Turn Your Blue Mind On

Hi Everyone... Check out the NEW " Oceans: Our Blue Planet" Movie at the Museum of Science & Industry! If you have never been to the theater it is a 5 STORY Wrap Around DOME screen! Check out the link and you will see the screen with audience...it is AWESOME! You really feel immersed into it! It will be there until Feb 14th!

Hi Everyone... Check out these football uniforms which are 70% made from Ocean Plastic!!! Now if we could get all the Universities and the NFL to do so...wow that would make a difference! :-)

Hi Everyone... Check out all these dogs Turning Their Blue Mind On!! :-) This Doggie Dip was sponsored by Magnificent Mutts & Meows Rescue (Facebook) and the Elmhurst Animal Care Center at the Adventure Bay Water Park today! Like them on Facebook & share some photos each day of the adorable dogs & cats who need loving homes. Ask your friends then to share a few a day. You never know who you will reach and how you can make a difference finding a loving home for one of them! Here is their website as well.

Hi Everyone... Check out Maya Turning her Blue Mind on for the first time! She is just Breath-Taking! :-)

Hi Everyone... Isn't this just sooooo cool?! I love Red-tailed Hawks! Just gliding....and this one looks like he or she is just loving the Ocean! Definitely #BlueMind!! :-) Check out more on Elite Falconry .

Hi Everyone... Very cool! This dog, Ben, disappears everyday to play in the water with a Dolphin named "Duggie." They definitely are turning on their Blue Minds! :-)

Hi Everyone... This is AWESOME! There is a Dog Beach Bar in Crikvenica, Croatia where dogs can Turn their Blue Mind On! :-)

Whale Shark Disentanglement from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo . Hi Everyone... Check out this AWESOME video of this family helping out this Whale Shark by cutting a huge fishing line that was caught around him! What an AMAZING Blue Minded family! Here are some more details on the story!

Hi Everyone... Check out this link on the AWESOME renovation plans for the Chicago Riverwalk from State Street to Lakeshore Drive. I can't wait until they are done & enjoy it!!! :-)

Hi Everyone... Well even the people talking in the video comment on how HAPPY the dog is. When I watch it I kinda feel like he is trying to show everyone what Blue Mind is and how they can be happy by just getting in the water too! :-)

Hi Everyone... If you have not been to Door County , it is a very lovely place. I saw this ad and certainly thought #BlueMind! :-) It has been many years since I have been there, but I still have very found memories. I remember a very bad rain storm that flooded their mall and we came out and saw a brilliant double rainbow. :-) We didn't get to go to Washington Island as the waters we so choppy, but that just means I'll have to go back another day! :-) It is gorgeous in the fall. Check out the website for all the B&Bs, shops, restaurants, WATER activities etc.

Hi Everyone... Friday, August 3rd from 1-7pm Waukegan Harbor will have a FREE paddling event! Paddles, life vests & canoe trips are provided. In the evening, 5-8pm, a living history of French fur traders and a movie on the beach are some of the fun activities to end a fun day! Check out the link!

Hi Everyone... Check out Boo Bear Baloo (Baloo for short)! He just loved having a #BlueMind soooo much, he said he wanted it inside too! HA! Ah why be in the Texas heat you know! Smart dog! HA! He is Cara Wohr's furbaby and looks like such a fun, loving and sweet dog! :-)

Hi Everyone... I really had not thought about when I wash my car myself where the dirty soapy water would go & how it might harm the planet. I do wonder if all professional car wash places are like this video states??? I guess I won't be washing my car myself anymore! :-)

Hi Everyone... Well dogs & water I tell you! This is another INSPIRING video of a dog named Ricochet who surfs and helps others with disabilities get in the water for their Medicine! :-) There is a documentary " Going the Distance: Journeys of Recovery " with Ian & Ricochet.

Hi Everyone... This is a really tough but AMAZING video to watch! It is soooooo INSPIRING! It is about 30 min long but at about 21 minutes in, Claire talks about her "Earliest Memory of Really Feeling Healthy" and it was when she was 5 yrs old and her dad took her to the Ocean and taught her how to dive and go under water & she said she could hold her breath "forever under there" and she felt "really independent" when she was in the ocean. I have tried to search a bit for more on her and it appears those who helped her with her Youtube channel scammed her even though she did not sign any contract. She is now doing her own Youtube channel and her most recent post on July 7th was about the possibility of getting new lungs. Nothing since then so I'm not sure if she had the surgery or???

Hi Everyone... Look at the fun "Sadifak" is having! :-) She is one of 7 pups who were rescued by Nowzad . Her mother was killed by a bombing in Kabul. She definitely getting her Blue Mind On! :-) Nowzad is an animal rescue founded by British Marine Pen Farthing. While he was in Afghanistan, he rescued a dog he named Nowzad. Pen eventually was able to bring Nowzad back to his home, but then realized there were many soldiers rescuing and bonding with animals who would also love to have these dogs come home with them as well. Of course there were many animals who would love any loving home. Dodo Heroes featured an episode on the Nowzad Shelter recently which is EXCELLENT! Check it out & see how Nowzad was able to assist one of two soldiers who rescued 6 puppies and get them all to to the US to live with him and other veterans! Nowzad has reunited over 1000 dogs & cats with the soldiers who rescued them! :-) The Taliban had banned people from owning dogs, so the...

Hi Everyone... Well here is one way to keep Your Blue Mind Turned On at home! :-) Check out this video on how to make a table that looks like the ocean. It is a good first try. I think some white/beige concrete might be better...gray looks more like the lake but maybe you rather that. I think also you can play with trying to get the deep side darker blue. Maybe a divider with darker blue then take the divider out & do the lighter blue. That may just be two colors only and you might want a third for a bit of gradual darkening? Something to think about & try. I think you could also put some small shells or shell pieces on the shallow side before you put the epoxy in and hey, you could make it fun with some plastic colorful fish or a SHARK! HA! You know those kids ones! :-) Here is the full page from This Old House with directions.

Hi Everyone... Check out the Des Plaines River Water Trails for a quiet time to enjoy some water! No boats allowed! :-) There are canoe launch sites at both the northern & middle sections. Check out the link for each section all the way to where the Des Plaines River and Kankakee River meet to make the Illinois River.

Hi Everyone... Even some cats get #BlueMind and love the water! :-) This is Nathan the Beach Cat and she (yes she!) loves swimming! Check out more videos of her swimming and Turning Her Blue Mind On! :-)

Hi Everyone... What a very cool idea! Very #BlueMinded to help out our Oceans!

Hi Everyone... This is Milo & he is Pamela Greenwood's fur baby. He definitely is Totally in #BLUEMIND! :-)

Hi Everyone... Well look at this...NBC has Benefits of the Beach & even says "Vitamin Sea!" :-)

Hi Everyone... WOW! This is quite INTERESTING! Check out this video of music being played UNDER WATER! AquaSonic is an Under Water Concert by a group called Between Music . Now Music and Water...Even more Blue Mind???!!! :-) Although I will say some of the music seems a bit creepy (just my opinion) and made me think about the under water scenes in Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire and the "Merpeople." HA! :-)

Hi Everyone... Very cool! Looks so very Beautiful! :-)

Hi Everyone... The Shedd Aquarium has a new exhibit " What is Beauty? " that you should check out & go to if you can. They say the website has a live cam but it is not live now, instead there is like 4 hours of Beautiful Fish! :-) You can share your pictures on Twitter & Instagram #UnderwaterBeauty and take a quiz. Check out the Special Offers for Military, Students, Teachers, Seniors etc. Also check out their calendar of events .

Hi Everyone... Just take some time to listen to the Big Blue! Ahhhhhhh :-) Water is Medicine! Vitamin Sea!

Hi Everyone... Someone mentioned "Loons" the other day and I right away go to when I fell in love with Loons and their call. It was one of my top favorite movies...On Golden Pond!!! No doubt my dream place to live! 2nd would be the beach! :-) I can't tell you how many times I've seen this movie, but I bet it is probably the most of any movie I've seen. First, it is just aesthetically breath-taking. I love the scenes with the serene mood of nature & the water. Next, the characters, plot & specific actors (Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman & a very young Doug McKeon) are just incredible! Even the Music...anyone remember the game show "Name That Tune"? I know, I'm aging myself here! The first 3 notes and I know the film and the emotions just flood me! It was released December 4, 1981. The very next March it won Best Actor (Henry Fond), Best Actress (Katherine Hepburn) and Best Screenplay from another medium ...

Hi Everyone... Well look at this short piece TipHero posted on 5 Benefits Neuroscientists say we get from visiting the Beach! :-) We know there are MANY MORE! 

Hi Everyone... Illinois State Beach Park includes 6 1/2 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, including IL's largest marina! :-) You can hike, bike, boat, fish, swim, picnic, camp & cross country skiing in the winter in various areas which include Dunes, Swales, Marshes, Prairie, Black Oat Forest, with 650 plant species, birds & aquatic life. Check out the link for directions & various locations for specific activities.

Hi Everyone... This is Andy Nieblas. Pretty cool footwork! When the Water just takes hold of your Spirit! :-) Edit by: Andrea Coleman

Hi Everyone... I just love this! Seniors get their Medicine of water, socialize, keep fit & save lives, so others can get their Medicine of Water! I think by sharing their experience with the younger lifeguards, they are also teaching young people a very valuable lesson...to value those who are older with much more experience!

Hi Everyone... What is even better than being by the beach & water...PUPPIES! OH MY GOODNESS! Watch this video of Potcakes Place , a dog rescue shelter in the Turks & Caicos Island where you can take a puppy & play on the beach & even Fall In LOVE and take one home! :-) Talk about Turning Your Blue Mind On!

Hi Everyone... Hope you are having a lovely 4th of July! We have some pretty nasty storms by us that is putting a damper on the festivities. Wind is bad and blowing out the grill every time we relight it and fireworks are being canceled...grrrr a bit of Red Mind...but we finished the cooking inside & watched fireworks on tv so back to Blue Mind. Here is a little bit of Blue Mind to help out! :-)

Hi Everyone... You know I just can't get enough of these dogs Turning Their Blue Mind On! I think they really understand perfectly & are there to show us we need to do this more!!! :-) If we could only get more cats to love the water! :-)

Hi Everyone... Oh man just love this one! And right now in the Midwest we are having some scorcher days so this is a good idea! BTW...with that idea, I think I'll mentioned an email my vet sent out. A couple came in with their dog experience heatstroke & unfortunately he said the dog died because the couple covered the dog in ice thinking it would bring his temp down. Unfortunately, all that does it cause more shock to the system so please let everyone know not to do that. My vet said, cool to tepid water is what you should use.

Hi Everyone... I just love this! Even this dog knows the value of water! I believe this dog is a border collie, which are the smartest dogs, so hey!!! :-)

Hi Everyone... WOW!!!! Just BREATH-TAKING!!! I bet he is in Blue Mind doing this! :-) I think they definitely Turn Up Blue Mind for others.

Hi Everyone... OMG!!!! :-) SARK posted this and I was just sooooo in love! HA! I can't stop watching it! Totally the best! Water, the sound of the Ocean, the smell of the Ocean & Sand AND....Rocking! I LOVE Rocking chairs! Since I was a kid. We had these module chairs in the 70s that rocked and I would just have my big headphones on & listen to music & rock (especially if too hot or too cold outside to go play!) I just found a paper I wrote for my Stress Management Certification in 2003 about a Meditation experience I had one day. I wrote the following: While holding my heart tenderly, while holding my head to slow it... If I could see without my eyes If I could hear without my ears If I could taste without my tongue If I could feel without touching If I could know without thinking If I could say without words If I could give without taking If I could love without thought I would be SPIRIT I think that is what FULL BLUE MIND would be! :-) What do you t...

Hi Everyone... If you check out this video at about 1:19 you see Roosevelt University in the background. That is where I got my Masters in Industrial Psychology. Many times I would study on the 2nd floor sitting right at the front windows watching the Buckingham Fountain or I would even go walk to the fountain and study there. This video explains how the fountain works. It is not a far walk from the Crown Fountain I talked about in my last post. I just love it. :-)

Hi Everyone... Well Summer is definitely here! We have Heat Index Warnings already for Fri & Sat! YIPES! One great place to cool off is at the Crown Fountain . I LOVE it there! You just walk up there and the ENERGY is just INCREDIBLE! So much laughter and fun. And it isn't just the kids! :-) Here is a place you can be just NEAR the water and get sooo much benefit from it. Of course being IN, ON & UNDER is even better! :-) The area has its own group Aura or Energy Field!!!! Here are a few pictures I took the last time I was there. I haven't been there for some time now, so I'll see if I can head there soon and maybe do a bit of interviewing and talking about #BlueMind! :-)

Hi Everyone... Well, this is soooooo cool! This is Volo Bog which is located about 1 hr from Chicago at the sourthwest corner of Lake County. Why is it cool? See all the plant life...trees even...they are floating! The inner plants 50 feet deep! I told you it was cool! :-) And it is the only open water quaking bog in IL! It was created over 10,000 years ago...end of Ice Age time! A big chuck of a glacier got stuck deep in the ground and created this cool site! Check out the link & think about making a trip there to Turn Your Blue Mind On! Look at this picture in the fall! Wow!

Hi Everyone... Well, Summer is officially here!!! :-) We certainly have received a great deal of rain lately and we do have a bit of flooding so a bit more precaution to take but I wanted to give you some links for some ideas to get out on the water in IL! If there is another link you would like me to add let me know!  Openlands: Paddle IL Water Trails   - Events Illinois Paddling Council  - Events Chicago Whitewater Association - Events Lincoln Park Boat Club - Events Pecatonica River Water Trail Lincoln Heritage Water Trail Blackhawk WaterWays

Hi Everyone... Here is a great video & link on a mile of lakefront beach north of Chicago which has taken 10 years to restore, but now is a great place to check out and get your Blue Mind Turned On! No swimming, but still a great deal to enjoy!

Hi Everyone... This is an AWESOME story by WGN ! A Chicago Korean War Veteran, Gabriel Spataro at 80 yrs old, got scuba certified so he could go down to the Florida Keys with his 80 yr old friends and dive to see the Christ Statue underwater that he brought back from Italy. Italy had donated a copy of the statute. Watch the video for the full story.

Hi Everyone... Can't get the video to share right on my blog, so you'll have to click t his link to watch it . The Shedd Aquarium is working with Urban Rivers and they are revitalizing the north branch of the Chicago river known as "Goose Island." They are placing floating islands with plants in hopes of bringing back fish, birds and other wildlife and they have set up cameras to study the progress. Their hope is to get 60,000-70,000 square feet of floating islands! Sounds AWESOME!!! I can't wait for it to be finished and everyone can enjoy it and 'Turn Their Blue Mind On' there! :-)

Hi Everyone... Well, yesterday I made a joke about "Free Bath/Shower Day" for the birds, bunnies etc. Look what I saw when I pulled in my drive this evening. HA! I know it may be hard to see, but best I could get, didn't want to scare it off.  He/She just sat there under the bushy tree for a long time while I tried to take pictures and videos. :-)  I have at least 4 bunnies in the area (I saw 4 together at one time so...). One comes by my deck and eats grass and dandelions while my kitty Sterling watches him/her and the birds. I have sweetly named them "Flopsy," "Mopsy," "Cotton-tail," and "Peter" not knowing their genders but....HA! It rained most of the day & is expected to until tomorrow. I think I'll head out tomorrow & take some pictures, since we have received quite a bit of water in the last few days. Some 1st day of Summer with the temps only in the low 70s. It is 64 degrees now! We had 90s for Spring and ...

Hi Everyone... Well, today's water is Rain! We have some storms moving through this evening and it is adding some refreshing water to my plants and my birdbath. Hopefully! We have had some rains that left dust spots on all our cars this summer. Very odd. They say it is from the farms. Hmmm. The rain is light and quite meditative to watch and listen to...even with a few small lightning strikes and low boom booms. I like how it also makes my deck lights blur and twinkle more! :-) I always say it is "Free Car Wash Day" (other than those dusty ones) but I'm thinking the birds and rabbits and other animals might like "Free Shower Day" for them! HA! Now, keep in mind we really don't necessarily need the rain right now. Chicago's WGN TV states we have had 12.41 inches of rain since May 1st, which is 6.37 more than normal. They say it is the wettest for this time period since they began logging it in 1871!

Hi Everyone... Well, I felt I had to at least make this post to make people aware. It may be more Red Mind but sometimes it is needed to get to Blue Mind. I won't say much, but to just ask that if you didn't know about this, you look into it, think about it & do what you feel is right. Here are a few links: Executive Order Regarding the Ocean Policy to Advance the Economic, Security & Environmental Interests of the United States Healthy Oceans Blog : Trump's Administration Executive Action Threatens Decades of Valuable Ocean Conservation, Repeals National Ocean Policy Update: Dems request Hearing! 

Hi Everyone... The water of our oceans contain such diverse marine life. The whole ecosystem is important to  honor, respect and love when we value water and #BlueMind. Scientific American had a 60 second Podcast " Coral Reefs Keep Costly Waves at Bay " that I thought was really good. I thought I would share it with you and add some links on the benefits of Coral Reefs to extend upon this short podcast. ICRI : Benefits of Coral Reefs NOAA : Importance of Coral Reefs Coral Reef Alliance : Benefits of Coral Reefs Infographic Reef Resilience Network : Value of Reefs Mother Nature Network : How Coral Reefs Can Help Us Endure Climate Change

Hi Everyone... Well this is my Dad! I thought for Father's Day I would blog about my Dad and how much he helped me LOVE WATER! Actually, as I was visiting with him today, I asked him about our pools. We were both trying to jog our memories. My sister & one of my two brothers were there also & well our memories are all going! HA! We could not remember if we got a pool after the the one collapsed that I blog about previously. I had remembered the brown wood paneling siding on the pool by our first house, but I found these pictures when I returned home this evening and it was at our 2nd house. We had 1 1/3 acres of woods. As I looked at these pictures, I remembered our first house the siding was yellow, I think???? I just emailed my brother & dad these pictures and asked them. :-) I just emailed my Dad thanking him. He didn't really swim, he could probably do it to save himself with the few lessons he took, but he might have gotten in our first pool once or ...

Hi Everyone... Today is World Sea Turtle Day! So I thought I would provide some helpful links on Sea Turtle. :-) World Wildlife Federation - 10 Facts on Marine Turtles NOAA Fisheries   - Lots of videos & links !!! Dr. Wallace J. Nichols - Billion Baby Turtles NY Dept. Environmental Conservation - Sea Turtles of NY Here is a video University of Florida just posted this video with Karen Bjorndal & Alan Bolten talking about world - renowned sea turtle expert Archie Carr & his legacy with UofF students. Even my "Sterling" loves his Turtle! The pink mousie & his turtle are his favorite. :-)

Hi Everyone... These pictures are from Brookfield Zoo. I love watching the variety of birds in this pond. This particular day there was quite a variety. Then I went inside the Penguin House and they were having a good time by their water. Then food came! HA! :-) Also wanted to thank Nikki for my AWESOME Bracelet I received in the mail today!!!

Hi Everyone... This came on my newsfeed today & I thought it was worth sharing! It might sound at times a bit depressing, but I think overall it is a hopeful message! I wanted to honor & thank Dr. Sylvia Earle  ( Mission Blue - Slyvia Earle Alliance ) for her commitment to ocean research. She is an AMAZING woman! She is sooo RIGHT! NO EXCUSE today!!! I am very hopeful that the younger generation will do more to help our planet. I think they really do feel the generations before them did not do anything (overall) and that they know they have to do something now. I think back to when I was younger & my parents generation and the quote "Ignorance is Bliss" comes to mind. It is true, I/they lived happily not knowing and doing what I/they wanted to do. Unfortunately, ignorance is also harmful! It makes me wonder when was the moment in time, as a society, we stopped caring...overall? What was the pivotal factor that changed things? I do remember in the 1970s the PS...

Hi Everyone... Well in I'm not mistaken this is from a 2001 trip to Mackinac Island. Lighthouse in the distance. I had always wanted to go to the Island since I was little and saw pictures of my mom's trip there with her folks when she was a teen. I also got even more interested to see the Grand Hotel after the movie "Somewhere In Time" came out. :-)  From the hotel balcony. There were lots of seagulls there the next day. First day was kinda dreary but after that it was not bad. I had a great deal of fun! It is a lovely town. Went on a boat ride. Father Jacques Marquette Statute overlooking the water. Checked out the historic sites, browsed in the shops and had some lovely meals! Here is the bridge you cross to the Island. It was a very relaxing trip. I'm finding myself really wanting to go back right now! :-) 

Hi Everyone... There is just something about this post I tell you...here we go again! These are the stickers on the back of my Jeep! :-) Well, I won't say what brand, but my water filter pooped out so I called the company & they emailed me a postage label to send back to them & today I got the new one delivered! YA!!! :-) My city water is not in any violations & in fact they test for things that are not even required but I still am not confident about when it leaves the plant, pipes etc so I put one on my kitchen sink! So I was filling up my pitchers today (aloe/water & water) & ice trays. Even my fur baby Sterling's water fountain reserve tank.  I also wanted to add something else which goes along with general sustainability here... I went to see the movie " First Reformed " (trailer)  today. I had seen Ethan Hawke on a variety of talk shows and interviews and was interested in the movie plot. Now while I won't give the e...

Hi Everyone... "My Water" from the past also includes some amazing waterfalls from my hiking trips. These pictures I took at  Starved Rock  in Oglesby, IL. It is about 100 miles a bit south & then mostly west of Chicago. It is simply BEAUTIFUL! There is 13 miles of hiking trails and water in 14 of the 18 canyons.  Check out their website and if you ever come to IL make sure you make a trip there - you will definitely TURN YOUR BLUE MIND ON!!! :-)

   Hi Everyone... Well isn't this INTERESTING! Interesting isn't even the right word! I went out to sprinkle my plants the other day & look what I found near where my hose was lying? I have NO IDEA!!! Yes, this is the point you say, "Ahhhhhh" HA! It wasn't there any of the other days I was sprinkling. It isn't one of mine! It is not a round marble, but a flat one, but it is BLUE! I have no idea how it got there? I found it! Hmmmm! The  BLUE MIND Spirit has found me! HA! It was just sitting there all by itself and being very obvious! :-) If I find another one, I'm going to set up a camera! Ha! Today Mother Nature sprinkled my plants, so I didn't have to do it. Thank you Mother Nature! We had some big Boom Booms around 4am this morning, but I usually sleep better when there are T-Storms. Well, not the ones that rattle everything, but in general. :-) Thank you Charis  (Check out her website!) for sending me the Blue Mind heart! I added it to ...

Hi Everyone... Today was the March for Oceans Day and I could not participate, so I thought I would talk about the times I've been lucky enough to "experience" the ocean. I'm from the Midwest so oceans are not easily accessible to me! :-) Well I now know why we should label all pictures. Yes, I'm getting to the age that I'm forgetting. At the time you think you'll never forget. HA!  Anyone recognize it? I believe it is somewhere near San Francisco looking at other pictures below with the same date. HA! I went to California three times I believe, all business trips. I was in San Diego one time and San Francisco two times, but I only remember one of them, HMMM? Well from the dates below it appears 1994 & 1999. I remember the one trip to San Francisco when I was treated with a wine tour/tasting/dinner at a Napa Valley vineyard. FUN! I did get to ride a trolley, which was a special moment for me. I remember when my mom & dad went on a trip to San...