SHENANIGANS
Flowerman not Flower Guy (lol) – Cycling like the wind with my “K” chromosome.
Let me introduce myself. My legal name is JD The Flowerman and this book is my story. Social media is a paradox. It can divide, distort, and deceive. It can amplify misinformation, conspiracy theories, and harmful rhetoric. But it can also connect, uplift, and...
The Flowerman’s Mental Health Journey
JD, known today as “The Flowerman,” lived for more than twenty-five years under the weight of severe and persistent mental illness that profoundly affected every aspect of his life. His experience is marked by long-term insomnia, major depressive disorder, Bipolar II...
“SHADES not riding with his POSSE that day!”
The Flowerman’s been sitting on this story for months. A MUST READ, A MUST SHARE. Please do share! Inspiration! What can it do? It can transform how we see our own capabilities, making us more confident and engaged, and often connects to a deeper sense of purpose and...
“Do not add to the NOISE” – Eddie Vedder
Video clips and screenshots borrowed from Apple Music's Zane Lowe as he interviews Pearl Jam. "The 'DARK MATTER' interview." Published on YouTube, May 1, 2024. The Flowerman certainly has learned so much recently about all the technology required to compose this blog....
Letter from a Weary Traveler
Letter from a weary traveler. Please read. “Sometimes things happen that turn you around. Starting my journey home from a couple of weeks of sailing with friends on the west coast of British Columbia, I took a ferry from Powell River over to Comox, on Vancouver...
Feeling like ‘Josh Baskin,’ played by Tom Hanks in his 1988 Blockbuster “BIG.”
Feeling like ‘Josh Baskin,’ played by Tom Hanks in his 1988 blockbuster “BIG.” IN REVERSE! Lol. The Flowerman is so excited to be able to wear his new eyeglasses soon, very soon. One pair for driving professionally during cloudy days, right into the evening hours...
“What? Are you trying to pull off a KLINGER?”
“What, are you trying to pull off a KLINGER?” Lol Out of the thousands of positive comments The Flowerman has received (not one negative) over the years operating B.C. Transit buses, what this one passenger offered last night, as his instinctual reaction seeing all...
“LEMON-AID”
Glen Halverson was able to capture an entirely different view of "LEMON-AID." The Flowerman's 1966 Mustang Convertible. JD The Flowerman purchased "LEMON-AID" the first year after graduating High School in 1981. Cruising with Dad driving his 1970's Pontiac down...
“The Power of a FLOWER POWER COOKIE”
THE POWER OF A FLOWER POWER COOKIE! Each Flower Power Cookie purchased at Kayla Wenzek’s bakery The Flying Apron and then given away to random passengers on The Flowerman’s Love Bus has a story in its own right. This is just one. One of many incredible stories. The...
“#Beach Ball Diplomacy” Inspired by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s Live-Aid concert 1985.
“LIFE’S A BEACH” It means something positive. Almost like "Life is Good". Who doesn't like a Beach? The beach makes you relaxed, feel warm, have fun in the water, enjoy life. "Life's a Beach" denotes that life is good or great. The phrase was invented to counteract...
“COMPUTERS IN THE MODERN WORLD”
“COMPUTERS IN THE MODERN WORLD” This was the name of a couse offered back in the 80’s (yes, 1980’s lol) at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of computer science. It wasn’t technical at all, offered more of an editorial on computers and their influence on THE MODERN...
“The Strongest Steel is Forged in the Hottest Fire.”
The Winnipeg Jets. THIS TEAM HAS HEART “The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire.” The Flowerman (Rob Ludlow) met Mark Chipman in the late ‘70’s in high school. Part of the St. Paul's High School mission statement is "to educate students as whole persons to...
“You’ll Die a Peaceful Death.”
“You’ll die a peaceful death.” “You won’t get Alzheimer’s. You’ll live a long life. Then you’ll die a peaceful death. Just how it was meant to be.” Incredibly powerful words offered by a bus passenger. The Flowerman paused to fully comprehend these words offered out...
“A bold vision for the future”
The Transit App. A bold vision for the future. “When there are fewer cars, your city becomes a better place: one that's greener, more vibrant, and more joyful. Your life is now less rushed, less financially burdened, more active, more fulfilling.” “Wow Flowerman ! We...
“Tip the Bottle”
"Tip the Bottle" is a song written and performed by a very dear friend of The Flowerman soon after his recovery from mental illness, soon after his discharge from the Psychiatric Institution in 2017. When Mike Pura performed it for the first time it brought shivers up...
“This is the Song of The Flowerman”
After his recovery from mental illness, surviving a suicide attempt, being institutionalized, losing more money than most make in a lifetime, experiencing homelessness, overcoming an addiction to multiple antipsychotics, then discovering boundless Joy & Happiness....
Resilience
JD The Flowerman was invited by Healthy Comox in the spring of 2022 to talk about resilience to a sold out crowd at the outdoor amphitheater in Filberg Park. First to speak was Sunniva Sorby. Sunniva is an expeditioner, historian, guide, citizen scientist, and a...
“Would you like us to save them for you Flowerman?”
“Would you like us to save them for you Flowerman?” - Grilled Cheese - Corn Dog - Chicken Strips - “How can I turn this unique opportunity that has just presented itself into helping out some young families.” That’s exactly the immediate thought process The Flowerman...