Educational Excellence

Happy Friday, y’all!  Did you hear me?!?  I says, “T.G.I.F.” in my Popeye the Sailor voice… alright!!

So much going down, it’s literally enough to make your head spin . . . like “The Exorcist” girl!  Damn!  Now, “we” lost Kobe . . .  Shaq said it best … ” I’m sick … I am not well today … my little brother …”  What about this “coronavirus”, huh?!?

The US Senate is taking the “express lane” to approving a dictatorship for the “1%” …  So what do we do now … wait for the rapture!?!  How do we get these rowdy people who don’t respect democracy … or each other … or “the people” … out of here?!  It’s gonna take a miracle … but don’t vote like a “bot” this time!!  Hopefully, “americans” … the real ones who actually like, fight for and protect democracy will step up “right quick”.  Obviously, if you are NOT part of that “1%”, not only do you get the “crumbs” leftover from their jet-set lifestyles, but you have to fight over the crumbs with other “gays and lesbians”, “blacks”, whites and yellows or browns, Christians, Jews, Gentiles … and whatever “minor category” that distinguishes one human from another!!!  Do “we” get it yet?!?  It’s common sense, as they keep saying in the proceedings!  Use yours, OKAY?!?

So, I’ve gotten a few more couch surfing guests, after having my first overly selfish and rude guest last week, and they are from Catalunya, Barcelona area of Spain.  They are scuba divers and are going to Cahuita today to see the Parque Nacional and its many forms of wild-life!  I have two more guests coming this afternoon, two young ladies from Cordoba, Argentina to stay for the weekend.  This is one way that I have found to keep the “positive energy” flowing in my life.  I am always “representin'” for ALL of us peaceful travelers.  I am not sure of any other options, except to use our “common sense for the common good” … and get rid of this “I deserve more than you!”-attitude omnipresent amongst the human species today!

I know, I know … I talk a little “crazy” sometimes!  But as I say here in Puerto Viejo where everyone “kind of” knows my name and say hi … “I ain’t trying to hurt nobody” … just UPLIFT my Sisters and Brothers!  Who knows, with a little love in our hearts … and lots of common sense like “the world leaders” don’t use, we might be able to save OURSELVES!!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

It’s Friday, y’all!  All-day and half of the night.  So … T.G.I.F. then, mi gente!

I’ve always been somewhat of a realist in my life!  Yet, in being an optimist, I sometimes give people too much credit.  In other words, I treat them like a “normal human being” at first.  Maybe allow them more than “three strikes” before I omit them from my life.  But once that is done, the omission thing, it’s hard for me to “let them back in” because I have learned to live without their “bs”, nonsense, drama, etcetera.  And I also learned that I had given them “too much credit” in the first place and realized the folly of my ways!

Yes, I am a retired teacher of various subjects including English, Spanish, American and European History.  I have even taken my chances teaching “9th-grade Afro-Asian history” I think they called it … right after lunch!  Those kids were “off the walls” during that class!  Cut to the chase, I watch much of the “impeachment trial”.  I have taken a “side”, too … but a moral side!

When watching so-called “grown men and women” of the United States Senate attempting to save what’s left of democracy, so to speak, on this planet, I am a bit disheartened .  Now, while I know that even if “#45” is NOT convicted, the party presenting the information to convict “it” has done a spectacular job … so far.  You all might remember that I seek “the truth” … even if it means someone doesn’t like me!  I think I learned that in elementary school, definitely by “middle school”!  As I watch the handfull of adult women sprinkled into the majority “white male representatives” in the Senate, I become more and more curious about what happened to them.  When we were kids in “the Projects”, we had a joke: “That mofo act like his mama dropped him on his head when he was a baby!  Stoooo-pid!”  THAT’s what comes to mind when I hear adults rejecting the most “obvious truths” … there are many lies and cover-ups being exposed throughout the proceedings in the Senate.

If American “democracy” … if we can keep it … depends on some of those so-called representatives of “the people” in the Senate, we’re in trouble.  However, the States may be able to redeem, repair and rejuvenate itself IF people vote this creature OUT OF OFFICE!  Either way … please … “GET OUT”!  

So, if you think you saw a “puddy cat” like “Tweety Bird” did … be careful … you DID see one!

Enjoy your day, your weekends … and as some of “the people” say, “STAY WOKE”!  In other words, don’t sleep on “the creeps”!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

It’s Friday, y’all!

Just Do It!  “T.G.I.F.”!  DONE!

These past few months have been quite “historical”.  Crazy stuff has been happening from a downed passenger plane thought to have been an  “attack plane” by Iran from the USA … to the continuance of an impeachment trial full of controversy.  Let’s not forget the “almost beginning of World War III”!  Can you say OMG?!?  As Elijah Cummings (RIP) once said, “We’re better than this!”  And I want to add in my Bernie Mack voice, “America …. what the !@#*!”

That’s how I have always felt about the current occupant of the White House … wt@?!  Now, I hope people can understand why #45 is not a good “fit” for president.  No matter what your success rate or purported earnings may be, since we haven’t seen the tax records of this creep for many years now, you cannot have a boldface criminal style LIAR serving as leader of the free world.  It just doesn’t work!  The thing that annoys me the most is how much effort has to be put in to get this character to stop his shenanigans!  He looks like a drug addict about to overdose on power!!  Please … “Get OUT!”

I have had friends who like and support “scrump”.  There is one lady from another country who TOLD me that she is “trying to help me understand #45”!  Again, I was like, “You can’t help me understand something like that!”  Now, we are no longer friends … tisk, tisk, tisk!!  Certain things, I don’t want to understand for fear of becoming like “them”!  Other things, like non-stop lying, I will never understand.  I wasn’t raised like that; it’s hard to trust a chronic power-hungry liar!  He should just resign … but I don’t think “it” has that much self-control.

So, if you aren’t too upset with me for my views, I hope you can understand.  I am not one to be convinced of a LIE!  I hope that we ALL can learn somethings as the trial continues.  May we keep our loved ones close while we look for changes that we EACH can embrace … to make this world a better place … while we can!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

Happy Friday, All!

You already know that I’ve got to do my T.G.I.F. thing … ahem …”TGIF”!

“So, there we have it …”  I remember one of my co-workers in my “call center” days in Ft. Lauderdale used to say when nothing made sense!!  We all used to laugh when we found out that he was being facetious!  So, that’s our world leadership, full of “fake folks” lying, deceiving, falsifying … and denying and destroying!  Who needs that?!?  We “the folks” across the board had better wake up and take charge of things … while we can.

It makes around a year now that I have been fortunate enough to be living in the same “home” – Casita Azul.  I have been living in Puerto Viejo for two years now as of December 25th, 2019.  I have adopted certain routines like writing my Friday morning pieces to blog.  I still try to get in a yoga class once a week as well as treat myself to a massage once a month.  Around town here, I have been able to develop a simple groove, still not rushing around to go anywhere.  I try to keep enough food in the home so I don’t have to go out and buy so many “street vendors” junk foods.  One guy I met whom I still purchase a homemade pineapple patty from on occasion named “Franklin” rides around on a bike  bellowing “Pa-teee, Pa-teee!”  It’s such a cool, quaint little town that you can “get in to” whatever you want … Caribbean style, though!

I’ve learned to keep it simple, breathe through my nose … and then empty my lungs.  I do this whether I am seated in the “lotus position” in yoga class or on the deck outside while meditating.  The natural sounds of the ocean on nearly all sides of Puerto aid in creating that “ebb and lull” that I have found helpful in my life.  You’ve heard the expression, “Go with the flow!” before, right?!  Well between the multifrequency sounds of the birds around, the gentle Caribbean breeze floating through the foliage coupled with my desire to have the “best quality of life”, I am holding things down!

I have begun chapter 12 of the manuscript and anticipating bringing it to an end around chapter 13.  Now that I am 65 and actually have Medicare in the States, I may look for some other options to healing my hips.  I have one or two other remedies (ie. – plasma treatments) that I would like to consider.  Some days are better than others, as I remember both of my parents saying from time to time.

Have a wonder-filled weekend and enjoy the beautiful full “Wolf Moon” tonight, the first of the new year.  Blessings. y’all!

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director

Happy Friday, Folks!

It’s the first one in 2020, you dig, so let’s do a universal “Om”, Namaste and a “T.G.I.F”, then!!  BAM, Baby!

Have you ever noticed or have YOU ever been one of those people with poor “time management” skills?  Now, don’t get me wrong about this, I ain’t perfect.  Yet, I am aware that in this gift we call “the present”, we are charged with maximizing our contributions to humanity … or the universe … or something!!  Anyway, use your time wisely.  I remember that as a youngster and being the youngest in the family with no little friends to choose from, I would sometimes complain of “not having anything to do”.  My father, Big Ike, could see the lack of direction I had in my personal life.  So he suggested that I get a “hobby”.  He didn’t tell me which one to choose, he just told me to get one!  I started writing down everything I thought and felt, especially when the moods got too heavy for my “little loving heart”.  I got that from my Momma …

As a species, we have been warned of global warming though some so-called “leaders” aren’t intelligent enough nor caring enough to see the reality of our struggling planet.  Others of us continue “living” sowing seeds of discontent … because “they” are discontent.  Still more of us just “talk a good game” while doing absolutely nothing.  I can’t be around folks like that too long.  I want to just shake them sometimes, but that is the job of the universe …  Mine is to continue to sow love and peace mixed with a little bit of harmony!

In my life which is naturally directed towards helping “others” including myself, I have encountered those who when they “see” where I am coming from become envious …  Am I supposed to stop being loving now because “some one” is envious of the gifts I have been receiving from the universe and, my path is not altered by their “lack of direction”?  I don’t think so!  Some of us have natural gifts and have learned to develop them.  It seems that I have been oftentimes placed in or found myself in a position of “leadership”.  It is one of my God-given universal talents … and no … “you” can’t take it away from me!  However, you can get your own!  Perhaps, “you” have your own gift … but simply haven’t taken the time (universal time management) to develop your gift, nor even acknowledge your “gift” and become concerned with developing it further!  Others of “us” just hate, making excuses for our lack of direction in our lives … and following other people around while criticizing those who seem to have “found themselves”!!

This theme is so important to me, I feel it in my heart.  I mean, we are looking at our own destruction of the planet we live on … yep … WE LIVE ON!  Did you hear me?!?  “There’s only one!” though some wealthy folks are looking for another “one”.  Are “they” planning on leaving us here while “they” escape the ruins that their “artificial wealth” has generated on our planet?!?  Hmmmpfff!

So, let’s make a serious charge to OURSELVES … to be the best that we can be and make the greatest effort to save our planet and species… We haven’t done so well with others … including ourselves.  Make the New Year and each day we are blessed with count in our favor!  Happy New Year! 

Peace,

John I. Cook, Director