Voice Over

http://www.rolemommy.com/Betty%20White%20Lorax%20in%20session%20artwork.jpg

I did a really cool thing today but let me start my story at the beginning.

In late July/early August I saw an ad from a business on a Facebook group that I belong to looking for American English speakers to do voice over work.  I responded by email and they asked me to send a voice sample.  I sent the sample early August and they said that they would contact me in the future if there was a need.

They contacted me earlier this week to go to their studio to record samples for a possible job.

It was very cool. . .

To hear me: http://www.voxartist.pt/pedido-de-casting/   I am Ref 735

Earthquake alert

We experienced a mild earthquake this morning at 12:26am.  There was no damage and all is well.

Magnitude ML 3.2 Region PORTUGAL Date time 2015-07-18 23:26:25.4 UTC Location 38.79 N ; 9.35 W Depth 15 km Distances 21 km NW of Lisbon, Portugal / pop: 517,802 / local time: 00:26:25.4 2015-07-19 3 km NW of Rio de Mouro, Portugal / pop: 54,695 / local time: 00:26:25.4 2015-07-19

Source parameters reviewed by a seismologist


More information at:   Instituto Portugues do Mar e da Atmosfera, Seismologia Lisbon, Portugal

Urgeiriça - July 4

http://cdn.cmjornal.xl.pt/2015-04/img_757x426$2015_04_12_19_08_59_446327.jpg

The in-service week at school finished on July 3 and a small break was due.

We traveled to Urgeiriça to have a look see. Urgeiriça was know for its uranium mines and it is said that Marie Curie was supplied with uranium from here.  According to Wikipedia control of this mine was a source of concern during WWII.

Urgeiriça is not more than a collection of miner's cottages (very well kept) and the hotel which is on the outskirts of town. It was so small that it didn't even boast a café.

We stayed at the Hotel Urgeiriça on the outskirts of town. This out-of-the-way hotel hosted many important foreigners including Clarissa Eden, Winston Churchill's niece, who married Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon. He was 27 years her senior and was the British Prime Minister from 1955-57. The hotel's old world charm set the right tone for a quiet weekend.

http://cdn.hotfrog.pt/companies/Hotel-Urgeiri%C3%A7a/images/Hotel-Urgeiri%C3%A7a_8156_image.jpg

Canas de Senhorim is a stone's throw away and with a population of approximately 3,500 people offers everything that one would need: shops, movies, restaurants and entertainment. The stone architecture in this region is of interest as are the pillories. Evidently there are 3 different routes that promote this region's architecture.

http://cdn3.igogo.pt/fotos/05/51/cruzeiro-de-canas-de-senhorim-2-2.jpg

A little further afield is Viseu, a 30 minute drive from Urgeiriça. Viseu is a thriving hub of life and culture. The city is clean and modern and the historic center is full of historic buildings, restaurants, cafes, shops and other places of interest.

http://www.luluviagens.com/imgcrop/uploads/geo_article_image/image/91/Viseu_-_Largo_D._Duarte__p__1_595_300.jpg

Jacaranda

In my neighborhood the main street is lined with jacaranda trees.  They bloom in late May and early June. They are breathtaking.

Always worth the wait . . .

Waiting . . .

http://hd.wallpaperswide.com/thumbs/waiting_cat-t2.jpg

Waiting for the jacaranda . . .

some daze . . .

http://www.ghostofaflea.com/archives/Casablanca.jpg

some days I feel very far from who I really am . . .

groundhog day . . .

It's Groundhog Day. Again . . .

I'm from Pittsburgh and we make a very big deal about Groundhog Day. I love this film and we can learn a lot about ourselves from it. I'm grateful that most days are different from one another . . . Happy Groundhog Day!

fair is fair . . .

Every 5 year old, regardless of race, religion or country of origin, knows that one of the basic principles of life has to do with being "fair."  You can hear the cries on the playground, "Not fair. Do over."  They are willing to share the only cookie with 1 or 2 or even 3 others, but they each insist that the pieces be equal. They cry out of frustration when they believe that something isn't fair.

And yet, as we grow older, most people seem to want the lion's share of whatever the hell it is.  If one receives less, they shout, "It isn't fair." But for many, dare I say most, they want more than you have and will shove you out of the way to get it.

I have spent my adult life looking at this issue.  I don't think there is a person more fair than me on planet Earth.  I tend to look at the entire situation before deciding what's fair and what isn't.  Got to say this has not gotten me very far, nor has it earned my ANY respect.  In fact, I would said just the opposite.  I would venture to say that others think I am weak because I don't have an agenda nor do I try to take advantage or get an edge up on others. The word "stupid" has even been used.  A friend of mine asked me a few years ago, "Who told you that life was supposed to be fair?"

Well, my conclusion is this.  Yeah, maybe life isn't fair but people should be. . .

no time . . .

http://regmedia.co.uk/2006/12/18/time_magazine_poty.jpg

I'm a blogger who doesn't have time to blog. Now, what's wrong with that? In the past couple of weeks I've seen and learned about things that require reflection and I just don't have the time or energy to address my life.

A couple of weeks ago on a sunny Sunday morning Luís and I decided to take a ride out to Colares to go to the market. We take the route along the coast as it's such a beautiful drive. As we were driving up the hill from Malveira to Azoia an emergency vehicle passed us with a blaring siren. By the time we reached the crest of the hill we happened upon a motorcycle accident. There were 3 motorcycles and men strewn across the road. The EMT's were helping one of the victims. He was bleeding and they had put something under his head so that his face and head were protected.  As I drove carefully through this scene, which was like something out of a movie,  I looked around me and took it all in. I focused on one body. It was still. It was soooooo still. He was dead. You just knew it. You could actually feel it. The lifelessness of the man lying face-down on the cold concrete unattended and alone despite the spectators milling around . . .    They closed the road to traffic only minutes shortly thereafter and it stayed closed for the better part of 4 hours. Later that evening this story opened the news: 2 dead and 1 hanging onto life as a result of a motorcycle collision.

So many lives changed in a split second. . .

a practical guide for living the life you want . . .

Happy New Year

journey to peace . . .