This month our pictorial travel takes us to some of the gorgeous scenery only a few miles from our home. There are also a few scenes from Las Vegas. The first poem speaks to a LARGE question and the second takes you on a scenic hike in Glacier National Park.
The Tao of Momentary Thoughts, my 8th book, is a compilation of vignettes, poems, and poignant quotes and is available on Amazon at $9.99. If you like the PJ, you will enjoy this book. It makes an excellent gift.
A Poetical Journey, my 9th book, is a compilation of my poems from the PJ and is available on Amazon at $9.99. If you enjoy the PJ, you will like this book. It makes an excellent gift.
Recent Reviews of my newest Books
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Doug from Ohio recently submitted the following review for The Tao of Momentary Thoughts: ". . . I was not prepared for page 116 Should have been because of the extremely personal nature of the entire book. Please understand that the unusual length of time to finish your book (especially for a binge reader like me) was because it screamed to be read thoughtfully in increments. For me that was 10-15 pages every weekend, often in quiet . . .Thank you for "putting pen to paper" and sharing your soul. Those of us who have followed Poetical Journeys will recognize much of the content. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to share part of your journey really feel a part of it."
Charles from Park City recently wrote: "Hi Bob….I just picked up your The Tao of Momentary Thoughts. It’s wonderful . . I love your book."
Ed from Seattle regarding The Tao of Momentary Thoughts: "I was smiling all the way through the reading . . .I think I will reread it again during the next week. . ."
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My third novel Adelyn: An Epic Journey in the Epic Journeys Trilogy IS AVAILABLEon Amazon. (Above is a 65 second clip about the book.) It will take you on quite a journey! Though the third book of a trilogy, it is also a standalone novel.
My first two books of the trilogy, To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey,and the sequel, What's Next~An Epic Journey, can also be purchased through Amazon by clicking here. (Scroll to the correct title.) Your local bookstore can also order them for you. All these books are fine reads for the broad-minded and/or the non-traditional spiritual seeker. What a reading adventure you will have including many diverse ideas, a beautiful love story, adventure, and intrigue. (All three are also available in Kindle version.)
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JJG recently wrote: I've read Bob's "To the End of Time" trilogy twice, each time gaining deep and deeper insights into the human condition. The three small volumes hold their own as good stories but also provide a unique glimpse into a new religious paradigm. Would that it could come to be.
Click here to link to a YouTube radio interview about To the End of Time and Back. (Friend David Riggs produced it for me. To link to his book, click here.)
A number of individuals have sent glowing review. You can read some of them in the Forum Section below.
Guest Vignette: Some thoughts by the Dalai Lama (Power point converted to a video)
Recommendations
Quotable Quotes
Bit of Humor
PJ Forum
PJ Demographics – Subscribers in 27 states and 13 countries
PJ Online
PJ Policies
Subscription information
Welcome
I am pleased to have you as a reader. If you enjoy the PJ, please encourage others to subscribe.
If your country is not listed in the demographic section at the end, please let me know so I can update the list.
The next Poetical Journal will be out August 25, 2019.
Posing by the Statue of Liberty replica made from Twirlers licorice at the Hershey Chocolate display in Las Vegas.
Opening Comments from Bob
My ninth book,A Poetical Journey (all poetry), and the eighth, The Tao of Momentary Thoughts (combination of poetry, vignettes, and quotes),are enjoyable reads. They are available for order from Amazon.
This Issue: Though we have finished our trip to Glacier, one of our poems The Cedars and Avalanche Lake Trails takes you on a gorgeous hike via a poetical video. The poem A Miracle speaks again to a big issue. Pictorially, we stay close to home except for a few shots taken in Las Vegas, NV. Our son Craig and his wife Nicole accompanied us for this long weekend jaunt. The vignette is a power point I received ten years ago. I converted it to a video. It is worth the 1 minute and 26 seconds of your time.
Subscriber Residences:PLEASE let me know if your state, providence, or country is not listed in the demographic section at the end.
Next Month: The next issue comes out on August 25, 2019.
My work currently appears in seven books. Four are offered for sale online. To order any of the four, click here. The newest books, Adelyn: An Epic Journey (2017), What's Next? ~ An Epic Journey (2016), and Beyond Time and Back: An Epic Journey (2015), are currently available through Amazon.
PLEASE! Supporting the efforts of the Poetical Journal is greatly appreciated! Any amount of donation is appreciated. To support, click here.
To view the product page of other unique gifts, pleaseclick here.
Bridal Veil Falls, UT: A few miles from home this small falls is experiencing record amounts of water due to the heavy snow melt.
Another view of the falls
Mirror Lake high in the Uinta Mountains opened to the public in late June. The road was closed due to snow.
Several sections of the campgrounds were still closed in mid July.
Two Poems this Month
A Miracle
One can wonder how existence came to be.
Perhaps mere chance against the odds allowed the miracle to pierce the crust of time.
Days and years pass as the trunk of life expands branches reaching out to absorb the brilliant light.
For all, life is a struggle, sometimes simply to survive the day.
Yet, despite the many seasons, why not rejoice in the mystery of existence?
For perchance you are not an accident but destined to explore this miracle.
Comments: I like to believe none of us are accidents.
Presenting my poem Thompson Road at the annual talent show held at Dr. Paul Lam's Annual Tai Conference.
A pond taken at Sundance Ski Resort; note the sculpture behind the log.
Comment: One of the most beautiful, tranquil hikes I have taken recently was on a combination of two trails in Glacier National Park, The Cedars and Avalanche Lake trails. I created this poetical video to describe the experience.
In case you have problems opening the the link, here is the YouTube link.
Midway/Heber Valley: Despite it being summer, the snow remains on the peaks,
A gorgeous, rushing mountain stream taken at Robert Redford's Sundance Ski area.
A side street in Park City, taken in June.
Guardman's and Empire Passes opened a couple weeks ago. The picture above and three below were taken there.
This Month's Vignette
Some thoughts by the Dalai Lama
A decade ago someone sent me a power point sharing some of the Dalai Lama's wisdom. Though ten years have passed, great wisdom never truly ages. Hence, I converted it to a movie and decided to share it with you in this issue. I hope you appreciate the photography along with his comments.
If you have a guest vignette you would like to submit, please do so. Not only will I enjoy reading it, but if agreeable with you and space permitting, I will print it in a future issue. The vignette should be written in paragraph form and relate a personal story or event. It should fit the overall tenor of this newsletter. Ideally, it should not exceed twenty lines. Please send to bob@poeticaljourneys.com.
Grasses covering Silver Lake near Brighton. In winter, the area was covered with 700 inches of snow. On
our last visit in May, there were still 72 inches.
Provo River Falls has an abundance of water due to the heavy snow fall this past winter.
Las Vegas is not everyone's cup of tea. However, some of the best restaurants and shows available in the U.S. are found there. Below are several recs that our son, his wife, Jan and I enjoyed during our long weekend visit. It is only a 6.5 hour drive from Midway, UT, relatively close by western standards.
Hash House A Go Go in the LINQ: Craig and Nicole had eaten here before and explained that it was like no breakfast options we had experienced before. They were correct! We each had a different dish, unusually named so I won't try to repeat here but all delicious. Be warned, the servings are huge, some would say, "decadent." Obviously, the place is popular as we had a 25 minute wait and the crowd was still there when we left. The service was superb though the restaurant was definitely noisy.
Mat Franco Performance in the LINQ Casino: Mat won the America's Got Talent Contest in 2014. His performance is magic at its best. The show includes active audience participation along with clean, astute humor.
"The more faithfully you listen to the voice within you, the better you will hear what is sounding outside. And only she who listens can speak." - Dag Hammarskjold
"May you live all the days of your life." - Jonathan Swift
"Some women choose to follow men, and some choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.” - Lady Gaga
“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends.” - J.K. Rowling
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, Wow! What a ride!” - Hunter S. Thompson
Bit of Humor
A bit of laughter is healthy for the soul
Why rank?
A mother was visiting her son on an Army base, and chatted with a colleague of his.
"What rank are you?" she asked.
"I'm relieved to say that I've just been promoted from captain to major."
Some of my senior-senior tai chi students at the Abbington Living Center take part in a Japanese
tea ceremony.
We enjoyed tea from around the world.
PJ Forum
If you have comments, recommendations, or suggestions for the PJ, please e-mail them to bob@poeticaljourneys.com. While I often cannot print everyone's, I personally respond to all. (When editing the comments for publication, I often eliminate the paragraphing to save space.) .
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"Thanks for the new PJ, Bob. Bonnie and I enjoyed it together. . . Another beautiful issue!" - Jim and Bonnie from Mt. Vernon, OH (Ed.: Always great to hear from two of my friends. Jim is also a poet and writer.)
An Ohio reader wrote regarding the novel Adelyn: An Epic Journey:
In his book, Adelyn: An Epic Journey, Bob navigates the reader through a challenging journey in the time space continuum while exposing both the weaknesses and strengths of humanity. As Adelyn is exposed to the infinite love of The Source, the reader is challenged to understand how personal beliefs and actions often have more to do with cultural rather than spiritual influences. In a time and world filled with political anger and personal indulgences reading Adelyn offers the open-minded promise. It would make a great book study.
To the End of Time and Back: An Epic Journey Review taken from Amazon
"The new novel, To the End of Time and Back is a skillful account of two lovers on an 'Epic Journey,' racing through time and history to learn life-changing truths. Their spectral mentor, Arundel, sends them through difficult travels, but their relationship endures and remains strong despite physical, and psychological stress. Powerful emotions such as fear, anger and happiness, combine with lust, pain and sexuality to help them learn. Written in verse form, the story is an epic poem, painted to portray the duality of mankind throughout dimensions of human history that is sometimes cruel and horrific. The reader will come to know and understand what is being described and will certainly enjoy the stimulating elegance of the story and the philosophy. A thoroughly enjoyable read that is certain to make you think." - David from Utah
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Other Reviews (They have been edited for length. Thank so much to each of you.)
"I finished your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was much easier to follow by having the whole thing in front of me, and reading as much as I wanted at a time. I felt pretty weary after bouncing around in time for many hundreds of years, but I was relieved to know that at least part of the world survived 'Armageddon'. What a feat you have performed." - Jim
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"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your latest book To the End of Time and Back. When I bought the book I had no idea what to expect. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. I had fun reading it from A to Z and everything in between." - Art from Park City, UT
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"Your book touched places deep within my soul. I could read it over and over again, Bob. Job Well Done!" - Bobbie from Texas
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"Well, Bob! I am rather blown away by your book. Finished it yesterday, and it only took four days, which means I was intrigued and wanted to know how the book ends. I'm a slow, deep reader and since my profession is writing and editing, I edit continuously as I read. Can't help it! But this book was worth dropping everything for and reading to the end. I admit to cynicism about your claim that it would change me, and I don't know that it has just yet but it won't be leaving my heart and head for a long time, and change could happen. I'm impressed that the book actually lived up to your claims for it. . . . I'm intrigued by this book because it rings so true, and I am therefore tempted to believe you actually were given the gift of this dictation. But if not and this is fiction, you have written one hell of a book, masquerading amazingly as non-fiction ... which is indeed one of the goals of fiction." - Kimberly
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"WOW! WOW! WOW! I read it in one sitting and found so many things you wrote about 'true' for what I know and feel about past lives I've lived. Actually, the chapter about the Holocaust was something I couldn't bear to read–too sad and painful. (I've always felt that way about that period of history.) . . . it was very well done, Bob. Just beautifully done. I'm looking for the movie. . . I'm sure others will feel connected to this book just as I did. AMAZING. Just AMAZING. I couldn't put it down. There was so much anticipation with each chapter it hooked me from the very beginning. . ." - An Ohio Reader
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"I read your book a couple weeks ago. You are lucky we don't live close enough for me to call you to discuss it! It was interesting and easy to read. I liked the format. It reminded me of Many Masters, Many Lives by Brian L. Weiss (which was not that quick to read). Have you read that? . . . Anyway, kudos on the book -- on all your books. . ." - A Reader from Arizona
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"Your newest release takes the reader to places deep within. It makes one ponder all things about life itself. Many authors have written about reincarnation, but yours goes deeper. Through an eternal relationship between two souls, you describe all the human emotions one can feel. The book takes you to historical times and places around the globe, making you feel as if you are part of the beautiful relationship of A~ and Z~. After reading, they will become a part of you." - A Reader
Reader Demographics
States - AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, NC, ND, NY, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, and WI
Canadian Provinces - BC, ON, and QC;
Countries - Albania, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey, UK, U.S., and Venezuela.
........Changes in this section will be updated each month.
If your state, province, or country is not mentioned, please let me know.
A pond taken at Sundance Ski Resort; note the sculpture behind the log.
