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Afternoon Sky

Afternoon Sky over Ocean Beach in San Francisco

I am participating in Skywatch Friday

Bay Waters

 The San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge

Along the Embarcadero

Yachts along the San Francisco Bay

I am participating in Wednesday Waters

Japanese Iris

I am participating in Floral Friday Fotos

Floral Smiles

I am participating in Monday Mellow Yellows

Hasn't Been The Same Around Here

Sony Holland and Jerry Holland's new video - a rockabilly song about San Francisco gentrification with heart and soul and a little sass and class. Check it out and share it. Thanks.

Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, CA.

I spent a few days at Rockaway Beach in Pacifica as the first leg of my staycation.  I love the bay area and my home in San Francisco so this was the perfect way to spend the beginning of my week. Enjoy!

I am participating in Our World Tuesday

My World Vision Story

I write this post with a sad heart. I decided to go ahead and tell you my story so that if you were considering donating to World Vision or any other charity my story may help you make an educated decision.

I came across World Vision a while ago and wanted to go ahead and sponsor a couple of children.  The idea of helping these children and their families was of the utmost importance to me.  I went ahead and did research on World Vision and after countless hours decided to go ahead and sponsor two children - Cinthia who you see in the above photo and Victor.

Within a few weeks I received my packets from both of them including their info, pics etc... I was ecstatic that I was going to be able to help these two in some small way to live a better life.  It cost me $35.00 per child, per month to sponsor both of them.  That actually is quite a bit of money for me but I thought, well, I could give up a dinner out per month in order to help them.  I setup and automatic giving account so that World Vision could take the money from my debit card each month which saved me from writing a check - WRONG DECISION!!!

After a few months I began corresponding with Cinthia's family and got to know them a bit better.  I sent little cards, stickers etc... to Cinthia as gifts.  I knew she liked dolls and I had a couple of small crocheted flat dolls that my Grandma handed down to my Mom and my Mom in turn to me.  I sent one of these dolls to Cinthia and as you can see in the photo above she did receive it.  I was thrilled to give her a family a homemade doll that she could enjoy.  My other sponsored child I barely ever heard from despite the fact that I would send him cards and little gifts.  In the past two years of sponsorship I received maybe one letter from him.

During these two years I did receive a couple of photos which were not Cinthia, though came with her name and ID# asking for donations.  I contacted World Vision about this and they told me there was a mix up so I just went ahead and sent the donations.

About a month ago I received a letter and packet from World Vision informing me that Cinthia was no longer a part of the community and that they chose another child for me to sponsor.  I was heartbroken because there was no way for me to contact Cinthia or her family, as World Vision does not allow it once a child is no longer in the program.  Then I became angry that they would just automatically choose another child for me to sponsor.  It is not their choice, when I am paying for it.

About a week after that, I received a packet from World Vision with a birthday card to be signed with a donation form to send to Cinthia for her birthday.  That was a red light for me.  They told me she was no longer in the program and now they are asking for more money to send her a birthday card?  I immediately wrote to them asking what was going on and the told me that bday card packets are sent to donors in advance and that it usually takes two months to arrive.  I know that is not true because the packets, cards and info is sent by the US office in 'Washington DC and it does not take two months to arrive.

I decided to take a look at my account at that point so I checked online and found that not only was Cinthia still on my account as a sponsored child but so was this new child they chose for me as well as Victor.  They were about to charge me for all three of them for the month and beyond.  I contacted them again and told them to close my account.  They would not.  So, I went back to my account online and deleted all the payment information so they could not charge me.  Right after I did that I have been getting endless emails and phone calls telling me to update my account with payment information.  We are talking three to five emails and calls per day.  I contacted them again just yesterday and very angrily told them to close my account.  They still have not done so.

I am sad that it has come to this and especially because there is no way I can continue to correspond with Cinthia and her family.  I know she is not part of their program any longer but I would think that they would be more concerned about a child rather than money.  Obviously for them, the bottom line is the almighty dollar.  That was proven in March of 2014, during the gay and lesbian debacle that nearly cost them over 10,000 donors leaving until they caved only to keep the money rolling in.

The positive here is that I was able to provide some help over the past two years and give little Cinthia her doll which I know she loves.  I may not be able to correspond with her any longer but she is a huge part of my heart.

So, in closing, please if any of you are thinking of donating to any charity be careful and research the charity thoroughly.  NEVER setup an automatic giving account for any charity.  I know it's easier to do that but in the long run it will save you money.

The Camellia

The Camellia a Poem

Stunning
fanciful garb

in a garden so fair.

Delicious petals

so soft and fragile

protect hidden gems.

Dewdrop kissed

by rains

refreshed.

A showstopper

parading pink hues

at nature's red carpet event.

Happy Easter Everyone

Night Visions

Night Visions

Streets, dark, empty

musical noir sax

hits exotic highs

filling the emptiness

of broken sidewalks

illuminated by the moon.

Firecrackers ablaze

while street lamps flicker

burnt fog lurks

through narrow corridors

and the stillness

speaks a jazz riff.

See more of my jazz writings at Jerry Jazz Musician

Photo taken by me and digitally enhanced.

Playing The Guzheng

I attended the Lunar New Year celebration at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and was awed by the Guzheng performances.  The photo above and video below were taken at the garden by me during the performance,

I am participating in i heart macro

Be Thankful For Your Job

First let me say that though I never have been able to relate to Charles Bukowski in any way, shape or form,  this quote was perfect for this particular blog post.

There are those of us who have careers, those who work regular jobs to pay bills and put food on the table and those who have no income at all.  

I have never been career minded at all.  I have always wanted to write poetry and take photos.  However, I was never able to make a living on these creative pursuits.  I have been paid at times, I have won awards and a trip to Hong Kong for my poetry of which I am very thankful.

I work the everyday 9 to 5 as most people, though in my case it's 12 to 8.  It's easy to complain about a job as Bukowski has so bluntly described with the above quote.  We all complain to some extent about our jobs.  I know I do, until I "saw the light" so to speak about what I do each day.

My main job is to take photos of products and write descriptions while promoting these products online.  So, essentially I am being paid for my photography and writing. Not to mention I am learning something new each day.

It is all in the way you look at things.  I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity to make a living doing what I love to do.  Changing our attitude creates happiness.

Tenzing The Red Panda

This is Tenzing, the Red Panda who lives at the San Francisco zoo.  This is the first time I have been lucky enough to capture closeups of him.

Please click the above widget to view more Saturday's Critters

Magnificent Magnolias

The magnolias are in full bloom right now at the San Francisco Botanical Garden.  These photos were taken a couple of days ago.

I am participating in Today's Flowers

Purple Blooms In Darkness

I am participating in Aquariann's Wordless Wednesday

St. Cecilia Church

These photos were taken at St. Cecilia church here in San Francisco, CA, where I attended catholic school for eight years.  The church itself is gorgeous and has some beautiful architecture with stained glass windows and doors.

Photo from the inside of the church 

Same photo from the outside of the church

Stained glass windows inside

More stained glass windows

I am participating in Whimsical Windows Delirious Doors

Water Reflections

 Photos taken at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in San Francisco

I am participating in Weekend Reflections