became beautiful. Seriously I went up a shoe size.<br /><br />Have you ever tried Reflexology? Are you a foot lover or hater?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;">Nurture your soles. Nurture your soul (or at least have a foot bath.)</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-86295556087760703082014-04-18T15:00:00.000-07:002021-05-26T10:34:57.290-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life... Quiet I'm reading. #atozchallenge.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrpA6msHh_IpVzSZ71-3dRyqCKo1Umgy1bwNIktYx74hgvN9ZJ3jDDZNpP0gVQGFOSSeagqVYGOcj46Ygukh1Du-MRLTHL5B_FTsruKCI6W4RfNR_1t9MhqLxS1fOszl_WFiA2xFwAuH5/s1600/Q.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrpA6msHh_IpVzSZ71-3dRyqCKo1Umgy1bwNIktYx74hgvN9ZJ3jDDZNpP0gVQGFOSSeagqVYGOcj46Ygukh1Du-MRLTHL5B_FTsruKCI6W4RfNR_1t9MhqLxS1fOszl_WFiA2xFwAuH5/s1600/Q.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />"I don't care much for reading" quipped my 11 year old bonus child.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wpclipart.com/education/books/.cache/words_wisdom.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wpclipart.com/education/books/.cache/words_wisdom.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://clckr.com/" target="_blank">clkr.com</a> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /> "How could you not like reading?" questioned my 10 year old God child. "I've been to India, outer space, happy, terrified and every other emotion. I get to time-travel, meet people from all over the world and learn all sorts of stuff just by opening a book. I mean how could you not love books?"<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b><br /><h3><b style="text-align: center;">Confessions of a non-literary book worm.</b></h3><br />Bonus child enjoys reading now, but only the allotted 1/2 hour his parents make him do every day. Sometimes he forgets to ask me the time. One minute less is never an option. Over 30 minutes and I stop counting... every adventure filled extra minute.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have devoured books since I was a child. I often got into trouble for reading too much. I would hide in the <a href="http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html" target="_blank">dunny</a> (people tend to leave you alone when you're in there). I would use a torch under the blankets in bed and stay up all night just to read another page... the end of the chapter... until the battery went flat.<br /><br />I used to hide novels behind my text books, and sneak in a few pages during class.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/b/g/p/w/I/E/catching-the-reading-bug-md.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/b/g/p/w/I/E/catching-the-reading-bug-md.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://clkr.com/" target="_blank">Clkr.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I download lots of free e-books to the Kindle app on my phone. Buying books is off the budget for now. There's not a huge range of English novels buried in Danish libraries. I promise I will get better at leaving reviews. I have sent email's or private messages to the authors before and have always been pleasantly surprised when they respond.<br /><br />I try to analyse what's going on in the head/heart of every author I read.<br /><br />I am not a grammar <strike>nazi</strike> totalitarian *correction for obvious reasons. I am more impressed with people that can speak two or more languages with slightly off grammar, than a perfectionist in one language - Just because you can't get your apostrophes in the right places doesn't mean you don't have an interesting story to tell.<br /><br />My biggest confession: I rarely remember the names of authors or titles of their books. I can't even think of one book immediately, where I remember both. Who wrote Wuthering Heights? What was the title of my favourite David Malouf novel? Was Tom Sawyer the name of the novel or the character...? Somewhere in my heart and <a href="http://www.sdbif.org/Newsletter/Article16.htm" target="_blank">dendrites</a> each story resides.<br /><br />(Didn't Einstein say he refused to remember anything he could look up in a book?)<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/E/f/F/i/1/w/worm-reading-book-th.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/E/f/F/i/1/w/worm-reading-book-th.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it a book worm? No. It's a baby dendrite getting longer with every new tale.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.clker.com/search/book+worm/1" target="_blank">www.clkr.com</a></span><br /><div><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Have you got any book-worm confessions?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-5321964238768199802014-04-17T11:17:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.806-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life. Let's call him....Peridot. #atozchallenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1_gkQTOmzeE8ywMwmNziIcgD-u0z6PAVle9WYTb5pbJCSQ9MD2603BbVwy1rA17qMq37-_FwswB24-WmOWlp6adp2qC4Z4jky2LATpV8qA898ecjN35wf5v9c1emQNDKD2f3dQyNMI61/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1_gkQTOmzeE8ywMwmNziIcgD-u0z6PAVle9WYTb5pbJCSQ9MD2603BbVwy1rA17qMq37-_FwswB24-WmOWlp6adp2qC4Z4jky2LATpV8qA898ecjN35wf5v9c1emQNDKD2f3dQyNMI61/s1600/P.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />It started in the Spring of '89. Peri was 18, well travelled, tall and handsome. He had no concept of jealousy. He was chivalrous, spontaneous and a bird lover.<br /><br />He took me places I'd never been. The ballet, faraway mountains and the depths of my imagination. When we ate breakfast at Melbourne's fanciest venue, the Hyatt on Collins, his eyes sparkled while Edith Piafs <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DigASbnqpUo8&ei=2ZkRU4PyNfPb4QSkhoGYDw&usg=AFQjCNGxZppAjnSPF1oYq6WPJxRuwnMKNQ&sig2=o8Mfi6P2jkvzZbVdk8j-dg&bvm=bv.62286460,d.bGE" target="_blank">Non, ne je regrette rien</a> crackled over the speakers. He wanted to impress me. I remember thinking it was weird he liked opera! We were an unlikely pair.<br /><br />In a time when a landline was the only form of communication, I planned chance meetings. I waited for the phone to ring. Checked the dial tone when it didn't, and tried to think of good reasons to call him. I practiced sounding genuine.<br /><br /></div><div>Fate bought us together - over and over again. Destiny, and his lust for <a href="http://australiandictionary.net/walkabout" target="_blank">walkabouts</a>, kept tearing us apart. He came in and out of my life like a proverbial yo-yo, oddly that's what he used to call me. Our relationship status was 'if you love someone let them free,' when they come back they're yours, but only for short bursts of intense drama"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/valentines/valentine_hearts/broken_heart/.cache/wounded_heart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/valentines/valentine_hearts/broken_heart/.cache/wounded_heart.png" /></a></div><br /><br />It was a long-distance, drawn out relationship. For years I dreamt him beside me and woke with empty arms. It became an obsession that manifested into an A-grade addiction. It spawned journals, poetry and lyrics to unfinished rock ballads.<br /><br />It was all 9 planets aligned, love at first sight, don't tell me it's not true love, I'll always love you, no-one understands our love, I want you to be a mountain, you'd rather be a river, cliche after cliche, unrequited love. Neither of us found what we were looking for.<br /><br />Letting go was the lesson. Cry me a waterfall, but the year finally came when I couldn't cry anymore. I let go of the fantasy.<br /><br />Peri taught me that my words affected other people, in ways I couldn't predict. Emotions didn't exclusively belong to women. Men feel too.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div>Have you ever invested all your emotions into one person? Fallen in love with someone you thought was an Eagle (partner for life) but turned out to be more of a Rooster?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.free-graphics.com/" target="_blank">free-graphics.com</a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.free-graphics.com/clipart/Animals/Birds/comic_chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.free-graphics.com/clipart/Animals/Birds/comic_chicken.jpg" height="320" title="Rooster, cartoon rooster, chicken" width="206" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cock-a-doodle-do<br />26 Greatest loves of my live<br />#atozchallenge</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br />***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a><br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Read more about:<br /><br /><div style="color: #042eee;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to the <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life</a>.</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-52460783426516248162014-04-16T15:00:00.000-07:002021-05-27T06:07:15.065-07:0026 loves of my life - Let's call him...Oh my Odin. #atozchallenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/3/d/4/6/13165436461407647247Buckle%20Up.svg.thumb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/3/d/4/6/13165436461407647247Buckle%20Up.svg.thumb.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; text-align: center;">AC WARNING -</span><span style="color: red; text-align: center;"> </span>THE CONTENTS OF THIS POST MAY REQUIRE AN ADULT CONTENT WARNING. According to the 'Blogging from the A to Z challenge' guidelines, </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only clues I have as to why are because:<br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">a) It was incredibly difficult for me to tell the story the way I wanted to tell it.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">b) No adult ever discussed this with me when I was young. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL4H6W0qAqG6P-CBFi6FLkjkuk6E_HeqQZZUdDguFIHMfICExhehARioooqMH7okCqd3_1ed2RZWPbftvSi7T3O8gDaS35pY2IfuI-T3SRxzFKzy4WgiE5joEoLxzbQRF13YTVSV2IKWc/s1600/O.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL4H6W0qAqG6P-CBFi6FLkjkuk6E_HeqQZZUdDguFIHMfICExhehARioooqMH7okCqd3_1ed2RZWPbftvSi7T3O8gDaS35pY2IfuI-T3SRxzFKzy4WgiE5joEoLxzbQRF13YTVSV2IKWc/s1600/O.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Big 'O' - don't say I didn't warn you </div><br /><br />Here's a wee bit of smut for you.<br /><br />It was quite accidental. At least I wasn't expecting it.<br /><br />Odin (a teenage boy not the Norse God) touched me. I was fully dressed but something oscillated deep inside. I may have gasped, but kept a straight face. I needed to get home. I didn't tell him why. I've rarely told anyone. After dinner, no arguments, I went straight to bed. I touched the same spot and to my wonder it happened again.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">*The next lines are just science so I'm assuming they're AC safe*</span><br /><br />I've since learned that women are the only living beings that have an organ designed purely for pleasure. <br /><br />Only women.<br /><br />Pure. Pleasure.<br /><br />It's only recently been thoroughly researched and it's much bigger than I ever imagined. It deserves a lot more attention.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">*Don't click the play button if you think you might be offended by a lesson in female anatomy - but it's fascinating, and only good can come out of it*</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cWRO0IIN_QE" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;">Betty Dodson educates us on the most underestimated female organ...</span></div><br /><br />Since that day with Odin, I done some research of my own. It's important to experiment, communicate and teach if you're after satisfaction. Full stimulation releases specific hormones that improve emotional, physical and mental health... and Oh my Odin it feels good. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">*If you averted your eyes back there - Your pretty safe from here*</span></div><br />There is a big difference between sacred and secret. In some parts of the world Aunties and Uncles are given the role of educating youth about the pleasures of being an adult. Sounds better than a random teenage boy and a neighbours hidden videos to me.<br /><br />Apart from centuries of repression, why do you think the female anatomy has been a long and well kept secret?<br /><br />Smut really is the wrong word. Women have an organ designed purely for pleasure. There is nothing smutty about that. Right?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br /><br />It might feel like little butterflies or a powerful tremor - but have you ever felt a shift in your body when you've looked at, thought about or touched someone you're attracted to for the first time?<br /><br />Do you feel uncomfortable talking or writing about intimacy?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a><br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Read more about:<br /><br /><div style="color: #042eee;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-59196934869817621522014-04-15T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.824-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life. Let's call it... Nature #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrc8i4atztSSiE49SoF90sO4e-eGJbrY6SXY1jzAotEQEwCcRj8cvTgQLcgzIlLbScUVWvxrFX8rxDJBy3hfgrZyzZirVYwv4Gh2HHe1im3_UclhBnn18V1j7WHmHnpp1gWo24BLuC61/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrc8i4atztSSiE49SoF90sO4e-eGJbrY6SXY1jzAotEQEwCcRj8cvTgQLcgzIlLbScUVWvxrFX8rxDJBy3hfgrZyzZirVYwv4Gh2HHe1im3_UclhBnn18V1j7WHmHnpp1gWo24BLuC61/s1600/N.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />From tiny flowers<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFRIPqgRy2zaL_q7zKjU9gsH1jLwg24bsBIbMuLlBNOIykTEPwRCAJ4oinko0LDGhi4ZNTBvN5rog9WNOExb2bFZvxtKKg0DZWHyGMbNwNXp1DtYUJrVpwVRmDM-qobpDB4XxPctB_Ao/s1600/IMG_2863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFRIPqgRy2zaL_q7zKjU9gsH1jLwg24bsBIbMuLlBNOIykTEPwRCAJ4oinko0LDGhi4ZNTBvN5rog9WNOExb2bFZvxtKKg0DZWHyGMbNwNXp1DtYUJrVpwVRmDM-qobpDB4XxPctB_Ao/s1600/IMG_2863.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To towering tree's that whose branches attack </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NFx8X0JpXhAsvzDA2MoNeuvo_9ddcKmkM9d5FjpL1QDoI4nQaSTXFN8sLiO3RteipMlQFfiJmpDVjOJMf1_7It41QMoi0Y21P56h0R5SBb9x8ANByrmMmdkfWuT_dLcxNY7PXJDDJKM/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NFx8X0JpXhAsvzDA2MoNeuvo_9ddcKmkM9d5FjpL1QDoI4nQaSTXFN8sLiO3RteipMlQFfiJmpDVjOJMf1_7It41QMoi0Y21P56h0R5SBb9x8ANByrmMmdkfWuT_dLcxNY7PXJDDJKM/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sunsets that bring forth the chill of night.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcaCqN4az44Cyi0obTaU75xdNlWSUydrCUCpbP5qO0zb0-HV5knZKbgS_pKwy0AIHU2YVNVU9mlFmK5gerOukmRTaz7ZrKLOBhXifMKaoSCDpQo8hXusHAkN7MLXNmQnda6q0DqVhWO4/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcaCqN4az44Cyi0obTaU75xdNlWSUydrCUCpbP5qO0zb0-HV5knZKbgS_pKwy0AIHU2YVNVU9mlFmK5gerOukmRTaz7ZrKLOBhXifMKaoSCDpQo8hXusHAkN7MLXNmQnda6q0DqVhWO4/s1600/IMG_2034.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Moon shedding her light,<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7eoir8wTfQ847BsN6osun0pkwpP67X9_7SzJA2JH37skfdR2VY3ZoIFkFP4LrA_d9vkJp98h2CO6_i4kQmRkwRJ5Q19_buRz-4mUHEL1fH-DYhFw0-SWxXHIHcbzc2v0MEk06mJau6E/s1600/CIMG4911-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7eoir8wTfQ847BsN6osun0pkwpP67X9_7SzJA2JH37skfdR2VY3ZoIFkFP4LrA_d9vkJp98h2CO6_i4kQmRkwRJ5Q19_buRz-4mUHEL1fH-DYhFw0-SWxXHIHcbzc2v0MEk06mJau6E/s1600/CIMG4911-1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Or travelling </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM8fx5rqAxfgsNUKFq4CeZH2u9697vkfIDSfmLZZ6Ckv5yWXj8R6AjZmtx09Kb0synva3YEPbzEbdSsXKphu7unuYg0u8xxGUoBndzb5jt1itc2NYgUXCyC35IjcBW7_j1oznyVq-idI/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHM8fx5rqAxfgsNUKFq4CeZH2u9697vkfIDSfmLZZ6Ckv5yWXj8R6AjZmtx09Kb0synva3YEPbzEbdSsXKphu7unuYg0u8xxGUoBndzb5jt1itc2NYgUXCyC35IjcBW7_j1oznyVq-idI/s1600/IMG_0426.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">like a headache</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnhAR1jz3bV_0vaSs5TQZLMbMK_JNtf8zcbsuSC5ExWgQIYTgh4IQwHuXUQF9IUoMnP0gtuny5a_AXVxhmlFnf_IO6v-I8NU49RuhqvW9anczm9G1qnccN9JHRgsUYb8mGOgtNOUK4fg/s1600/01012010121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnhAR1jz3bV_0vaSs5TQZLMbMK_JNtf8zcbsuSC5ExWgQIYTgh4IQwHuXUQF9IUoMnP0gtuny5a_AXVxhmlFnf_IO6v-I8NU49RuhqvW9anczm9G1qnccN9JHRgsUYb8mGOgtNOUK4fg/s1600/01012010121.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">across the sky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHJ0tHHS1ClkvVCFQ3flerijIAaFMuj6UOQx_9aLUwgkunnDFn7IKcY5FB3yOHlokSYk9uJz49VsV6FhSUdvwyhjVXVCyANP5XaYut0t-MHhCldahLEvRM9ngPlkXZT9tFnzLS2uWS1M/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHJ0tHHS1ClkvVCFQ3flerijIAaFMuj6UOQx_9aLUwgkunnDFn7IKcY5FB3yOHlokSYk9uJz49VsV6FhSUdvwyhjVXVCyANP5XaYut0t-MHhCldahLEvRM9ngPlkXZT9tFnzLS2uWS1M/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunrises that hurt my eyes</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQof0hV2fXADQtSewlFSDxMXlHy11vmprqhZK84RVpzSkCUXDJguC76wJLwaXN3UXhu0zgpnxz4t6t-_81xTgLekAOrINShN7oYZUfg3j3s22H4ZjKSnT7zjSafG3gzVo5NQ7nrIIKYIc/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQof0hV2fXADQtSewlFSDxMXlHy11vmprqhZK84RVpzSkCUXDJguC76wJLwaXN3UXhu0zgpnxz4t6t-_81xTgLekAOrINShN7oYZUfg3j3s22H4ZjKSnT7zjSafG3gzVo5NQ7nrIIKYIc/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Baby birds learning to find their way home</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQY4JhlV7-f_yxH8NDR03-IzD-VAIZT2PVQayk4znuUvvYuBnfnCv3ZIJPXvKl2BtWeA81fbMQ6gqfVfZpAdRnVohW67wGp3-YwaZj7_8gSHtuO8z-IGLzMgrYz0GrgZGRTZYxo-3SnY/s1600/IMG_1844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQY4JhlV7-f_yxH8NDR03-IzD-VAIZT2PVQayk4znuUvvYuBnfnCv3ZIJPXvKl2BtWeA81fbMQ6gqfVfZpAdRnVohW67wGp3-YwaZj7_8gSHtuO8z-IGLzMgrYz0GrgZGRTZYxo-3SnY/s1600/IMG_1844.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Colourful lovers that take a bite out of every pear</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLL7IysrZkEXHc4RGaACuwAKLGAm1VVF1exFfWijrvuDDoRr00phpgAPCSIS0AVGpbUQf7loG0u44yS8Nl3mRIVfApGHhCVk_GyQ42lYTY3Cwty3mays63q5qmv2C1DqCj6plzwRmTggY/s1600/IMG_2351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLL7IysrZkEXHc4RGaACuwAKLGAm1VVF1exFfWijrvuDDoRr00phpgAPCSIS0AVGpbUQf7loG0u44yS8Nl3mRIVfApGHhCVk_GyQ42lYTY3Cwty3mays63q5qmv2C1DqCj6plzwRmTggY/s1600/IMG_2351.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Questionable coastlines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyQYWytFsSEuRdNxzN4UsVi1F2mNCv2bAC7mZBA4sY30eAXsSI7cUlu25BsP97HFopoNq1JlRrlGvDTOnKPxhqro2emmmrxpIjv5BUePrXyVL7ouZ5xfsPkXjSEZY8Ax4rNEYMveFGjk/s1600/02122009054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyQYWytFsSEuRdNxzN4UsVi1F2mNCv2bAC7mZBA4sY30eAXsSI7cUlu25BsP97HFopoNq1JlRrlGvDTOnKPxhqro2emmmrxpIjv5BUePrXyVL7ouZ5xfsPkXjSEZY8Ax4rNEYMveFGjk/s1600/02122009054.jpg" height="240" title="Great Ocean Road, twelve apostles, question mark rock" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Perfect potatoes </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vzCU8vtE3KWJwhOUP4mbulcnUIljzCzr5kVgaJOOuwnjhijYneARYkm-72Yf8F5JmFTkSc3pWl9Z_kR4eIOIqLTt2R-4CBLk6jcTTsgSCe7L2CxfTfhByzN3Yn3Vle7JTCwCfa2bYKw/s1600/IMG_2127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vzCU8vtE3KWJwhOUP4mbulcnUIljzCzr5kVgaJOOuwnjhijYneARYkm-72Yf8F5JmFTkSc3pWl9Z_kR4eIOIqLTt2R-4CBLk6jcTTsgSCe7L2CxfTfhByzN3Yn3Vle7JTCwCfa2bYKw/s1600/IMG_2127.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and rocks that smile, only after it rains... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqywG_VnGs6rQBg5ZlCEQ0ngVCM6cZXTXX8Hf7JXtTYvApGB8nfR_MoDjbZDxKnzv4NOviQTGaT_2ZPUi-GDGqAuyEDeppWliGTFCozV_fEJ9fO0los7gopRJFPhL7Q4S7diU09Ak1XAs/s1600/IMG_1782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqywG_VnGs6rQBg5ZlCEQ0ngVCM6cZXTXX8Hf7JXtTYvApGB8nfR_MoDjbZDxKnzv4NOviQTGaT_2ZPUi-GDGqAuyEDeppWliGTFCozV_fEJ9fO0los7gopRJFPhL7Q4S7diU09Ak1XAs/s1600/IMG_1782.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Nurture yourself<br />Nurture nature.<br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJv27yW25bwxyLoH7BJnk8FlzNFTVuCt80xFJHXy2pDmEPwMF4rkZTGRNcEpOAxvkR7U-pJn5YMIdzF7dW_CdZ9qCqWtHx8nzwOT9xh9k1nPu8h9CagwwgqLSKand0VeLOhHGEqvnw7c/s1600/CIMG2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJv27yW25bwxyLoH7BJnk8FlzNFTVuCt80xFJHXy2pDmEPwMF4rkZTGRNcEpOAxvkR7U-pJn5YMIdzF7dW_CdZ9qCqWtHx8nzwOT9xh9k1nPu8h9CagwwgqLSKand0VeLOhHGEqvnw7c/s1600/CIMG2178.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is no turning back the clock... hang on a second.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-32077458143353543002014-04-14T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.832-07:0026 great loves of my life- Let's call her...Ma. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7FgkhjxyLkJhrZpiD-ciKwcu0XLhAQqecQVSjgjVfOvJRqC2ivNGbYUgnyh73usEzl0MHXUItaveUd0zfDZG7ofhbYUU0QTKb-nZ6mnwCMUv152IKi7atpdOeFa5yh70OAGIugTsUsFr/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7FgkhjxyLkJhrZpiD-ciKwcu0XLhAQqecQVSjgjVfOvJRqC2ivNGbYUgnyh73usEzl0MHXUItaveUd0zfDZG7ofhbYUU0QTKb-nZ6mnwCMUv152IKi7atpdOeFa5yh70OAGIugTsUsFr/s1600/M.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Mama taught me:</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><h2></h2><h2></h2><h4></h4><h4></h4><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/x/f/0/o/m/B/kid-playing-with-mom-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/x/f/0/o/m/B/kid-playing-with-mom-md.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">www.clker.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><h4>"If you're bored you're boring."</h4><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So I climbed trees and read lots of stories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4>"Never hate a family because of one person."</h4><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So I try to understand each story.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4>"Nothing happens if you do nothing."</h4><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I follow my heart. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Love for Her, is inevitable.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>What are some pearls of wisdom your Mother taught you.<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-57946271917402326772014-04-12T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.840-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life... Let's call it a Love song. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm104VWtXPLUYnP47UouzWQvRtHz2WtJ9pPZlRqSlgPi74R_UnFZr2T-SHbOtH2xnC-_9fFETzlrfybmbhoh5DTPnOqRYq_oOYWAFS3in__Nr9BNXyygzEDb7jPuoyc5lRqBRBuQGr7If/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm104VWtXPLUYnP47UouzWQvRtHz2WtJ9pPZlRqSlgPi74R_UnFZr2T-SHbOtH2xnC-_9fFETzlrfybmbhoh5DTPnOqRYq_oOYWAFS3in__Nr9BNXyygzEDb7jPuoyc5lRqBRBuQGr7If/s1600/L.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I was never a huge fan of love songs. I considered them to be the mid-day soap-operas of music.<br /><br />Then someone wrote a love song about me, for me, or because of me... He tells that part of the story better.<br /><br />He was a super cool neighbour, who became one of my best friends. More times than I can remember he would barge into my apartment, guitar and fresh lyrics in hand.<br /><br />After he met The Captain he went home and wrote our song.<br /><br />Here's the acoustic version.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yZq6INc9wN8" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br />Here's the lyrics:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Can you be my lover?</b> - by Ben Jackson</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take it to the limit</div><div style="text-align: center;">Give me the time of my life</div><div style="text-align: center;">Show me what your feeling</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love is strong all through the night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Save me like an Angel</div><div style="text-align: center;">Broken in two and I lose my mind</div><div style="text-align: center;">Save me like an Angel</div><div style="text-align: center;">Never know what we'll find</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't want to be</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last one standing here.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't want to be</div><div style="text-align: center;">wondering why</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you be my lover?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hearts will break if I have no other</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you be my lover?</div><div style="text-align: center;">No more games at night</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh the sun will rise again</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dreaming of yesterday</div><div style="text-align: center;">The moon will wait in silence</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lost in clouds far away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know that I won't fall</div><div style="text-align: center;">You're all that I ever needed</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time is not a reason</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just the way things have proceeded.</div><br />Here's the full band version recorded live at the Gershwin room in St Kilda, Melbourne. I love the percussion at the end.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JPB4pOAx8Zo" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br />Here's another song I love... Down Came the Rain - the original studio recording with Russell Morris can be heard at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/benjacksonpage/app_2405167945" target="_blank">Reverb Nation</a> - while your there you might also enjoy 'Dirty dirty disco', 'Facespace', 'Catch me if you can', and a haunting rendition of 'Angel in white.'<br /><br />...or you can listen to a live recording here.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FTI_9vTBJiA" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><br />You can find him at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/benjacksonpage/app_2405167945" target="_blank">Ben Jackson's Facebook page</a><br /><br />For some of his DJ sets go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/kandyrocker" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a>.<br /><br />He's come a long way since 2008. Now he runs his own touring company for local and international acts too - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayjacktouring" target="_blank">HayJack touring</a><br /><br />The biggest change since 2008 is how many love songs I actually enjoy listening to now.<br /><br />Has anyone written a song, story or poem about you? What's your favourite love song.<br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-69280291070336485562014-04-11T15:00:00.000-07:002021-05-26T10:32:00.815-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life... Let's call him Ken. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk24ot8lF4M4JHFKj9ynohXI2qvbMOpYBxeThGCThC2NCI9A-ZrawTAjatxEf7p_rkUz7axWTmOz98GQQ-wt29PBjPUxadLNZGI92Jm_TLi26qhG38Li1tRnTvuyG5PKrK9Ir6AKCgbEL/s1600/K.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk24ot8lF4M4JHFKj9ynohXI2qvbMOpYBxeThGCThC2NCI9A-ZrawTAjatxEf7p_rkUz7axWTmOz98GQQ-wt29PBjPUxadLNZGI92Jm_TLi26qhG38Li1tRnTvuyG5PKrK9Ir6AKCgbEL/s1600/K.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Back to year eight in high school (13 years old) . By this stage I knew exactly why Ken wanted to meet me after school behind the library. I couldn't wait for the bell to ring.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/1323629369.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/1323629369.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/" target="_blank">Public domain vectors</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He had perfect teeth and a beautiful smile. He was about the same height as me. We met every afternoon and perfected the art of breathing through our nostrils, for as long as possible. After a week or so his Mum started getting concerned about why her son was coming home later every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Occasionally someone would come to his rescue and let him know she was out looking for him. He would try to make it home before she did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to cool it off for a bit. Every lunch time I waited for him to finish playing soccer and hoped he'd be able to meet up after school - all too willing. One night I wrote him a letter. I snuck out after dinner and rode my bike to his house to hand deliver it. </div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/zeimusu_sealed_with_a_kiss.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="269" src="http://www.publicdomainvectors.org/photos/zeimusu_sealed_with_a_kiss.png" title="love letter" width="320" /></a></div><br />The next day he was mad at me for getting him in trouble. His mum opened the letter before he did. He never even got to read it. When she found out I wasn't even the same nationality, she started waiting at the gates for him every afternoon. I was furious at the injustice of her racism, invasion of our privacy and more than anything that he would never know what was in my the letter or see the stamp of us I drew on the envelope. I was accused and blamed for something beautiful and it turned ugly. My Mother found out. I felt so childish. <br /><br />He forgave me but kept his word to his mother. A few of the girls knew he was free game after that. I'm pretty sure he just wanted to keep kissing whoever got there first.<br /><br />Relationships were starting to get complicated. <br /><br />Have you ever failed to gain approval, or had your heart broken by a third party?<br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">***</div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <span style="color: #042eee;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts">Google+ </a></span><br /><br /><br />***<br /><br />Read more about:<br /> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></div></div></div><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-71392866374709976812014-04-10T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.855-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life... Let's call him Jeremiah. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfk-YxvINcgeeMd2ueesCrA7Dewwh_3YwdGM5gsWLTWI7mVOzDELKu5weaiUtDQcSxwnQIKpZXokWBZ5PbIzNlFiRg_7NarQaI3iuU2l4iENIKrNYBSYovFleo2qSP-T6jitWzZo2bzr7/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfk-YxvINcgeeMd2ueesCrA7Dewwh_3YwdGM5gsWLTWI7mVOzDELKu5weaiUtDQcSxwnQIKpZXokWBZ5PbIzNlFiRg_7NarQaI3iuU2l4iENIKrNYBSYovFleo2qSP-T6jitWzZo2bzr7/s1600/J.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Before mobile phones and email addresses, Jeremiah and I agreed that if we could keep in contact for 10 years we would be friends for life.<br /><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">On our 10th anniversary we reminisced about:</span></h3><br />- Letter writing and a friendship that spanned continents and lots of different addresses.<br /><br />- Sharing and learning from each others relationship highs and heartbreaking lows.<br /><br />- The dream I had of Jeremiah hurting his legs the night he fell down the stairs.<br /><br />- Meeting his German wife, in India...and the day I was 'best man' at their wedding in Australia.<br /><br />- Camping and home-brews. Old cars and sweet sweet music. Sharing our journals and philosophies.<br /><br />- This song: Everybody's Talkin' Harry Nillson.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IQlmgmR4a4g" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">On our twentieth anniversary we reminisced about:</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>- The baptism of their first child, my God daughter.</div><div><br /></div><div>- The day I drove away from a painful relationship and how he just happened to be driving down the same road. That perfectly timed hug.<br /><br />- The trials and triumphs of commitment and love.<br /><br />- Introducing him to the Captain.<br /><br />- More children<br /><br />- Family holidays at the lake house. Euro Disney in Paris and the day our families sailed the most beautiful fjord in Denmark together.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Our toast to remembering the past and making new memories.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br />I'm happy to share Jeremiah with his wife... but I get jealous when the Captain gets to spend more time with him than I do... Jokes jokes - honestly I prefer the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vino_veritas" target="_blank">'in vino veritas'</a> chats with his wife, to catching fish with either of the men folk.<br /><br />He's a dedicated parent and a devoted partner...it's no secret how much I love him, them, all of us.<br /><br />The last time we met he said "Our friendship feels like putting on your most comfortable pair of boots or slippers." Then he put another log on the fire, we poured four more glasses of spiced rum and started making plans for our next family holiday... Germany here we come.<br /><br />On platonic relationships - do you believe men and women can truly be friends? How would you feel if your partners best friend was the opposite sex?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div></div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Seriously I can't name him Jeremiah and not post this song. Starts singing *Jeremiah was a bullfrog*<br /><br />He will be disappointed it's not "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYBu0krfrMM" target="_blank">I am a hotdog</a>" by Mabel<br /><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dFypAB7nYGA" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><br />***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a><br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>***<br /><div style="min-height: 19px;"><br /></div>Read more about:<br /><br /><div style="color: #042eee;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-56581399258067115112014-04-09T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.862-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call her...Ida. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lii5prvgY4amceLt1B23Sci16NhYK7QKr6SP4KRj4VWi3K_JfIIanVP4QOcK7z3vZUJ-iCl7r72CEFuBeyrZfP_kGKkmug8UgA32l7qnJy3YC6MNmAyTZM8eiNBrAvmWoEsvMV0NayP1/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lii5prvgY4amceLt1B23Sci16NhYK7QKr6SP4KRj4VWi3K_JfIIanVP4QOcK7z3vZUJ-iCl7r72CEFuBeyrZfP_kGKkmug8UgA32l7qnJy3YC6MNmAyTZM8eiNBrAvmWoEsvMV0NayP1/s1600/I.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Ida can be pronounced 'Ee-da' or 'Eye-da' and I answer to either <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">or either. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I still feel awkward saying it sometimes, but I've always loved it. </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fcfaf3; color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span> Some of the nicknames I got as a kid were Idaho potato, Ida spider, Idadoody, I'da thought...<br /><br />I generally answered with, "I'dA know... if I've heard that one before!'<br /><br />Ida, sweet as apple cider - is a song from early 1900's. A lot of old men have sung "Ida sweet as apple cider, oh how idolise her, indeed I do" incredibly off key to me, for as long as I can remember.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dku6FDRV_8g" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Many cultures claim ownership of the origin of the name <a href="http://www.behindthename.com/name/ida">Ida</a></span></span></h3><div><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In 11 century Germany, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_of_Herzfeld" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Saint Ida</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> the patron saint of brides and widows is credited with teaching, that physical unity in marriage reflects spiritual unities. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In greek mythology the nymph Ida protected Zeus as a baby, and the constellation Two bears is named in her honour. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In Indian medicine Ida is aligned with moon energy. It controls the mental processes, and sits at the base of the kundalini.</span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In hindu mythology </span><a href="http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/D7.HTM" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ida</a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> is an androgynous Goddess of earth and a granter of blessings.</span></span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">King Ida in 6th century Britain was the founder of a line of Anglo saxon royalty.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In Norse mythology Ida is a place at the centre of Earth where the most important decisions of the Gods are made. </span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2012/01/243_ida.jpeg.650x0_q85_crop-smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2012/01/243_ida.jpeg.650x0_q85_crop-smart.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida - an asteroid with a moon named Dactyl<br />image courtesy of <em class="credit" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: grey; display: inline !important; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 0.85em; line-height: 29px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:243_ida.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NASA</a>/Public Domain</em></td></tr></tbody></table><h3><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Other interesting facts (even if your name isn't Ida):</span></h3><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ida is the name of the first </span><a href="http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.dk/2014/04/i-is-for-ida-planets-arent-objects-in.html?showComment=1397149554328" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">asteroid discovered with it's own moon</a><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Ida is the nickname of a 47 million year old fossil that is linked to the evolution of primates.</span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span> <span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Growing up in Australia I never knew another Ida. It stopped being a popular name in America about 100 years ago. In most of Scandinavia it is one of the top 10 most popular girls names. </span></span><br /><span style="color: #393318; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I have taught myself to not turn around every time I hear my name being called at the supermarket or public events, since I moved to Denmark. </span><br /><br />For as long as I can remember I have said 'The I in Ida is the God in me.'<br /><br />I was named after my Italian Grandmother (who I never met) and my Mother says it means glad or happy. Would you name your daughter Ida or Ida?<br /><br />Does the origin of your name fascinate you? Have you googled it's meaning?<br /><br /><br /><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about:</div><br /><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"> The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-89178215334544345432014-04-08T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.871-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call them...Hormonal teenagers #atozchallenge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp-oXhwSksqyoukGQmMS9bS5-9vihwJmq4guS535QRfLbt-eUlrudUTczco6g0hVaUaviyzzlhtN27vRPpAOntUmO6NQ-ml1vZNjarJfMXBPhVvGHHxfJtic2oFu34-b4LNKedF9et2IF/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp-oXhwSksqyoukGQmMS9bS5-9vihwJmq4guS535QRfLbt-eUlrudUTczco6g0hVaUaviyzzlhtN27vRPpAOntUmO6NQ-ml1vZNjarJfMXBPhVvGHHxfJtic2oFu34-b4LNKedF9et2IF/s1600/H.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oddly enough it was around the time of puberty that I stopped chasing after boys I went to school with. I was more interested in the posters of movie and pop stars covering my walls. </div><br />I was in the drama club, debating, a school council representative and captain of house sports. I was a high achieving good girl, that smoked in the toilets and often got sent home from school for wearing too much make-up.<br /><br />At least once a month we would go to an underage disco. If my parents knew how many boys I kissed at those police supervised events I would have been banned for life. It was a competitive sport amongst my friends. Anything more? Not a chance. I didn't want to be 'that' girl in the snide remarks and dirty talk of the school yard.<br /><br />Some of the guys at school would mob the girls, at lunchtime. At first, it was harmless water fights. Fun and games, until they started trying to pull our dresses off. Fortunately the more we screamed, yelled and struggled, the faster they backed off. Even on the hottest days, we we wore t-shirts under our dresses and sports bloomers over our undies, a vain attempt to protect our modesty.<br /><br />Like most of my friends I began thinking about Mr Right. We agreed it was out-dated to wait until we we married to lose our virginity. We would, however, save ourselves for someone that we were truly in love with. Someone we would be with forever. The One.<br /><br />Cue the Summer holidays. "I met a boy cute as can be." <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aXlnMveRt-Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br />He was a year older, a musician who enrolled at my school after the Summer. I had my friends he was making new friends. He was mature and never pressured me. During the Easter holidays he politely asked me to take our relationship to the next level.<br /><br />I considered it, but a nagging feeling that I wasn't in love persisted. I knew he wasn't 'The One.' I broke up with him. Things would only get awkward if he kept asking.<br /><br />I made some serious promises to myself that year. Some I didn't keep, others I still maintain. Like, only ever doing what I feel completely comfortable with.<br /><br />I guess I love those hormonal teenagers because they taught me how to say "no thank you" to gentlemen with manners and roar at brutes who use force to try and cross my boundaries.<br /><br />Did you fantasise about your first love being your sole/soulmate, your one and only? Is this the reason why 'breaking up is never easy'?<br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-59997132886099143922014-04-07T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.879-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him...Geronimo. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrD1uRK-LbP5zsjjdym6JLIU1dvmrYk4ztMRf0wJC7z_3iogPBCvtmX-qNrhlJ7rPxAFQ1bvu4D8kEONlpwZkKmEPTIgRWZjoppuSKGOodSLigsoEmWIc3khgVGcJh2PedPFs5TodvwHE/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrD1uRK-LbP5zsjjdym6JLIU1dvmrYk4ztMRf0wJC7z_3iogPBCvtmX-qNrhlJ7rPxAFQ1bvu4D8kEONlpwZkKmEPTIgRWZjoppuSKGOodSLigsoEmWIc3khgVGcJh2PedPFs5TodvwHE/s1600/G.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Geronimo was funny, co-ordinated and a sensitive 12 year old 'of distinction.' I couldn't <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20on" target="_blank">let on</a> that I liked him. I had already learned to keep my desires to myself. He was even better at feigning disinterest than I was.<br /><br />Our romance had a chance to develop when we both scored parts in in the chorus of Sweet Charity, one of our school's annual musicals. We had minor parts but all the cast and crew were expected to go on a weekend rehearsal camp. Three days before the camp, Geronimo surprised me and asked me to be his girlfriend. Neither of us knew what to do after I said yes, but I couldn't wait to tell my friends.<br /><br />I didn't see him again before we got on board the bus to go to camp. We sat apart. I thought he was avoiding me. We were the youngest cast members. We weren't as good at hiding our feelings as we thought.<br /><br />On the first night of camp, some of the older girls told me he was waiting to see me behind the dormitory. I was terrified that he would try to kiss me. A real kiss.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/T/u/F/K/6/d/hola-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/T/u/F/K/6/d/hola-md.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing my fears. 26 Greatest loves of my life. #atozchallenge<br />Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">clker.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It was so dark, we could barely see and neither of us remembered a torch. I needed to blow my nose but was too scared to sniff. He held my hand, it was sweating. We leant against the back of the building and I froze when I felt him get closer. He missed my lips. I should have sniffed. It happened so fast. My nose still dripping, I was too embarrassed to move and I didn't want to hurt his feelings.<br /><br />He gave me a nice long hug, and I wiped my nose on my sleeve. We were afraid of getting caught, and I was afraid of what the older kids would imagine if we were gone to long. We said goodnight and I felt my way back to the front of the building.<br /><br />Three months after the final show, I wasn't even sure we were together anymore. We never had classes together, never played together and apart from greeting each other 'good morning' and 'see ya tomorrow' every day, we hardly ever spoke.<br /><br />My friends asked me why we never hung out together. I was sure he was going to drop me, so I got in first. After I told him it was over he went back to class and smashed a window. Later, I told him I didn't think it would upset him so much and he should have told me how he really felt. He didn't speak to me for the rest of the year. I was happy when he found a new girlfriend.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/F/l/I/J/P/m/run-lil-boy-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/F/l/I/J/P/m/run-lil-boy-md.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge<br />Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.clker.com/" target="_blank">clker.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />It never occured to me that he might have been waiting for me to talk to him first. Do you have a tendency to think the worst when you don't have all the facts? Have you got an embarrassing first kiss story?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Read more about: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>: My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></div><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-49914557677848449672014-04-06T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.886-07:0026 Greatest Loves of my Life... Let's call him Father #atozchallenge<h3>The Father of my childhood is different to the Father he is now.</h3><div><br /></div>We would hear his Station Wagon turning into our street and rush to have the table set while Mum finished preparing dinner, by 5pm every night.<br /><br />- Now he prepares all the meals, chops things extra small, to accommodate his wife's weakened hands.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3wMtMcSA0DhQOnFJFngHLN59Bt1NT2v20VJZW1T56iUFHq7kErIXh6kp7x4CCnwiOE8aZqCboqteLGVVxr4yCo4fRZwVCmVfBUOgQlhqGbF6zPjxTOOg4g2CQBKPz8SkJ1XjQniKYAI/s1600/IMG_2477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3wMtMcSA0DhQOnFJFngHLN59Bt1NT2v20VJZW1T56iUFHq7kErIXh6kp7x4CCnwiOE8aZqCboqteLGVVxr4yCo4fRZwVCmVfBUOgQlhqGbF6zPjxTOOg4g2CQBKPz8SkJ1XjQniKYAI/s1600/IMG_2477.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />He used to wear his hand tailored suits everyday. When he wore his work overalls, he kept his shirt and tie on. Even when he mowed the lawns.<br /><br />- Now he wears cardigans during the week, and t-shirts when he's at home.<br /><br />With three daughters and a talkative wife, he never interrupted our conversations and we rarely included him in our girl talk.<br /><br />- Now he answers the phone and records appointments on the calendar, we make sure we tell him everything.<br /><br />He used to send us to the shops to buy his cartons of cigarettes.<br /><br />- Now he does the grocery shopping and hasn't smoked in decades.<br /><br /><h3>Some things will never change.</h3><br />He still wakes up at half past five, every morning.<br /><br />At 6am he starts tending to his garden. Nothing is ever wasted. He would be disappointed if he knew we sneak things into the rubbish.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrvC8p4zfsU76bQBRIlhCW_kmcnU5YGT7G0_VPdn4fjrN-JJ0L_p6VK0lIGFHHyyTNJM8HMtFjvxOe83XH4wwc7Wp8qN2XVpAlnH9iCqHdDHqP1z7xigGnm3AXqdNIl5I4FgEU65hFnY/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrvC8p4zfsU76bQBRIlhCW_kmcnU5YGT7G0_VPdn4fjrN-JJ0L_p6VK0lIGFHHyyTNJM8HMtFjvxOe83XH4wwc7Wp8qN2XVpAlnH9iCqHdDHqP1z7xigGnm3AXqdNIl5I4FgEU65hFnY/s1600/IMG_2250.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />He asks for nothing and shares everything he has. He offers the best of his produce to everyone else and takes what the birds have left for himself.<br /><br />Mealtimes are 7am, 12pm and 6pm, but he'll wait hours if he knows your coming.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have never heard him swear, burp or fart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He makes his own wine, but I've never seen him drunk. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>35 years have passed since he bought that station wagon and he still parks it under his bedroom window.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxLt-gPqCHC4725fdtTYmy7I1Kzn20HfC1wau_4zCtVDQ4WAk5ECIf2EHPA57l8wRtJhOxFsPGld7hMOOeWxXbGhZfUiMOabQ68619PAJC4PPV4VmYrSQ8RnLGs0Nec7Xu9GSUF2hmDc/s1600/Dad's+Holden+Kingswood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxLt-gPqCHC4725fdtTYmy7I1Kzn20HfC1wau_4zCtVDQ4WAk5ECIf2EHPA57l8wRtJhOxFsPGld7hMOOeWxXbGhZfUiMOabQ68619PAJC4PPV4VmYrSQ8RnLGs0Nec7Xu9GSUF2hmDc/s1600/Dad's+Holden+Kingswood.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>He's never mastered the English language, but he never fails to end a conversation with "tell me if you need something, I love you me my daughter."<br /><h3><br />Lessons from my Father</h3><br />Just because a tailor spends his life working in a factory, doesn't mean he isn't a tailor.<br /><br />Just because someone is quiet doesn't mean they're a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=drongo" target="_blank">drongo</a>.<br /><br />You don't have to speak the same language to show how much you love them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 16px;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; padding: 6.0px 6.0px 6.0px 6.0px;"><tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 4.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; width: 641.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about: </div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a>. My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div></td> </tr></tbody> </table><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-78840572409454168652014-04-04T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.894-07:0026 Loves of my life. Let's call him... Erik. #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI106YkDfP1iaQQv8cFnqH69FJ5rkyPxFDVMMiI61GcV4izz3EyTcGUy9j1utnC-zMZkMdakBRedqYxRMIsTSqfIchQ0dph9TXmyHcBB3KeGbdzs53dR3DraIx4X0zNlWTmkB_tu_4bAQ/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI106YkDfP1iaQQv8cFnqH69FJ5rkyPxFDVMMiI61GcV4izz3EyTcGUy9j1utnC-zMZkMdakBRedqYxRMIsTSqfIchQ0dph9TXmyHcBB3KeGbdzs53dR3DraIx4X0zNlWTmkB_tu_4bAQ/s1600/E.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Erik loved all the girls and all the girls loved Erik, as long as I was chosen as his number one, I was a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=happy+little+vegemite" target="_blank">happy little vegemite</a>.<br /><br />Truth be known, Erik is a combination of 3 primary school boys that spurred stiff competition amongst the girls. The first Erik fell in love with Jemima, and we all thought he could have done better if he had chosen someone else, one of us, me.<br /><br />The second Erik remained elusive, he didn't want to hurt anyones feelings and flirted with all the girls.<br /><br />The third Erik had his own harem. Every playtime, 6 or 7 of girls would compete for his attention. At the end of every lunchtime, he would arrange his harem in order of most loved to least loved. The last few girls had <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=buckleys+chance" target="_blank">buckley's chance</a> of ever being picked first. The middle few changed rank on a weekly basis, second and third changed daily.<br /><br />I was his number One. I got a say in where the other girls were ranked. I also got to walk back to class with him. I was chosen first in every game and never doubted my position. Until the end of year approached I began to worry about how him changing schools would change everything.<br /><br />He was the recipient of my first love letter and my first break up letter.<br /><br /><strike>Dear</strike> To Erik,<br /><br />If I had a choice I would still be your girlfriend.<br />Next year you start high school, I wish we could see each other still but I don't think we can because we won't be at the same school. Don't worry there will be lots of girls at your new school.<br /><br /><strike>love </strike>from Ida<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pdclipart.org/albums/People__Children/kids_how_tall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pdclipart.org/albums/People__Children/kids_how_tall.png" height="288" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest Loves of my Life #atozchallenge<br />Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.pdclipart.org/" target="_blank">public domain clipart</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />He said he wasn't worried. The two girls I remember most were his second and third picks. Do you know an Erik, was he worth fighting for?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I am away for the weekend and look forward to catching up with comments and posts next week. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 16px;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 8.0px 0.0px; padding: 6.0px 6.0px 6.0px 6.0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 4.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; width: 641.0px;" valign="middle"><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Read more about: </div><div style="color: #042eee; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html">A to Z challenge</a> My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-47815252966249162222014-04-03T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.902-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him...Dog #atozchallenge<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/s720x720/425086_10150520130911395_1438559289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="26 greatest loves of my life" border="0" class="photo_img img" height="304" src="https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash2/t1/s720x720/425086_10150520130911395_1438559289_n.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" title="Dog playing, white fluffy dog, dog with tongue out, white dog, " width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Me<b>: </b>Before I found you I could feel you calling out to me.<br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Dog: Then why did you drive straight past the pet shop so many times?</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />I thought I was looking for a dog that needed rescuing.<br /><b>You were. I guess most people don't think about pet shops as horror stories.</b><br /><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, when I finally found you, I was sure my new puppy was supposed to be a girl so I made you wait.<br /><b>Worst night of my life.</b><br /><b></b><br /><b></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm sorry. By morning I knew I had to hurry back.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I shook all night long, and just imagined being curled up inside your belly.</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b></b><br /><b></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FvY6e9q_tm2gDZeyiH_qM6nShyE7tJ_WU_nRHiJUPUTWBE3XI8pNX5W0Vhxz370IKmSr1Njex5QIoSRj7svNC2LYsSVu_80rnHkgdmBx45QtOG1EVpGQGMPxej4qUpMDT6nIuVepAAk/s1600/2175_1026033094201_5142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FvY6e9q_tm2gDZeyiH_qM6nShyE7tJ_WU_nRHiJUPUTWBE3XI8pNX5W0Vhxz370IKmSr1Njex5QIoSRj7svNC2LYsSVu_80rnHkgdmBx45QtOG1EVpGQGMPxej4qUpMDT6nIuVepAAk/s1600/2175_1026033094201_5142_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b></b><br /><b></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Why did you run away when I went on holidays?<br /><b>I was looking for you, I didn't know New Zealand was so far away.</b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took me a long time to learn that we understood each other best when I didn't use words.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I can't believe all you wanted me to do was pee on the grass.</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkozQSTlfJbUO1vPlpqzRTR5O-oor72kvyKsAvWEInXr-BZhLhK_DPE9e6u9m-RVVtK2_TnUbDl2_4lqB5tc8pAZHazoVdKicMr4xsTNQL5K-WVEWzFT_UM8Hj7a_GgXha-NiB1vCSJro/s1600/653_1026024413984_4882_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkozQSTlfJbUO1vPlpqzRTR5O-oor72kvyKsAvWEInXr-BZhLhK_DPE9e6u9m-RVVtK2_TnUbDl2_4lqB5tc8pAZHazoVdKicMr4xsTNQL5K-WVEWzFT_UM8Hj7a_GgXha-NiB1vCSJro/s1600/653_1026024413984_4882_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for being there when I needed you most.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Thanks for all the walks, snacks and letting me lick you.</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope my dreams about the future didn't make you feel like you had to go away.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Remember I had health problems, I was never meant to get old.</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsi5DzwN6lgtT9oNFdImqIcRsDErEB8g2ZBlNhmOEY5VoGdrqcZTyOo6PuSjbEit4ia7jbWRfvyAzBrxh-UiSe8oKFfh_uYlJRhb9DRe4NaLOrrN359n44xNMkvS1uTZvRL08JyPoakk/s1600/CIMG1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsi5DzwN6lgtT9oNFdImqIcRsDErEB8g2ZBlNhmOEY5VoGdrqcZTyOo6PuSjbEit4ia7jbWRfvyAzBrxh-UiSe8oKFfh_uYlJRhb9DRe4NaLOrrN359n44xNMkvS1uTZvRL08JyPoakk/s1600/CIMG1010.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw that car coming. Why didn't you stop when I yelled NO?</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>It was time to go. We were both ready... I wanted to go out with a bang!</b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's not funny. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Really? Admit it. My timing was always perfect. </b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok I admit it. You could have warned me though.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I did. 3 times. </b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFuy3d4w20h9ZLAdZ3bQssWmAEpBDyNX-JAmnX47Yj0qqI7tJpjgNFU7fGp5JA8R6qUYBBJ36Z8qGXCO7szOKhEPnOD8qUO-axEKP5yCGj3Zz1zowwdjiyZmEDLf8z1pDGZNAo1rjumk/s1600/2175_1026037974323_8232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFuy3d4w20h9ZLAdZ3bQssWmAEpBDyNX-JAmnX47Yj0qqI7tJpjgNFU7fGp5JA8R6qUYBBJ36Z8qGXCO7szOKhEPnOD8qUO-axEKP5yCGj3Zz1zowwdjiyZmEDLf8z1pDGZNAo1rjumk/s1600/2175_1026037974323_8232_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm sorry I covered your face, before your last breath.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>I felt safe, like I was in you. I just closed my eyes and went to sleep.</b><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz67MR9yFXFDybFv7cSk4C_YW5kb9hZm0KN_d6ewaAHtXSklAO296ZHP-yiQExCI93h-GCOK6XKWAH3gdrF-svuTi1KG2_OGM1kHHPac872jrFhembsz4zlk1JR9AoOnFaoNll2l4baQQ/s1600/2175_1026033214204_6807_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz67MR9yFXFDybFv7cSk4C_YW5kb9hZm0KN_d6ewaAHtXSklAO296ZHP-yiQExCI93h-GCOK6XKWAH3gdrF-svuTi1KG2_OGM1kHHPac872jrFhembsz4zlk1JR9AoOnFaoNll2l4baQQ/s1600/2175_1026033214204_6807_n.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">26 Greatest loves of my life #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGboq-hniKyOEy91_KaDMlOEb9WtgFjqc_keOd6Dkg88DweGkd0PCdcApbSvDBXxy83n6oxwegFW-cKDrEIfpRjJGwwEuudU71Y6u_HDzDMYjo_2qXgN88m7IlBeT4hbFZ8H1_zw4NE4w/s1600/CIMG1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGboq-hniKyOEy91_KaDMlOEb9WtgFjqc_keOd6Dkg88DweGkd0PCdcApbSvDBXxy83n6oxwegFW-cKDrEIfpRjJGwwEuudU71Y6u_HDzDMYjo_2qXgN88m7IlBeT4hbFZ8H1_zw4NE4w/s1600/CIMG1311.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Ashton 30/5/2005 - 30/5/2009</span><br /> 26 Greatest loves of my life. Dog #atozchallenge </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhdE7ixnLfylc1BhJymByOomk32eqxVD9Q9_437DX-l66xNOQYR0YweYSzmc06fbBGMUFyzCpWop5-zl13m37M8TqBi11iGx1r6p5GlLZ_NEYy8A7ZSB41xGdZ2V34cACxrsHxfIvsBGt/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhdE7ixnLfylc1BhJymByOomk32eqxVD9Q9_437DX-l66xNOQYR0YweYSzmc06fbBGMUFyzCpWop5-zl13m37M8TqBi11iGx1r6p5GlLZ_NEYy8A7ZSB41xGdZ2V34cACxrsHxfIvsBGt/s1600/D.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The day I brought Ashton home, I had a premonition that he would only live for 4 years. I expected him to be around much longer. These are all conversations I've had with him, either while he was alive or in my dreams.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Captain found me a few weeks after Ashton died. If Ashton was still alive I would never have even entertained the idea of moving to the other side of the world. I might have rescued him when he was a pup, but he saved me too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you got a love story of the non-human kind? Please share in the comments, I love to read them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 16px;">***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br />I'll be going away for the weekend so please expect replies to comments and visits to your blogs to be a little delayed. <br /><br />***</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl"><span style="color: #042eee;">Reflex Reactions</span></a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions"><span style="color: #042eee;">@ReflexReactions</span></a> on Twitter</div><div style="font-size: 16px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></div><br /><div style="font-size: 16px;">Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts"><span style="color: #042eee;">Google+ </span></a></div></div>Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5349028882566941779.post-12277212162658821972014-04-02T15:00:00.000-07:002015-06-27T01:19:57.911-07:0026 Greatest loves of my life - Let's call him Cazaly #atozchallenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbNTvjl5UxxVRIcCP34LdIGg7U-GzGjpdV06W45-lrVfHop0iPLx7svHRb1aDMV2AcPRxoRHi0VCGnvLlCYHjQQ27LmcFz3wSAsG6ISoZLFCV0U3vICo-h47XKSi5ETuSX9Hk8N57h2gZ/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbNTvjl5UxxVRIcCP34LdIGg7U-GzGjpdV06W45-lrVfHop0iPLx7svHRb1aDMV2AcPRxoRHi0VCGnvLlCYHjQQ27LmcFz3wSAsG6ISoZLFCV0U3vICo-h47XKSi5ETuSX9Hk8N57h2gZ/s1600/C.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cazaly was full of energy, always misbehaving and the best <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aussie_Rules_Football" target="_blank">Aussie Rules Footy</a> player in school. In second grade all the kids had to hold hands as we walked into class. I started falling in love with him when I noticed that he lined up next to me, all the time. It was only natural I learned to how to play football.<br /><br />After weeks of perfecting my kicking and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_%28Australian_football%29" target="_blank">marking</a> skills, I asked him if he wanted to be boyfriend. He agreed, on one condition. Did I barrack for the Magpies?<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjjrcfe87b-OnPotKFkZOjh_IrQLVDuUJtE2qF4W2bySgbmI2ogCkTvBjaJmtI_epX8qXcO9jEIUo-F9HY9XFNXbUHrwtsGZ-sbq0Z1n6pV2NQLNBXeoAS_ve_hHvBJk3qlmG-he39DPqc63wvzyBM8t82nxgL0UrizA0eD=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/birds/M/Magpie/Magpie_1.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image courtesy of<br /> <a href="http://www.wpclipart.com/browse.html" target="_blank">wpclipart.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Well, of course I said YES. I knew nothing about the professional football league and had no idea who or what the Magpies were. My Mum told me their real name was Collingwood and they wore black and white. I watched my first game of football that weekend. I didn't understand the rules and couldn't tell the difference between the teams colours on our black and white TV.<br /><br />Our romance blossomed over shared lunches and games of kick to kick every playtime. The dilemma of whether to play on the same team so we could win together, or opposite teams so we could stand next to each other, was a difficult decision.<br /><br />As my passion for gymnastics, swap cards and skipping rope grew, I lost interest in being tackled and chasing an egg shaped ball. I rarely keep up to date with football results anymore either - but if you ask me who I barrack for I'll probably always sing out loud - "Good old Collingwood forever, they know how to play the game, side by side we stick together, to uphold the magpies name..."<br /><br />Did someone you love influence the loyalty, to your favourite sports team? Why does our loyalty for the players change but never the team?<br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;">Have you ever seen Aussie Rules football? Here's an advertisement, with a song dedicated to the real Cazaly, from the 70's. It still gives me goosebumps, 'there's a lot more to footy than really meets the eye.'</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pxM8XB61ZvU" width="459"></iframe><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 16px;"><div style="font-size: medium;">***</div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: medium;">I use #atozchallenge when sharing my favourite posts.</div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: medium;">Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willuc2?ref=hl" target="_blank">Reflex Reactions</a> on Facebook</div><div style="font-size: medium;"><br /></div><div style="font-size: medium;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ReflexReactions" target="_blank">@ReflexReactions</a> on Twitter<br /><br />Add me to your circles on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/115227367927422827982/posts" target="_blank">Google+ </a><br /><br /><br />***<br /><br />Read more about:<br />The <a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2014.html" target="_blank">A to Z challenge</a> My theme and links to all <a href="http://idachiavaro.blogspot.dk/2014/03/a-to-z-theme-reveal-not-quite-what-i.html" target="_blank">26 Greatest loves of my life.</a></div></div></div><br /><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wpclipart.com%2Fanimals%2Fbirds%2FM%2FMagpie%2FMagpie_1.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjjrcfe87b-OnPotKFkZOjh_IrQLVDuUJtE2qF4W2bySgbmI2ogCkTvBjaJmtI_epX8qXcO9jEIUo-F9HY9XFNXbUHrwtsGZ-sbq0Z1n6pV2NQLNBXeoAS_ve_hHvBJk3qlmG-he39DPqc63wvzyBM8t82nxgL0UrizA0eD=" -->Ida Thoughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15479961947050289284noreply@blogger.com27