The View From My Window

A Change in Blogging

2005-09-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've decided to try a new approach to my blog. I've changed host sites. Sorry, Blogger! It's not that I don't like Blogger, because I really do, but I couldn't ever get the layout exactly the way I wanted it. Even in viewing the templates made by other people, I couldn't get what I wanted. Most didn't offer to update the comment page along with everything else. Too, I'm not a CSS person. I can do HTML all day long, but throw CSS my way, and I'm as lost as the webmaster newbie.

Maybe some day I'll come back to Blogger, but for now, I really doubt I'll be missed in this community of wonderful bloggers much.

Happy Blogging!

Mood Ring

2005-08-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

Your Mood Ring is Yellow

Imaginative
Wondering
Thoughts
Peaceful

Mood Ring Generator

Mean People Suck

2005-08-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

It has recently come to my attention that people are mean. Not all people, mind you, but there are a few who have chosen this path--the path of self-destructive behavior, or just as sad, the destruction of others. They dig at the heart, finding a place where it is most weak and picks at it until the pain starts pouring, seeping out like blood trickling from a wound that hasn't quite healed. These people seem to forget that others have feelings and that words are powerful daggars that can maime even the strongest of hearts. They also seem to have forgotten the power of posititive thinking. I would imagine their lives are full of turmoil and strife, since it is so easily seen in the way they react to things. Forget the "do unto others", they have already done a significant injustice to themselves. It's a sad world we live in today, considering the wars across the world. You'd think we could live in harmony in our own country. Peace is a myth...a hope that will never be granted...not until we learn to find it within ourselves first. I know I'm not perfect, but that is my goal: to find complete inner peace.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."~1 Corinthians 13:13

Whole Wheat Poundcake (recipe)

2005-07-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 eggs
2-1/4 cups sifted whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 salt
1 cup plain yogurt

Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2) Cream the butter until light. Gradually beat in the sugar. Beat in the eggs very well one at a time. Add the remaining ingredients and blend with an electric mixer at low speed. Beat for 3 minutes at medium speed, scraping the bowl occasionally.
3) Pour the better into a well-buttered and floured 10-inch tube cake pan. Bake for 65 minutes, or until done. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Yields: 12 servings

This recipe is not my own. It comes from an old natural cookbook I have that is torn and tattered.

Celebrate Good Times...C'mon!

2005-07-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Nik's fourteenth birthday. Am I getting old, or what?! Not really, but some days I feel it. She had summer theatre camp all day, but I'd already spoken to her camp director to see if I could take a cake up to her for her group to eat. The counselor thought that was a great idea. So I ordered her one that had a Volkswagon bug kind of car on it, as well as other flower power things, like a peace sign and the word love. She's into that kind of stuff. The car itself is a toy, but it'll be a good piece of memorabilia for her to keep.

When I went to pick the cake up, I also picked up a plates and such, but I found a pin that said "Birthday Girl" on it, so I grabbed it, too. I also found a package of orangy-red mini roses, and decided to get some yellow tissue paper to wrap them in. Once I checked out, I stopped at the tables they have near one of the exits to wrap the flowers up. It was then that I realized I didn't buy any scissors to cut the ribbon I bought to hold the tissue paper together. But quick thinking skills saved the day! I took the rubber band from the flowers and placed it around the tissuepaper-wrapped-flowers and put the pin over it. It turned out really cute.

Nik was totally surprised when I walked in carrying the cake and flowers. She said her eyes starting watering when everyone began singing happy birthday to her. One of her leaders even played it on the keyboard. Well, once we got the candles on the cake and lit, everyone sang it again. Her camp director and I "made" her wear her bday girl pin, too. A good time was had by all.

After cleaning up a bit, the kids did a full rehearsal of their play they'll be doing next Friday. It was really fun to get a sneak preview of it. Can't wait to see it next week. My sister and Mom are coming up for it, as well as to take Nik out for a birthday celebration with a few of her friends. They'll be staying the weekend, so it should be fun. I haven't seen my sister in about a year!

Tonight, Dan & I took Nik out to eat at the Texas Roadhouse, since last night she went to see a movie with a friend. She didn't want me to tell them it was her birthday, so I didn't. Instead, I dared her to eat a Rattlesnake Bite (a jalepano & cheese stuffed something or other) and told her I'd give her $20 if she ate the whole thing in two bites. To my surprise, she was successful! Although, she gagged on the second bite and had to take it out before it was chewed, but she ate it all in one piece. Me, I counted my losses and handed the girl her twenty bucks. Who would've thought...

Anyway, that's the party news for the past two days. More to come next week when we party once again.

In the meantime, party hardy in your own way, even if it's just to celebrate a brand new day!

Enjoy!

The World is Crazy

2005-07-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

The headline reads Attacks on London: 40 Reported Dead in London Blasts. Just one day after London gets awarded the 2012 Olympics, this happens. London is one of the few places I would've thought had a better grip on the terrorism issue. Just goes to show that no place is safe, not even the states. The world is crazy. Not only are the terrorists out of their minds, but it's crazy that there's more strength in the evil of this world than there is in the good; otherwise, wouldn't we be able to get a better handle on this?

Even in the states, we have our issues. (I know, no secret there.) Our court system is so messed up, that people who should go to jail don't, and money is spent on the most stupid things. Time is spent less on making the world a better, safer place, and more on petty bullshit. Take this idiot (hmm, do I dare call them a cult? Yes, I think I will...) there's this idiot cult in my home town that owns a whole block in the city. They call themselves a church, so all their property in this block is tax free. The whole family lives there. On certain days of the week, at the most busy times, they gather up their flourescent signs, and meet at a prominent corner of the ciy. Their signs say such things as "YOUR PASTOR IS WRONG" (wondering what makes theirs the only one that's right...), and "FAG NATION" (whatever that means...), GOD HATES AMERICA, etc, and they also fly the flag upside down. To me, it's an atrocity. I turn my head the other way when I pass so as not to give them the satisfaction of me looking on. Sometimes they're so "in your face" you have to look, however. Public sidewalks are never safe from this group. I've been told they are all very knowledged and skilled in law, so it's difficult to fight them, so no one tries. They know more what their rights are than most people, which is a sad situation. To me, if they hate America so damn much, why don't they move to another part of the world?

I guess terrorism comes in all shapes & sizes. It goes back to everyone wanting world peace, but when our own backyards are so full of filth, how can we expect the rest of the world to come clean? This world is travelling fast in its hand-basket. Let's just hope God doesn't let go of that basket just yet. We'd all better pray that He doesn't give up on us anytime soon.

Hello, again...it's me...

2005-07-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, time is just zipping right along. There's so much that goes on in my life, I rarely have time to sit down and write about it.

Summer is in full swing. Thunderstorms have made their way to our little part of the world, which is a wonderful change to the sometimes unbearable heat. The flowers of spring are already gone, but the grass stays pretty green.

Fourth of July was a good one, although we stayed at home and didn't party too much. Well, except for the watermelon we filled with vodka. Talk about a real lip-puckering experience! We decided we may make it a tradition though *eg*.

All around us were the booms and bright sparkles of the fireworks as they went off, one right after the other. I came to the realization that even the 4th of July, just as any other holiday, has become too commercialized. I'm sure the ba-booming of the fireworks is symbolic to the "rockets red glare...the bombs bursting in air", but no one thinks of it that way anymore. Our troops that are fighting our current war hear those noises everyday of their lives right now. To think that there are bombs and "fireworks" going off constantly on the other side of the world is actually a sad thought. Not to sound negetive or anything, but the whole idea of world peace is nothing but a fairy tale dream. There's too much evil on this planet to make it anything else. Perhaps, if we all keep hoping and praying, that will someday change, but I foresee fireworks continuing well into the future.

just my $.02 worth...

Lyrics of the Day

2005-06-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Collide
by Howie Day

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a frist impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to ryhme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

just a note...

2005-06-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

Geez...it's been a month now since I last posted anything in this blog. Guess life has kept me pretty busy...but in a good way. I'll see what I can do about updating this more often with substantial stuff, but not making any promises. Just know I'm alive and well, happy and all that stuff.

This is a test...

2005-05-08T07:13:00.000-07:00

Take the Little Penquin Wine Personality Test

I had to create this image to post my results, but it's a fun, little quiz, especially if you like penquins...and wine...
If necessary, click the image to go to the larger pic to read the words.

OKCupid! The Peanuts Character Test

2005-05-03T17:41:00.000-07:00

Marcie
Wishy-Washy: 34%, Mental: 71%, Physical: 50%

Marcie is Peppermint Patty's best friend, and secretly loves Charlie Brown. She is always willing to help Patty through class and with homework, and plays on her sports teams even though she would rather be doing something else. Always address people you respect as "sir".

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 14% on wishywashystuff

You scored higher than 42% on brainstuff

You scored higher than 71% on physicalstuff

Link: The Peanuts Character Test written by timberlineridge on Ok Cupid

Not the result I expected!

Sewing Right Along

2005-04-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been sewing right along ever since I got my sewing machine for Christmas last year. I've created everything from flannel pants to a dress for my niece to hair scrunchies. I'm really enjoying this new creative outlet my significant other opened for me.

Here's my latest project, a purse I made for my mom. She chose the fabric, as well as the fringe and beads. I just did the sewing. It proved to be a challenging task, especially since she wanted pockets on the ends with elastic--something I had never done before. But I figured it out and got the job done with just a few minor difficulties here and there.

Not bad for a beginner, if I do say so myself!

Happy Sewing!

Tulip TIme

2005-04-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

Spring is Here!

2005-04-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

OKCupid! The Lucid Dreaming Test

2005-03-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

The Gifted Novice

Conditions met: 0%.

Talent: at least 70%.

Possible advantages: 62% likely.

Mastery: about 43%

Oh, neat. You have the skills and the talent. Now if only you slept more and more comfortably, nothing would keep you from all those adventures you've always wanted to have - in your dreams. No I mean, really, that's what we're talking about after all.

Conditions: Your sleeping habits and the emotional state you're in are not what I’d call awesome. Maybe you are too busy at this time of your life? Or maybe there are problems robbing you of precious sleeping hours that you so badly crave, and surely deserve? Even someone who already mastered Lucid Dreaming will have huge difficulties under the given circumstances.

Talent: Sensual and intuitive, you are most likely going to have the least trouble learning how to lucid dream, and your dreams will certainly be vivid enough make it an experience to remember. Good for those who want to learn how to Lucid Dream in order to go on a sex-spree with their favourite novel characters. Don’t forget to pat the book before you go to sleep though. Unless you have serious trouble sleeping, it will come to you very easily.

Advantages: You will have less difficulty than others to get and stay in control of your dreams, as there are one or two things among your hobbies that will definitely come in handy. Lucky you!

Mastery: Wow, either your natural talent has discovered you while you didn’t notice, or you already worked your way to mastery and you only took this test to see how good you really are! I’m impressed! Drop me a message and tell me of your immensely cool abilities!

But scoring highly here can also mean you are almost there, but not quite. If so, keep it up! You may soon be the master of your own dreams! Think about it! No more nightmares you can't escape from!

Link: The Lucid Dreaming Test written by Nitsuki on Ok Cupid

2005-03-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

Pardon My Planet by Vic Lee

I sometimes wonder...

2005-03-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

...why I keep this blog. I rarely have the time to keep it updated daily, or even weekly for that matter. Life is busier than ever for me, but I'm by no means complaining. I'm living life and loving it. I'd really like to get back to writing and journaling, as well as blogging, so bear with me. Hopefully, one day soon, I'll get back to updating this thing on a regular basis.

Until then...

Irish Blessing

2005-03-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

Wherever you go and

whatever you do,

May the luck of the Irish

Be there with you!

May your glass be ever full

May the roof over your head

be always strong

And may you be in heaven

Half an hour before

The devil knows you're dead.

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrock

May your heart be as light as a song

May each day bring you bright happy hours

That stay with you all year long.

May the lilt of Irish laughter

Lighten every load

May the mist of Irish magic

Shorten every road

May you taste the sweetest pleasures

That fortune e're bestowed

And may all your friends remember

All the favors you are owed!

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door!

May the Good Lord take a liking to you...

But not too soon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

received in an email...

My First Experience with Ebay

2005-03-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

I've never been one to do the Ebay thing--find something I want then bid on it--until last night.

I've been looking for a good iron that I didn't have to pay an arm & a leg for. I knew that the Rowenta's were good, but they were a little pricey. I searched the web, as well as shopped in stores, comparing prices and functions, then I finally found what I was looking for on Ebay. I decided to play a bid on it, which for openers was $20. I was willing to pay at least that for a good name brand. It wasn't long after that I was outbid by 50 cents, so I started asking myself how badly I wanted it. I decided to do some research on it, comparing it with others, and finding out how much it would cost retail, to see what it was worth.

After spending some time checking it all out, I decided I'd pay at least 30 bucks for it, so I bid against the top bid. Then, to my surprise, it automatically, the other bidder's amount raised to beat mine. After doing this several times, I realized that the other bidder had put in a maximum price of what she was willing to pay so that Ebay would bid for her, up to that amount, without her having to keep tabs on it.

When I hit $30, I debated even more about it all. Finally, I decided what the heck, and bid again until I reached $35, thinking I wouldn't go any further. Moments later, the other bidder outdid me by a penny. I decided to call my sister to help me with my delimma. I was already five dollars past the limit I had set for myself, and on the Ebay page, the one doing the selling hadn't listed anything about returns if the thing didn't work. I had about decided to just blow it off, and pay full price for the iron through a source I trusted, but my sister looked at the site, and said to go ahead and try one more bid. If it kept going up, probably the other bidder was someone the seller knew, trying to raise the price he could get for the iron. I had to bid at least a dollar more, making the total price $36.01. With just a few minutes left before the biddings had to end, I watched closely to see if the other bidder would go against me. She didn't. I won the iron and paid for it immediately.

My sister knew my concern about buying a lemon (they come in the size & shape of irons, too, ya know), so she suggested that I email the seller and ask about it. I did so, but there was only 30 minutes left in the auction. I knew it was a long shot that I'd get a reply--and I didn't, not before the auction was over, anyway. I received one this morning saying he would refund my money if the iron didn't work. I wiped my brow and breathed a small "whew", excited about finally finding the iron I wanted at a price I would pay, knowing I could return it if I had to.

Will I Ebay again? Probably. Well, at least unless I get burned with this purchase. While I was waiting to see if I had won or not, I bought breast cancer bracelets from a dealer on Ebay for me and my daughter. I didn't have to bid on them, which was good. So far, my experience hasn't been too bad, although I hate that you don't have to be present to bid; however, that may come in handy for me someday.

I'll keep you posted on how the iron turns out. In the meantime, happy Ebaying!

Month # 3

2005-03-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

March

...in like a , out like a ...

as the saying goes.

March is:

National Craft Month
American Red Cross Month
Women's History Month
Youth Art Month
National Noodle Month

Special Days in March:

17 - St. Patrick's Day
20 - Palm Sunday & First Day of Spring
25 - Good Friday
27 - Easter Sunday

Other Dates of Interest:

1 - Peanut Butter Lover's Day
12 - Alfred E. Hitchcock Day
14 - Einstein's Birthday
23 - Organize Your Home Office Day
27 - my nephew's birhday...Happy Birthday, Timmy!

What Kind of Yarn Are You?

2005-02-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I'm not so sure this is totally correct, but what the heck. *s*

Chain letters...

2005-02-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

...I hate 'em. You know, those pesky little emails that someone had to have written when they didn't have anything better to do. They send it to everyone in their address book, who in turn, send it to everyone in their address books and so on and so on until eventually, it ends up in my inbox, then quickly in my trash folder, only to be deleted moments later when I exit my email program.

"You have only 5 minutes to send this to everyone on your list, including the person who sent it to you. If you don't, then your computer will self-destruct. If you do, well, you won't have to buy a new computer anytime soon." Or something like, "If you don't pass this email on, then you are a sucky friend. You deserve to die. Hmph!"

First of all, why in the world would I want to send an email back to the person who sent it to me, especially one of no substance? Secondly, why would I want that person to send it back to me a second time after receiving it from me? Why would anyone want to keep something of so little importance going? Do people really believe that their computer will self-destruct...or that something good will happen to them in four days...just because they sent an email out to everyone on their list? Surely people aren't that naive and/or superstitious. And the people who write the silly things--do they even know where their words end up after they send it to every single email in their lists?

Then there are those that say things like, "If you love God, then you'll send this to everyone on your list. Otherwise, you'll rot in hell for denying Him to people." Okay, so maybe they aren't worded exactly like that, but I'm sure you get the picture. Well, I do believe in God, but I don't need to send an email that someone else wrote out to everyone in my address book stating that such is true. Instead, why don't people write their own emails and send them out to the people they care about, letting them know they're thought about.

C'mon people. Write something personal and substantial instead of sending out silly chain letters that you really don't even know where the origin of it is. If you have something to say, say it. If not, don't use the words of some stranger to admit your own superstition.

Peace out.

Fortune Cookie Moment

2005-02-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

Little girl in a Chinese resturant: Mom...those people are eating with sticks!

Valentine's Quote of Yesterday

2005-02-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

She said, after baking heart-shaped chocolate cakes: We can share a heart.

He said: Babe...I think we already share a heart.

Valentine Sweetness!

Web Page: To Everybody Back Home [ If I Die Before You Wake]

2005-02-10T15:32:00.000-08:00

Click here.

This is a beautiful web page dedicated to the men & women fighting the current war. Take a look if you have the time, and breathe a small prayer on their behalf, as well as for their families.

Also, scroll the list of pages. There's a lot of nice ones there. My favorite one is Imagine.

God Bless.

Just Filling the Space

2005-02-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

You're Bettie Page!

What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

The Best Part is Making Up

2005-02-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

The Best Part is Making Up

We slept
on the opposite sides of the bed
curled up to the far corners
allowing anger a chance to wedge its face
between us.

We woke
to the same walls we faced
before having fallen asleep
the night before, while anger reared its ugly head
from under the covers.

Silence spoke
more than we did, as the sun
made its way over the horizon
shining its warmth across our bodies,
as a new day began.

We smiled
into the face of the other,
pushing anger out of the bed
and into the cold where it belonged,
making up and making love.

-ta©2005-

Today's Fortune Cookie

2005-02-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

"Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause."

February...already?!

2005-02-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's so hard to believe it's already February. Time seems to fly by so quickly. Nothing much going on in these parts. Last week, we finally heard from the insurance company & learned that the man who ran into me had made his insurance payment the day of the wreck, which is why it was taking so long to decide if he had coverage or not. I still don't know why that would take a week to figure out, but lucky for me, the man was covered and his insurance company is paying for everything, including the rental. I almost hate to give the rental back...it's a 2005 Ford F150 4x4...niceeeee! However, I'll eventually be glad to return it. It's not easy to always have to be so careful when driving, worrying about every little thing that might scratch it.

I haven't written a single thing yet this year. It's something I'd like to get back to one of these days. I just seem to be busier than ever. But I'm not complaining. It's nice to have hobbies & a life that I enjoy. Things are good.

Sewing Floop #2

2005-02-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

Learn to accurately read the front & back of a pattern. It'll save some time in the long run. (Don't ask how I know this...)

No News

2005-01-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a week since the accident, and the Insurance company is still dragging their feet. It seems that the first agent who discussed the claim with us hasn't been in the office for three days and won't return until Friday. Messages have been left with both his supervisor as well as the supervisor's manager--messages that have never been returned. We found out today, however, that the man who hit me made his insurance payment the day of the wreck. That seems to be the hold up. They're trying to decide if he was covered on not on that day. Everyone, including the insurance commissioner, our insurance company, Enterprise rental, & the body shop, is surprised that they can't tell that one little thing in a week's time. If you have Farmer's insurance, you may want to change in the near future. The don't seem to be on top of the game.

On a lighter note, things are good in my small corner of the world. I'm having a great time learning to sew. I've already made a few little crafty type projects, but hopefully, I can attempt a garment this weekend. I've been pretty busy with that, as well as with the home business. I haven't had much time to write these days. Maybe I can get a schedule worked out soon to get back to that. I still have a novel to finish and edit, and here it is, already near the end of January. Time flies entirely too fast. But, life is good.

God bless.

Auto Accident

2005-01-20T20:04:00.000-08:00

I saw him out of the corner of my eye, headed for the intersection. In my mind, I was thinking about how fast he was going, I thought to myself, "Surely he's going to stop" but the stop sign didn't hold him. Instead, I felt this crash in the side of the Ford F150 I was driving. My thoughts were running rampant, the first of them being, "This is it. I'm going to flip." I braced myself. Vaguely, I remember somewhere during those lingering seconds to stop pushing the gas and find the break, which I did. When I finally stopped, I looked out at the car in front of me. Instead of heading east, I was facing west; I realized I had done a nearly 180 degree turn, but at least I didn't flip. I was more angry than anything. I knew in my own mind that the man driving the other vehicle didn't make an attempt to stop, even though he and his passenger both said they tried but couldn't because of the ice on the road.

The two left the scene on foot to a house just a few yards away to call the police. Silly me, I had left my cell phone upstairs on my desk when I took Nik & her friend to school today. Luckily, neither was with me when the accident happened. The man came back to the scene, where he had already moved his vehicle--where I couldn't move my vehicle had I wanted to. I was taking my half out of the middle of the road as well as the east bound lane, affecting traffic, but not holding it up. To my surprise, very few people stopped to make sure everyone was alright and if we needed anything. One woman in particular stopped and stayed with me, then offered to go to the house and get Dan. Moments later, she arrived with him, and still stayed in case we needed anything. She was proof that kindness still exists in a world that sometimes seems to forget about it.

God held me in His hand this morning, for which I am thankful. Although the wreck caused some major damage to our only vehicle, things could have been a lot worse. I walked away with only minor aches.

I'm not sure about the one who caused the accident. He seemed alright. One of the officers asked if he had been drinking because his eyes were majorly bloodshot. The officer then asked the guy to step to the side while he did a few tests. I guess he passed the straight line walk. And his vehicle was in better shape than mine. He was able to actually drive it away, rather than have it towed.

I guess we'll see how this story pans out. The insurance company said it could take up to two weeks to know anything, but hopefully, it won't take so long. In the mean time, happily life goes on, and I know I'm truly blessed.

Sewing Floop #1

2005-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

With experience, comes wisdom.

I asked the lady behind the sales counter if the velcro with the sticky back could be sewed on instead of stuck on. "Yes," she replied. Great. So I went home, and yes, it could be sewed on, but not without the needle becoming gooey from the adhesive, which in turn, caused skipped and totally messed up stitches.

Lesson learned: Sew on velcro & stick on velcro are not created equal.

Reflections & Resolutions

2005-01-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

The year 2004 has past, never to be experienced again, except with the aid of history books, photos, & memories. Where has the time gone? It seems to pass so quickly--too quick, if you ask me. I'm learning as I get older, that I should have made better use of my time when I was younger, but no one could have convinced me of that then.

Looking back on this past year, I realize it was one of major change for me. Right before the new year started, I moved from the town I lived in nearly my entire life to a whole new city and state, not to mention to a whole new world that was different than I was used to. I went from being a single mom to sharing my life with a significant other. I've learned the words "I love you" don't have to hurt. I've also learned that trust takes time to build, but once it is, it is a very powerful part of any relationship. I've learned that even though I may not be the easiest person to live with sometimes, it can be done. This past year has taught me so much more than I ever realized I could learn from one person.

Looking back on 2004, a few things outside of my own little world stand out.

It was an election year here in the states, one of the most important ones ever. Not all of America, nor the world for that matter, agreed with the winner, but they never do. It goes back to not being able to please all the people all the time.
Saddam Hussein (No, I don't know how to spell his name) was captured and most of his property was destroyed.
Our soldiers were sent to a war that now seems to being going nowhere fast, but that's just my opinion. There's probably things going on that I don't know, but what I see on TV seems pretty senseless most of the time.
Florida was hit by three consecutive hurricanes, causing some major damage.
It's hard to believe that a woman could and would actually kill another woman then cut her baby out of her stomach, then call her husband and tell him she gave birth while out shopping and he needs to pick her up. It's really sad that there are people like this in the world.
The tsunami...need I say more? Nature's fury can be very awesome and very frightening at the same time.
On a more positive note: many surprisingly survived that terrible ordeal. One was a newborn baby who was found sleeping on a floating mattress. (If you ask me, God was holding the mattress in the palm of his hand, waiting for the infant to be found.)

Enough said on all of that for now. So many things, too little time. Speaking of time and how quickly it passes, I realize I haven't posted much in my blog these days. I've been busier than ever and actually enjoying it. In November, it was the NaNoWriMo challenge that took up much of my time, then when December rolled around, preparing for the holidays got it's chunk, not to mention the stress of it.

Speaking of the holidays, Christmas was wonderful. We decided to stay here in Kansas rather than travel to Texas. This was the first year in my life that I didn't spend it with my family and I missed them all, but I have to admit, it was really nice to stay here and have our own family Christmas. Perhaps it was the start of our own tradition. I received several wonderful things for gifts, but my two favorites were a new coat from L.L. Bean that I absolutely love, and a sewing machine. No, I don't know how to sew...well, I didn't know how...but I'm learning, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. It's one of the things that has been keeping me so busy these days.

As far as resolutions are concerned, I really didn't make any this year. I plan to get back on track with my exercising regimen, which kinda got put to the side over the past couple of months. I also plan to work on my novel some more, with the intention of having it ready to submit for publishing before the next NaNoWriMo starts in November. I'll be helping out with the family business more as well. Too, I want to learn more about sewing and get into it as much as I can. (I'm sure you'll hear more about this in the upcoming months.) It seems since I moved to Kansas, the doors to my creativity have been pushed wide open. I have Dan to thank for that.

2005 is here, but not to stay. It'll be bundled in with the memories of 2004 before we know it, so make best of each day. Live life to the fullest. It's the truest way to live. Be happy, love and be loved, and follow your heart. You never know where it may lead.

Time

2005-01-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? It's hard to believe it's already 2005. There's been so many things I've wanted to post here in my blog, but I haven't had time to get my thoughts together. My handwritten journals have suffered as well. For those who read me regularly, I'm alive and well and happy, just busy. I hope to post something substantial soon.

Oh, and by the way...Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season

2004-12-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

Our "babies": Zoe & Sam Photo taken by Helping Hands Humane SocietyBe kind to animals. They're also God's creation.

Three Things (update)

2004-12-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

Back at the beginning of October, in a post here on my blog, I asked my readers what three photos from my world would they like to see. My friend, Pete, asked to see where I write. At the time of this request, I was in the middle of trying to get situated in my own little space of the house. Time had a way of getting away from me, but finally, two months later, I have the photos--both before and after the move. So, Pete, this one's for you.

Before the move, I was at a small cramped desk in a very small office area of the house. I shared the desk with everyone in the family. As you can see from the pic, it was a little crowded. I couldn't even stand very far back when I took the picture.

This is my writing area after the move. I bought a new desk and chair. I actually have room to spread out a bit. I haven't written much from this spot yet, but this is where most of it will be done. There's also a day bed behind the desk that will give me a place to lay down to read & write or watch a DVD on the computer. I also have a bookshelf that Dan made me on one wall. It's a very comfortable place to be. I enjoy having my own space. It is my belief that every person needs it. I'm very fortunate that my significant other understands that and supports me in my writing endeavors.

Hope you enjoyed the short visit to my world.

Peace.

Snowy Haikus

2004-12-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

Fluffy white snowdrops
Floating from a sky of grey
Winter’s Gentle Tease

~*~

The Taste of Winter
Like a soft feather, weightless
Caught by a warm tongue

~*~

Silent is the snow
Sprinkling from skies of grey
Embraced by the warmth

~*~

Lyrics of the Day

2004-12-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough.

You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
for you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

We fight all the time
You and I...that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so much alike
You'd like me a whole lot more

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

I know that we don't talk
I'm sick of it all
Can - you - hear - me - when - I -
Sing, you're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me...

Where are we now?
I've got to let you know
A house still doesn't make a home
Don't leave me here alone...

And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you that makes it hard to let go
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it
The best you can do is to fake it
Somestimes you can't make it on your own

Music by U2
Lyrics by Bono
Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

First Snow

2004-11-30T20:42:00.000-08:00

Winner!

2004-11-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

After a long day of typing out about 10,000 words -- give or take a few -- I managed to win the challenge of NaNoWrimo. My ending count at midnight last night was 50,055. Not too bad, if you ask me. However, the novel still has some additions and changes to be made, which will happen over the next several months. Thankfully, I'm not on a 30 day deadline for that one! Congrats to everyone else who achieved this feat...or at least gave it a try!

An Observation

2004-11-29T17:59:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how Wal-mart glorifies itself in the commercials they make for the public? They're always patting themselves on the back, with people talking about how they never could make it to where they were if it wasn't for Wal-mart. One woman is vice-president of the card department, but when she's speaking through the commercial, she says she's a mentor. Another couple talk about their baby boy's illness that they never would have made it through if it hadn't been for Wal-mart. Still, the other commercials talk about how they're always lowering prices. But if you pay attention, everytime they lower the price on one product, they raise it on another. Truth be known, they keep the majority of their workers part-time to keep from having to give them benefits.

Take for example the woman on Dateline this evening, with Tom Brokaw. She was being attacked by a hostile hospital over her now deceased husband's medical bills that she couldn't pay upfront. She offered to pay them a bit at a time, but they declined then took her to court. She lost the battle, and now a garnishment has been placed on her wages to repay the debt. Excuse me, but isn't that the same thing as her paying out of her own pocket? I bring this story up because this woman is employed by Wal-mart and is making a mere $9 an hour. She's been trying to help her daughter with her college expenses. Now she has the hospital bills on top of it. Oh, did I fail to mention that she has no health insurance through her employer -- the same one that is so glamourized by its own commercials? Where were they when someone "real" needed the help? It's sad to see that Wal-mart thinks of itself as such a great donator to the community, but doesn't even offer insurance to the majority of its workers. I guess they think that 10% discount is enough.

In my opinion, our world just isn't what it ought to be.

I couldn't find the story online, but if/when I do, I'll add a link.

Lessons Learned

2004-11-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

Computers. Gotta love them. In this day and age, most of us rely on them extensively for everything from paying bills to saving important information. Their graphics are awesome, as are their capabilities. Where else can a person talk to another person half a world away with no more cost than an internet provider? They're great -- until they crash. Mine decided to pull that little stunt the middle part of last week. At first, I thought my story for NaNoWriMo was gone. I'd been sending myself copies of it to my email for safe keepings, but before the crash, I had written over 5000 words without a backup. I panicked when I couldn't find it, but luckily, even though I couldn't see it, it was still there and I was able to back it up on a CD, as well as many of my other programs and information I wanted to keep. It was actually a good thing to have to wipe my computer clean. Between my daughter and myself, we'd accumulated a lot of junk that was doing nothing more than taking up a lot of space. Now the computer runs a little faster. I'm behind on my novel because of the crash, however, and time is running out, so I'll be spending the next couple of days catching up. Wish me luck!

Lesson learned: A writer should always keep a backup of his/her work if they plan to keep it. Computers are about as reliable as they are unreliable. It's a gamble.

~*~

On a lighter note, I just celebrated another birthday, and for the first time in several years, I wasn't depressed about it. I remembered when I turned 35, I cried because it kept going through my mind that I was halfway to 70. Silly, I know, but turning older has that effect on a person sometimes. This birthday was a happy one. My sister, mom, and dad called and all three sang "happy birthday" to me, which was fun. My daughter, Nik, got me the new U2 CD I wanted, and Dan, my significant other, took me shopping for a new Canon printer to go along with my recently acquired hobby of digital photography so I could print awesome pictures. We went to eat at the Texas Roadhouse, which is always a good meal in a fun atmosphere. Everything was great.

Lesson learned: When life is good, birthdays are even better.

One Year Anniversary

2004-11-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

The middle of November marks my first year anniversary of moving from Texas to Kansas, the first major move I've ever made in my life other than college. Do I regret the move? No, I do not. I actually like living where I am. As I reflect on this past year, I'm made aware of the many positive aspects of the move and things I have learned:

I've learned to use chopsticks effectively.
I'm enjoying the benefits of working from home, such as being available for my daughter at all times, learning a new job in my own time limits, being my own boss...
I have more time to take up some new hobbies, like digital photography and journaling.
Squirrels are fun to watch, even if they can, and sometimes do, destroy the flowerbed.
I've had the pleasure of watching leaves fall from the trees and standing in a carpet of them as they cover the ground.
The library here is awesome and has opened up many writing opportunities for me.
I wake up and go to bed with a warm body next to me every day.
I can raise and take care of a puppy without having to leave her alone for long periods of time.
Living in a house is so much better than living in an apartment.
I don't have to travel from a small town to a larger city to see a play, go to the zoo, or go shopping.
Dinner/theatres aren't a thing of the past.
A daily exercise routine really does give you more energy and endurance.
Planting flowers is a lovely way to spend an afternoon, and the beauty lasts for months.
Cooking from a cookbook is a lot healthier and more fun than always using pre-packaged boxes.
Experimentation in the kitchen is a good thing.
Meat is not always what's for dinner.
Age is only a number.
Not all men are created equal -- thankfully.
Snow actually exists without freezing rain and sleet mixed in with it. AND Not every city shuts down when it snows.
I've met some great people along the way.
I still have many of my online buddies. The internet is wondrous that way.

Of course, there are probably downsides to the move -- like having to travel 7+ hours to see my family & missing my closest friend, Jenny --but why dwell on them? I'm happy...my daughter's happy...and life is good.

Cheers.

Moo!

2004-11-20T20:19:00.000-08:00

Go Me!

2004-11-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

In a writing frenzy both last night and this morning, I managed to get my word count from being nearly a day behind to being a day ahead again. I broke the 35,000 word barrier just moments ago. Woo hoo - go me!

As this NaNoWriMo event is getting closer to the end, I can see the light shining brightly at the other end of the tunnel. I just may actually pull this thing off. Who cares if my plot has taken a wrong turn and I've had to spend countless words getting it back on track? Not I. (Well, okay, I do, but that's another issue to deal with later.) There will be a lot of editing to do over the upcoming months if I decide to submit it for publishing, but this is a great experience, even if no one ever sees it but me.

The Art of Looking Sideways is an interesting book full of graphics, quotes, useless information, curious facts, and much more. It's thick and heavy...not something you'd sit and read overnight, but rather something you'll look through time and time again, stopping on whatever pages catch your interest at the time. I first found out about it at the library, then bought my own copy yesterday. I'm hoping it'll unblock my writer's block in the future, but for now, I just enjoy the simple complexity of it.

Recommended for any bookshelf by me.

Healthspan Calculator

2004-11-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

My result: Your calculated health span is 95.2 years.

On the news tonight, they had a section about a quiz that you can take online to figure out your life expectancy. The questions didn't always offer the answer I needed, but I was glad to find out my life span is more than I expected, assuming an act of God doesn't change it.

If you're interested in taking the quiz, go to Healthspan Calculator.

May your life be a long and prosperous one.

Quick Note

2004-11-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to let the world know I'm still noveling my lil' heart out. Things are going well. I'm over 28,100+ words, which is basically on track, although, for the most part, I've been a day ahead until this past weekend. I hope to get ahead again in the next couple of days.

I haven't written any new poetry since I started the NaNoWriMo challenge, but will hopefully get back to it all once this is over. I'm really enjoying writing in a different form.

I went to the monthly Journaling Workshop at the library last night. My brain was pretty much fried, but I had a good time. Only three of us were there, and all three of us are participating in the above mentioned challenge. It was good to get out. I caught myself worrying about my word count as I wrote...go figure.

All is well.

Week Two

2004-11-09T20:42:00.000-08:00

Week two of NaNoWriMo is well underway. So far, this is going very well for me. I have 16,784 words and a decent plot to go along with them. That puts me ahead by a day, something that I'm striving to do so I don't get behind if something comes up and I can't work on it for a day. I'd like to type more, but some days I have too many other things to do and other days, I can't get into the flow of it. All in all, I'm pleased with my progress.

Tonight was our first "pep talk meet". Only a handful of people showed up, but it was fun to share NaNo writing stories and find out how other people are doing. There seems to be a great group of people, and although we are working individually, it's as if we're all playing for the same team, which in a sense, I suppose we are.

Everything on the home front is going well. Zoe is giving me a hard time about spending more time at the computer than I am with her these days. Hang in there, Zoe-girl! Just three more weeks to go.

I know I can do this...

Life Update

2004-11-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

The weather is getting cooler. It's kinda nice, but at the same time, I like warmer weather a lot better than really cold weather. I look forward to our first snow, though. It's something we didn't get much of in Texas. I'm really fortunate that I don't have to work outside of the home for a lot of reasons: Not having to drive in bad weather is one of them.

Thanksgiving is slowly approaching, as well as another birthday for me.

I've been busy with my novel, which, as of this blog entry, is at 8100 words. Woo Hoo! Go me! I'm really excited about how it's going. I really didn't think at first that I could do this, but I'm finding out I might have thought wrong. Getting the words is the easy part, so far. It's trying to keep up with the characters and making decisions concerning them that is proving to be the difficult part for me. I understand my plot and know my main character's biggest dilemma. Now to present it in a way that the reader can't wait to see what happens. I've said it once before, however--don't expect anything of literary excellence with my first venture into a novel. I'm just having a good time with it. Once it's all over, I'll probably work on editting it and seeing what comes of it. It's really too early at this point to tell.

The homefront is going well. Nik had a fun Halloween sleepover this past weekend with a few of her friends from school. They all seemed to have a good time. We're thinking of letting her do it again for New Year's.

Life is good.

The Results Are In

2004-11-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

The people of America have spoken. By a wide majority, Bush got the popular vote, then turned around and got the electoral votes he needed to earn him another term in office.

I sat up and watched the happenings until about 2 this morning, when I probably should have been working on my novel. I was too hyped to type, so I bounced back and forth between the living room and office, then finally settled on the couch for a couple of hours. When it was said that Ohio was too close to call and it may be morning or later before they were able to confirm a win, I decided it was time to get some sleep. I woke this morning, a few hours later, to the same delimma. Finally, Kerry realized he couldn't gain enough votes to continue fighting. You have to admire the man for running for office. Hopefully, this will be a positive experience for all involved, voters and politicians alike.

I'm glad the decision was finalized. I think it would have been a grueling wait for all of us had it dragged on for weeks to come.

Don't hate me for who I voted for. Hate me because I'm beautiful. :)

Congratulations, Mr. President, on four more years.

Tee Time

2004-11-02T13:19:00.000-08:00

I decided since I surpassed my expectations with this novel writing idea, I deserved a t-shirt, like the one shown above, so I ordered one today. I know, I know, it's only two days into the whole thing, but if I can keep the momentum going, there's no reason why I shouldn't reach the goal by the deadline. I seem to have a lot of support here on the home front, which helps tremendously. Now if I can just keep the story flowing...which is a whole other story in itself.

More to come later. I'm off to write some more. Too bad I can't count all these words I write in my blog about this event. :D

Get Your Vote On

2004-11-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

How invigorating it is to live in a country where we're given the freedom to vote. I cast my ballot earlier this morning. This was only the second time for me since I've been of voting age, and I have to say, I felt good about it. I have to wonder, however, how much our individual voices are really heard. I have a slight problem with the idea of electoral votes versus the popular vote, but it's not something I can totally comment on until I've researched it a bit more. At least I did my part, no matter what the outcome, or why. Like everyone else, I hope my candidate for President wins. I haven't made it any big secret whom I'd planned to vote for, and I voted accordingly.

Good luck Mr. George W. Bush. May you reign in office another four years!

On a different note, NaNoWriMo is going well for me. So far, I'm slightly over 3700 words, which is over 400 words more than the average needed for the day. It's not as difficult as I thought it would be to get the word count in there. The difficult part for me is keeping it going in the direction I want it to and keeping up with my characters. I'll post excerpts from it soon.

Here's hoping the rest of you Americans will Get Your Vote On before the polls close tonight, if you haven't already. And to my fellow writers, Get Your Writing On.

Peace Out~

2004-11-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

My new signature for the month. :)

NaNoWriMo Begins

2004-10-31T21:15:00.000-08:00

As I am typing this, the beginning of NaNoWriMo is less than an hour away. If you don't hear from me much over the next month, no worries. It just means I'm slaving away on my novel...or at least trying to. I guess I'm lucky in the fact that I don't have a job that I actually have to go to everyday. Working from home does have its advantages. I still have daily duties to tend to, however. I have trouble finding the solitude I need to finish writing a poem I started six months ago, so if I can pull off a 50,000 word novel in just thirty days, I deserve a gold star!

Wish me luck as I venture into this unknown genre of writing for me. If you want to track my progress (assuming I get brave enough to post it), I've set up a different blog for my novel at 30 Days & Counting. I'm still playing with a plot in my head--hoping it all comes to me as I being writing.

Good luck to my fellow participants!

Happy Halloween

2004-10-31T08:27:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Day

2004-10-29T12:02:00.001-07:00

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

The Lion

2004-10-29T09:58:00.000-07:00

The lion roars
into the darkness,
keeping those around him awake.

Startled, he rolls over,
only to commence his snoring once again.

-ta04-

Kansas Farm

2004-10-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of a farm in some small town in Kansas about 70 miles outside of Topeka. We had to do an FHA inspection for another house, which took me to this gorgeous view, even though it's at a distance. It was hazy & rainy that day, which I think set the mood. Just a little piece from my part of the world. Maybe I'll get a poem or story out of it some day. :)

Click the picture to see a bigger view.

Signed Up Ready to Rock & Write!

2004-10-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

As you can see by my lovely banner in my side bar, I decided to participate in the NaNoWriMo event the month of November. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out their site (by clicking the link above) or my other blog entry, NaNoWriMo.org.

I went to a kickoff event at my local library last night. There were at least 30 people there, planning to participate. The instructor said she attempted the task last year, and made it through, and was hoping to again this year. She also said one of the high schools' English teachers here in my home town challenged her class to participate. Anyone who did got an automatic A for that semester. We're planning a couple of meets later in the month of November to offer encouragement to our fellow writers and get to know each other. Sounds like fun.

I know it's not going to be an easy task, but I look forward to it. I have to finish my upstairs corner of the house--my writing space--before November 1st, so I have a place to hide during the contest. (I know, seems like I've been working on that space for awhile, but time has a way of slipping by.)

Wish me luck! I don't even have a plot yet, thus my user name for the NaNoWriMo web site, plotlessly_me. Hoping it all comes to me as my fingers hit the keyboard.

Stay Tuned

2004-10-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've filled the past couple of posts here with things that really don't matter. It's not for lack of having things to talk about. It's more because life has a way of taking me away from the computer, which is a good thing, mind you. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up on my blogging in the next day or so, so stay tuned!

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

2004-10-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary.
If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

Honorary Blogging Degree

2004-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

The University of Blogging

Presents to
Tracie

An Honorary
Bachelor of
Anonymous Commenting

Majoring in
Self Portraiture

Signed
Dr. GoQuiz.com

Blogging Degree
From Go-Quiz.com

Healing Rain

2004-10-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

There was a light rain falling this morning as I dropped Nik off at school. This song played on the radio during the ride home. (Odd, come to think of it, it was playing when I picked her up, too, AND it's lightly raining tonight, too.) It speaks to me in a way I haven't come to understand just yet. Maybe it'll speak to you as well. Enjoy.
----------
Healing Rain

Healing rain is coming down
It’s coming nearer to the old town
Rich and poor, weak and strong
It’s bringing mercy, it won’t be long

Healing rain is coming down
It’s coming closer to the lost and found
Tears of joy and tears of shame
Are washed forever in Jesus’ name

chorus:
Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher
Healing rain, I’m not afraid
To be washed in Heaven’s rain

Lift your heads, let us return
To the mercy seat where time began
And in your eyes I see the pain
Come soak this dry heart with healing rain

And only You, the Son of man
Can take a leper and let him stand
So lift your hands, they can be held
By someone greater, the Great I Am

Healing rain is falling down
Healing rain is falling down
I’m not afraid
I’m not afraid

Michael W. Smith– HEALING RAIN
From the album – HEALING RAIN
Label – Provident (2004)

Family Life Network Songs & Lyrics Database

Give Me Poetry!

2004-10-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

Give me poetry or give me death!
Let freedom ring through the written word of
rhymes and prose, haikus and chinquains.
Let free verse flow unwavering
as thoughts are spoken aloud in a lonely unison--
a far cry from solitude!

Give me poetry, full of life!
Let voices be heard across the globe--
united in individuality, looking to the future,
recalling the past, living one day at a time
in a menage of reflections and perceptions
which bleed from mind to paper.

Give me poetry, and give me peace!
Afford comfort found in the pleasures
released from intellect, penned on paper,
spoken unafraid even in the darkness
of a moonless night; seek the lingering light
which is found in the collage of words.

Give me poetry; let freedom ring!
Allow the sounds of a beating heart
to be heard throughout. Go beyond the walls
of some man-made box into the garden of bliss,
of words resounding against the white canvas,
a blank page waiting to be painted.

Give me poetry or give me death!

-ta1004-

A rough draft of a poem I've been working on. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

SpongeBob & Me

2004-10-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Click for the bigger, better picture. Got a little distorted with the resize. Thanks.
How many people can say they've had their pic taken with SpongeBob SquarePants?

How many would actually admit it? LOL

Culture Shock

2004-10-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dan & I headed out the door for a Chinese lunch today, but having missed the turn for the resturant we intended to go to, we ended up at one specializing in Indian cuisine instead. The atmosphere was nice; the resturant, very clean. I was still skeptical as we walked up to the buffet to find things on it with names like Aloo Gobhi, Vegetable Pakoras, & Lamb Biryani. I tried the Aloo Gobi (fresh cauliflower cooked with potatoes and spices) with some white rice, as well as a couple of the of the pakoras (fresh vegetable fritters with spinich, onions, potatoes & cauliflower) and nan (an unleavened bread baked in Tandoor). The first bite threw my taste buds out of kilt for a moment, having never experienced the flavors before. After a few more bites, my mouth was liking more what it was tasting, and I ended up eating everything on my plate, as well as a bowl of very good tomato soup, which was a perfect compliment to the weather we're having today. My only disappointment is that they didn't have anything my sweet tooth would have liked, but I was glad we went. Trying new things expands the horizons and adds to the list of favorite resturants, not to mention, it's a good shock absorber for the next new culture outing.

Today's Thought

2004-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I will never understand why people always seem to feel the need to take something that is good and try to make it out to be something bad/evil/vindictive. It's one thing to oppose something; it's a whole other thing to start petty arguments in order to express a view. We all have our differences, as well as our opinions, but that doesn't make one person more right or wrong than another--not until the issue is twisted and misconstrued for the wrongful gain of one and the downfall of another.

No Words Needed

2004-10-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Thought for the Day

2004-10-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

"Self-doubt is not the opposite of confidence.
Envy is the opposite of confidence."

Source: The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood

Zoe Update

2004-10-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

Zoe's home now, but not without some discomfort. It's obvious she's in some pain. Hopefully, tomorrow she'll be better. They gave me pain medication to give to her every morning for the next 4 days. I just hope I can make her comfortable enough in between doses that she recovers quickly and is her ol' self again. I'm glad she's here for the night.

Zoe & The Inevitable

2004-10-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

Isn't she adorable?

Zoe is getting close to 6 months old now. We knew when we got her that we didn't want puppies, and since we have a large male dog in the house, we didn't want him to be tempted by a female far smaller than he. Today was the day of the inevitable. I dropped her off at the vet this morning to be spayed. It wasn't easy. What's a routine surgery them is not so routine to me. Besides, it goes back to our pets being like our children. None of us would want to leave a child in the hospital alone. Normally, they require keeping the pet overnight, but I worked it out so she went in early this morning and should be home later this afternoon after the anesthesia wears off and they know she's doing well. I'd rather take care of her than to leave her in some unknown place for a long period of time, and the vet isn't far from where we live if there are any complications later on. We were told it's best to have this surgery done before the first heat cycle to reduce the chance of cancer in the mammary glands later, so it's a good deal all the way around. I'll just miss the lil' rascal today.

Name Three

2004-10-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

I logged into my blog and at the bottom was a suggestion to ask my readers what three things they'd like to see from my little part of the world. I'm not sure I have enough readers to get enough responses for this, but what the heck--doesn't hurt to try and it might be fun.

So...what three photos would you, my readers, like to see me post on this blog?
Ah, c'mon, don't be shy now.

I'll see what kind of responses I get after about a week then go from there.

Happy Blogging!

Brr!

2004-10-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

There's just something really cozy about a fireplace. The flames seem to dance as they flicker up and down. They eventually stop, making one think the fire is going out, then somewhere, it finds a new place to begin and a small flame pops and crackles until it becomes a small mass of warmth once again.

Yesterday was the first day of the season that we needed this. The morning temperature was in the 30s, but it warmed up nicely to the 60s. A stone house--like the one we live in--tends to keep the cool air in, however. It was nice to see the dancing flames after their silence during the spring and summer months. Even Zoe, the puppy, seemed intrigued by them, and took advantage of their comforting warmth. I have to wonder if these cooler temperatures are an indication that winter is planning to come in with a fury. Hopefully not. It's kinda nice to have the fire without the blustery weather which accompanies the upcoming time of year.

Migraine Morning

2004-10-01T20:28:00.000-07:00

I was greeted this morning by a sharp flash of light that decided to linger. I knew immediately what was coming on - a migraine. I quickly took something for it, then went back to bed and stayed there much of the day. This is the first one I've had in months, and it didn't hit me as hard as some of them have been known to do, but it wasn't a joyride, nonetheless. The things usually start out with the flashing bits of light that eventually go away but a numbness and tingling sensation take over. Most often, it begins in the opposite side of my body that the pain is going to hit in my head. It travels from my fingertips up to my mouth & tongue, sometimes causing problems with my speech, then goes to my nose, back to my eyes, then *bam*, the pain begins. This could go on several times in one migraine setting. I've only found one prescription medication that helps them. Luckily, today it was a mild one and over-the-counter drugs helped it. It still drained all the energy out of me, leaving my head feeling like it was run over by a Mack truck. Needless-to-say, I didn't get much accomplished today.

I was told by my neurologist several years ago that migraines were the #1 leading cause of stroke in women my age. Not very encouraging. And then when one takes into account that they have stroke-like symptoms, how would I ever know the difference? I've had an MRI, so I have proof I have a brain - a healthy one at that. For me, they're usually brought on by stress, but this one, I'm not so sure since I don't feel particularly stressed about anything. No matter how small or great, they're never fun and always leave me feeling exhausted. I'm just glad they don't occur like they used to.

Be Counted

2004-09-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

It came in the mail today: my voter's registration card. I haven't voted since Ross Perot ran for President years ago. It's never been that important to me because I always thought a politician was nothing but a politician. They were all the same in that they all lied & they never did what they campaigned so diligently to make people believe they would do. Truth is, I never thought my vote really made a difference. What would be, would be.

This year is different. I was going to keep politics out of my personal blog, but I believe we are in the midst of one of the most critical voting years of our nation's history. Voting is a precious right we have - one that we should take advantage of fully, considering our safety is more at stake than it ever has been. Terrorists are knocking at our door, stepping into our "home", and trying to destroy our country as we know it.

In following the candidates, it's clear they are not one in the same. They are very different in their convictions, their beliefs, their honesty. One flip-flops at every turn and hasn't given us a straight comment yet as to what he plans to do if he is President. The other gives us a clear plan as to what he can and needs to do in the next four years. Only one is the wise choice. Flip-flops are a dime a dozen. I can buy those at Wal-Mart for a few bucks, but then again, I guess Kerry gives them for free. But wishy-washy-ness (if I may be so bold as to use that as a word) is not a good characteristic for the leader of a Country. At least Bush is strong in his own convictions and makes his issues clear. He may not have always made the right decisions over the past four years - which no President ever has - but at least he does what he feels is right. He leads the country with a bold leadership that Kerry has proven he just can't match.

I suppose it's obvious who I plan to vote for this coming November, but the most important thing to take note of here is that I have every intention of voting. I will be counted. Will you? There's only 34 days till election day, which means there are only 19 days left to get registered. So what are you waiting for? Get registered, get informed, then be counted.

Monday, Monday

2004-09-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Morning!

Last night, I baked a whole wheat pound cake, which left the house smelling of a subtle, sweet goodness when I went to bed. After a decent night's sleep, I crawled out from under the warmth of the down-filled comforter, put on my clothes, and stepped outside. I was greeted by an incredible patch of sky stretching above the neighboring trees, painted with shades of pastel pinks and violets on a canvas of powder blue. For the first time this season, a small puff of fog swirled from my lips when I breathed. The honking of geese could be heard as they flew above, headed to the small pond nearby, or to some other unknown destination - perhaps further north, an indication that winter's cold is just around the corner. I picked a few of the last of the lingering daisies and brown-eyed susans, along with a small stem of honeysuckle for it's distinct fragrance, then placed them in a little green vase which now sets on the bar. The morning air is a bit chilly, mother nature's gentle reminder that autumn is here.

Okay, so not all mornings are filled with grumpiness and insomnia-filled eyes. What makes one morning different than another? Maybe it's attitude. Or maybe it's lack of sleep. All I know is, this morning made me smile.

Life is good.

Almost Monday

2004-09-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

It's almost Monday here in the sunny town I live in, as well as with the rest of the world. For me, this Monday is a little different than most in that Dan will come home. He left on Wednesday to go to his daughter's wedding in Pennsylvania. Nik & I didn't go because it wasn't a good idea to take her out of school for nearly a week. Too, the dogs needed to be taken care of, as well as the business. This is the first time in nearly a year that we've been apart for more than a couple of hours at a time.

I'll just be glad when he gets home. Amazing how time apart really does make the heart grow fonder. ~ I realized I missed making the morning coffee for him, something I don't drink, as well as figuring out meals together. Eating is lonelier when the setting is for one. ~ I miss the security of his presence at night, although Sam does a good job of keeping watch. (Okay, so I miss more than the security. *eg*) ~ I miss having him around to laugh & smile with. Absence makes you remember what you really like about a person in the first place. That sometimes gets lost in the hub-bub of the daily grind. ~ The nights are longer. The days seem to drag. Just one more day, I keep telling myself.

I miss him,
but I enjoyed my time alone - however,
not so much that I don't anxiously await his arrival.

Sounds

2004-09-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Your sounds of silence
                     are bellowing
                                       in my ears.

Since we parted,
            all I have are the sounds
                         you left behind,

and my tears
      that trickle and fall -

          - plop -
                  - plop -
             - plop -

from my chapped cheeks
         to the floor.

The rain begins;
      I hear the whispers of the wind
                                 calling...

come to me...
          come to me...
                    come to me...

It sounds just like your voice.

Now that you’re gone,
      your sounds won’t leave me alone.

My misplaced heart
      beats in the quiet...
          THU-THUMP...
               THU-thump...
                    thu-thump...

thuuu ______________________________

Flat-lined;
         gone.

-ta©2004-
edited 09.25.04
Thanks "anonymous" for your help.

Disney Stamps

2004-09-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Postal Service issued these stamps earlier this summer. I just ran across them at the post office a couple of weeks ago and grabbed some for my daughter. They automatically receive a smile, making an envelope look happy and fun. Just thought I'd pass the smile along. :)

I'm not an avid stamp collector, but thought about it. There seems to be a lot of cool stamps available. Some will discontinue and not be used again. May be something interesting to look back on years down the road.

Autumn is Here!

2004-09-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Autumn is here; my favorite time of the year. I don't know what it is about this season that I like so much.

Maybe it's the cool crisp mornings and the wonderful not-too-warm-not-too-cold afternoons, allowing me to comfortably wear a sweat shirt & pants and nothing else. Nakedness against fleece is a soft, fuzzy feeling.

Maybe it's how the leaves on the trees change colors, creating a vibrant picture on a hilltop. Already the leaves are falling here and there, dancing softly in the breeze. I noticed today that the lawn has several scattered all around.

Maybe it's because the heat of summer has come to an end or that winter's snow is just around the corner. When I lived in Texas, I didn't experience snow much. Already, just since last November, I've seen more of the fluffy white stuff here in Kansas than I did in several years combined when I was further south.

Maybe it's just because change is a good thing, and the changing of the seasons is something we can always count on. It sometimes takes a little coaxing by nature to make us realize that change is inevitable.

Maybe it's the bright colors-pumpkiny oranges, sunshiny yellows, earthy browns-that I like about it. Nothing wrong with a little extra color and texture in our lives.

No matter what the reason(s), autumn is a wonderful time of year.

Quote for the Moment

2004-09-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

"Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning; that without listening, speaking no longer heals; that without distance, closeness cannot cure." - Henri Nouwen

Some Mornings

2004-09-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

Some mornings...
I wonder why I bother to even get out of bed. But then I'm reminded, it's not something I necessarily always do for myself, so much as it's something I have to do for everyone else around me. The dog needs to go out then be fed. Coffee needs to be made. School awaits a student. Work has to be done.

Some mornings...
if I had my choice about it, I'd sleep in - for me, as much as for anyone else - because no one likes a person who can't cope with the morning after a sleepless night that ended too soon. And a mid-morning nap oftentimes just doesn't cut it.

Some mornings...
I miss sleep,
but I enjoy waking to a new day
filled with the crispness of a near-autumn breeze.

NaNoWriMo.org

2004-09-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, which is coming up in November. It's a new approach to novel writing which entails starting a novel on November 1st and ending it by midnight of November 30th, offering people a chance to write a short novel of 50,000 words or so. According to the site, they expect a lot of "crap", as they put it, since it's such a pressured event. They're more concerned with quantity than quality. It seems those who participate and make the goal will gain a sense of accomplishment, if nothing else.

Quote: In 2003, we had about 25,000 participants. Over 3500 of them crossed the 50k finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.

Sounds like fun.

I ran across this interesting site because it was listed in my library's monthly brochure of upcoming programs. On October 25th, they're hosting a kickoff to this event with advice from former participants. Hmm, I've always wanted to write a novel. Maybe I'll give it a try.

Anyone else out there interested? If so, sign ups begin on October 1st, 2004. What are you waiting for? I've given the URL twice already, but just in case, here it is again: http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

One of My Favorite Songs

2004-09-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little melancholy tonight for some weird reason. Maybe it's because of an upcoming event that I'm not prepared for. Who knows. Anyway, this song came to mind as I sat here wondering what to write. A million things are going through my head - poems, prose, thoughts - just a matter of getting them on paper. Since I haven't yet, I'll pass this along. It's from the movie City of Angels, which is one of my faves. The soundtrack is awesome. This song is Angel, sang by Sarah McLachlan. If you haven't heard it, check it out sometime. Actually, the entire soundtrack is worth buying.

Enjoy.

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it okay
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction or a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the Angel;
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of the Angel;
may you find some comfort here

You're in the arms of the Angel;
may you find some comfort here

For the Pink

2004-09-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

This was the morning of the annual 5K Race Against Breast Cancer. We were all up before 7, getting ready to go. The morning started out a bit cool and rainy. We - me, Nik, & Dan - got to the location around 8 o'clock, hoping the clouds would break within the hour, and by 9:00, the rain was gone, leaving behind some lingering clouds and a little bit of sun.

There were a lot of people there; I'd venture to guess there were over 1000 participants, just by looking at the runner numbers we all had to wear on our shirts. To start it off, they had breakfast foods such as muffins, apples, bananas, juice and coffee for everyone. Soon before the main event began, they had several soft crates of doves, which they started releasing one at time from one of the crates, then opened the other six and let them all go, while someone sang "Wind Beneath My Wings". It was neat to watch them all fly overhead. One seemed to have lost its way a bit and circled back over us, then followed the others.

Next, we had a warm up session that was fun. The instructor had everyone laughing and stretching, getting us ready.

Afterwards, we went to the starting point of the race. Most people held balloons which were released at the sound of the gun. Except for Nik's - she had tied hers to her water bottle and we couldn't get it off, which had us to a laughing start. Dan was in the runners' section ahead of me and Nik. She and I walked, but jogged occasionally. We seemed to stay mostly in the middle of the walkers, about half in front of us, half behind. It was a 3.1 mile flat path on pavement. At one point, I thought Nik was about to give out on me, but she was a trooper and walked on, sometimes jogging. Her momentum built up again when she realized how close we were to the end. She finished with a time of 57 minutes 11 seconds, with me behind her finishing 5 seconds later.

Somewhere near the 1-mile marker, the lead runners started passing us. First, it was two men, followed by several more. It wasn't long after that the first woman past us. There were cash prizes for the first three runners of each gender. I kept wondering where Dan was, but we had to turn the corner before we saw him. I figured we'd either find him passed out on the road somewhere- heh - or at the finish line, which is where he was when we got to the end. He said he finished only about 15 minutes before we did.

It was a fun morning, full of buzzing excitment. By the end of the 3+ miles, we were ready to head home, only to treat ourselves to a lunch at Chili's. Now we have a year to get ready for the next annual Run/Walk, something the three of us plan to do again.

(See my previous post Race Against Breast Cancer.)

Volleyball Games # 4

2004-09-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

It was another afternoon for volleyball games. We were late getting there because one schedule we had (the one we looked at) said it was at the wrong school. The corrected schedule was hiding under the school calendar. Nonetheless, we made it to the gym in time to watch my daughter play. She missed her first couple of serves, but made up for it near the end of the game. They were neck-and-neck, and our team had the ball. It was Nik's serve, and all she needed was two points to win the game. The first serve went over and the other team missed it, which was a point for our Lancers. The pressure was on Nik, since it was her serve still. The serve sailed right over, and we scored, winning the game. The score was 25 to 23. Yay!

The next games are on Tuesday.

Good Morning (or Insomnia #2)

2004-09-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Good morning again, world. Last night's sleep wasn't much better than the several nights' before, but I woke up feeling a bit more alive. I didn't do the toe wiggling as I mentioned in my previous post called Insomnia. Instead, I tried something a little different, which I will name here as "the Big O". Some of you will figure it out, some will scratch your heads, but it's amazing what a little exertion before sleeping will do for a person.

Anyway, enough said on that topic. It's a cool, brisk morning here in the east side of Kansas. Autumn is well on its way. I've noticed leaves already falling off the trees, a few at a time.This my favorite time of the year. The squirrels are getting their harvest ready for the winter. I didn't notice it as much when I lived in Texas because we didn't have the little critters all over the place like they seem to be here. They're fun to watch. I've named one Popeye because his left eye is damaged. It's neat to watch him come back again and again. I haven't had to clean out my flower trays in the front windows because they've been doing it for me, as seen here.

-caught in the act-
Here's wishing each of you a good morning and a bright day.

Healthy Eating & Age

2004-09-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

If I only knew then what I know now...

Which age group eats the healthiest foods?
The percentage of people who say they try to eat healthful foods and maintain a balanced diet increases with age.

(MARS 2004 OTC/DTC Survey/By Shannon Reilly and Keith Carter, USA TODAY)

Link: USA Today Snapshots

Insomnia

2004-09-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but for about the past 2 months, I haven't been able to sleep straight through the night, except for the occasional "time to catch up" sleep-a-thons my body seems to go on after it just can't take anymore. I've always had an over-active mind. Maybe that's part of the problem. Part of it, too, is Sam's collar jiggling when he moves or scratches.

Before my daughter was born, I slept like a rock, but since then, I've learned to sleep a little less soundly. Okay, I know it's been over a decade, but still...someone has to listen for the noises of the night. After our near-break-in last year, I don't know that I've ever slept so soundly again.

It was before we moved to Kansas. My daughter and I lived alone in an upstairs apartment in the middle of town. I always felt safe living upstairs because I knew if anyone tried to break in, people would see them from the street, unless they had a ladder and climbed in back windows, which would be absurd. Well, on Valentine's Day, 2003, I was proved differently.

I woke in the early morning around 5ish, to a noise in the living room. I thought it might be our pet rabbit, whose cage was in that room at the time. I realized that what I heard was coming from the porch and sounded something like hail hitting the door. When I looked out the peephole, there was a guy there pounding away on my locks. He already had the deadbolt undone and was working on the lock on the doorknob. I pushed all my weight against the door and kept locking the locks as he unlocked them. I couldn't scream for some reason, but in a loud whisper, I got my daughter to wake up, and told her to call 911 to tell them someone was breaking in our apartment. I don't know if the perpetrator saw the light come on in the other room where the phone was or felt me pushing against the door. He stopped trying to get in, then knocked, which was odd. The cops were there within a few minutes. The guy was already gone, though.

That incident shook me up pretty good. We didn't sleep at home for at least a week after. I had about 3 extra locks put on the door. Anyway, maybe things like this is why I don't sleep well. I worry too much about things that go bump in the night.

I did a web search on Google for insomnia, and of course, they had a high number of hits. I came across one site that offered standard techniques, as well as some I haven't heard of before, like toe wiggling. It suggests that wiggling the toes up and down 12 times will relax the body both inside and out. Maybe I'll try this one tonight and see how it goes. If that doesn't work, I'll try another suggestion, then another, until I get back to sleeping well.

Happy dreaming!

Volleyball - Games #3

2004-09-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today was the third games of the season for my daughter's volleyball team. The girls they played were pretty good. If I remember correctly, we won four of the six games. Nik got moved up a string, which she was happy about. She played well, but not as good as last week. She got a couple of really great hits in, yet her serves missed the mark a few times. The gym was so hot, I'm not sure how the girls could stand it. It's fun to watch them play, some playing for the very first time.

What kind of mermaid are you?

2004-09-14T09:55:00.000-07:00

Since I love mermaids, thought I'd take this little quiz.

You are a Water Emerald. You are quiet and to
yourself and then an outburst of joy. You live
to seek peace. Your best freind is right there
and always loving. You might know that special
someone or you might be looking for him. You
enjoy the kelp and sleep, eat, breate, and live
in the greenery of the ocean. You are the most
common mermaid.
(Funny, I don't feel so common. :))

What kind of mermaid are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

100 Words To Know

2004-09-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

Below is the entire list of 100 words that the editors of the American Heritage® Dictionaries believes every high school graduate and their parents should know. They claim that those who use the words in their proper context "are likely to have a superior command of the language". How many of the definitions do you know?

I did the legwork for you. Each word has a link to its definition in dictionary.com. If you find that any of the links don't work, please let me know. Enjoy.

abjure
abrogate
abstemious
acumen
antebellum
auspicious
belie
bellicose
bowdlerize
chicanery
chromosome
churlish
circumlocution
circumnavigate
deciduous
deleterious
diffident
enervate
enfranchise
epiphany
equinox
euro
evanescent
expurgate
facetious
fatuous
feckless
fiduciary
filibuster
gamete
gauche
gerrymander
hegemony
hemoglobin
homogeneous
hubris
hypotenuse
impeach
incognito
incontrovertible
inculcate
infrastructure
interpolate
irony
jejune
kinetic
kowtow
laissez faire
lexicon
loquacious
lugubrious
metamorphosis
mitosis
moiety
nanotechnology
nihilism
nomenclature
nonsectarian
notarize
obsequious
oligarchy
omnipotent
orthography
oxidize
parabola
paradigm
parameter
pecuniary
photosynthesis
plagiarize
plasma
polymer
precipitous
quasar
quotidian
recapitulate
reciprocal
reparation
respiration
sanguine
soliloquy
subjugate
suffragist
supercilious
tautology
taxonomy
tectonic
tempestuous
thermodynamics
totalitarian
unctuous
usurp
vacuous
vehement
vortex
winnow
wrought
xenophobe
yeoman
ziggurat

Link:
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know published by Houghton Mifflin Company

Golden Opportunity

2004-09-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Weeks of preparation had finally paid off. The day of my much-anticipated photographic expedition to the west had arrived. With camera gear at my side, I put my life in the hands of my faithful guide, and off we went. He maneuvered the vehicle with great ease away from the paved path down the rough, rumbling terrain. Soon we were beyond the boundaries of civilization as we knew it.

I was concerned about the small amount of water I had brought with me as the midday sun showered its near-unbearable heat upon us. The wild grasses reached as tall as the windows of our vehicle, flapping the side of the truck as we passed by, as if groping at us, trying to slow us down. I hoped to catch at least a glimpse of some barbaric beast hiding in the brush, but alas, none showed their wretched faces.

It wasn’t long before we reached our destination - the hill upon which the exceptional wild yellow and brown flower grew. My trusty guide wrenched the vehicle as close to the great mound as he could, letting me out near the foot. I trudged across a small stretch of grass covered ground, then began my treacherous climb to the top.

Something moved out of the brush, startling me, almost causing me to lunge to the ground below. It was a spotted creature - too small to be a leopard, yet appeared to be just as fierce. I knew it might pounce at any moment, but I found the bravery within me to step closer, hoping to capture it on film before it got away - or worse, before it attacked. The hideous creature didn’t seem to be bothered by my movements, however. It sat very still, as if trying to hide in plain sight. I was able to click a couple of quick shots before it moved, then stopped, like it was posing for my camera. I was able to take yet a few more pictures before resuming my journey towards the peak of the hill.

I could feel the sweat beading upon my brow as I transcended upward. And there they were, standing majestically in the very near distance, looking like the queen of the mountain. My days of waiting had me standing in awe of their grand beauty. I focused my camera’s eye upon them, careful to create pictures worthy of this moment. My camera seized the opportunity, capturing their beauty effortlessly with each click of the button. I gazed at them once more before beginning my feat back down this small mountain.

The thought of having one of these inspiring blossoms for my own occurred to me. As the temptation grabbed hold, I excitedly scurried down the wretched hill to retrieve a cutting device from my patient companion. Back up the mountain I went, hands full and balance wobbly. I stationed myself next to one of the towering stalks, clipping a few stems which held the saffron petals. I felt I had struck it rich, my own gold mine in my hands. I raced back to my comrade.

Once I returned to the bottom of the dangerous heap, my driver and I basked in the glorious victory. We had made it through the obstacles and gained the prize. Now we just had to find our way back to the land from whence we came. What an incredible journey!

The Hideous Spotted Creature

The Golden Wild Flower

Okay, okay, so the story really took place in a field, atop a mound of dirt. The only creature there was a frog, and the golden flowers were, well, sunflowers. What can I say? If I said "I went out into this pasture the other day to take a few pics and picked some sunflowers", would it have been as exciting?

9/11 - The Day America Cried

2004-09-11T06:01:00.000-07:00

I wrote this poem after the 9/11 attacks. I remember where I was that day - a bright & sunny morning - on my way to take my daughter to school when the announcement of the first tower being hit came across the radio. By the time I got home, it was on the news and it showed the second tower being hit. I reluctantly had to leave for work shortly after. Some of us left work early because we were too involved in what was going on. I remember how eerie it was that there were no planes in the sky.

Today marks the third anniversary of those dreadful attacks, a day America should stop and remember, for at least a moment. We've come a long way, but that day changed us, in good and not-so good ways. Be that as it is, we now know that we are not exempt from the heinous attacks of others wanting to see us fall. It's sad enough that we have so much crime created by our own people. Too bad peace is only a dream.

Take time to remember this day, and pray for our nation, for our troops and for our freedom. God Bless.

- America Cried Today -

America cried today,
As in helpless terror they watched
Flames burn the clouds
And loved ones descend to the heavens.
Heavy hearts began mourning
Hoping time has a way of healing,
Forever knowing, senselessness is never forgotten.
Flags at half-mast,
Even the stars & stripes seemed to shed a tear.
From ocean to ocean, across the fields and plains,
This day of infamy will always remain a part of us all.
The mighty eagle will not weaken in his flight,
For we will rise from these tears we cry,
United as one nation,
Trusting God to mend that which was torn.
We stand tall with lowered heads, in honor
Of the heroes and heroines who were sacrificed,
Of the losses we all feel
On this, the day
Our beautiful country cried.

-ta©2001-

We will never forget.

What's Your Bloginality?

2004-09-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

My Bloginality is INFP!

"As an INFP, you are Intraverted, iNtuative, Feeling , Perceiving.This makes your primary focus on Introverted Feeling with Extraverted Intuition.

This is defined as a NF personality, which is part of Carl Jung's Idealist (Identity Seeking) type, and more specifically the Healers or Idealist.

As a weblogger, you have wonderful words to express your feelings because of your idealism. Because you don't like conflict, you may be likely to make one list of links and leave it for a long time without updating for fear of offending."

I sometimes wonder about online personality tests. Often they hit the nail and other times, they hit the thumb. This one is correct about me in most of what it says, except for the fear of offending because I update some links. Interesting test. So, what's your Bloginality?

Blogger Knowledge

2004-09-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't read this article yet, put it on your to-do-list. It has some very basic information and ideas for getting your blog seen and read by more people. Just click on the title to read more.

Happy blogging!

Proud Mom of a Volleyball Girl

2004-09-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

It's volleyball season. I'm proud to say that my daughter, Nik, is playing for her school. She played last spring for the YMCA, but this is her first year to ever play a school sport. There's so many girls playing that they have four different teams, and everyone gets the chance to play at least one game out of six. Tuesday was their first games and they pretty much beat the socks off the other team. But this afternoon they were up against some girls that were at least their equals; a few may have been even better.

My daughter had the chance to play two of the six games today, and I have to say she did pretty darn good. Her serves were always right on, except for maybe three (out of 15 or so). She helped her team mates win the first game, then in the second, she helped bring them out of a 7-point lag with her serves. They lost that game by only two points, which is good when you take into consideration that they were so far behind to begin with.

It was a good afternoon. I realized how much my daughter's growing up today when I saw her on the other side of the court talking to her friends, watching the games. She's not so little anymore, but I still enjoy watching her grow into the young woman she's becoming.

Race Against Breast Cancer

2004-09-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's official. The registration forms are sent. The dues are paid. Everyone in my household (dogs not included) will be participating in the 13th Annual Race Against Breast Cancer 5K Run/Walk here at home on Saturday, September 18th.

I hold this charity closer than most because I know the fear that goes with finding a lump in the breast. It's the not knowing whether it's malignant or not that is more stressful than anything at first. The surgery to remove the lump isn't all that bad and scarring is minimal (at least for me). Luckily, my lump was benign, but I feel for those women who hear the opposite. It can be a frightening experience, no matter what the outcome, but I'm sure the fear hightens if the news isn't so positive.

I've wanted to do this race for awhile now. Back before summer, I was walking/jogging along a near-2-mile trail in addition to working out. I got off schedule when summer hit, so I'm probably not in as good shape as I was a few months ago. I'm trying to get back on track. Hopefully by race day, I'll have at least a little of my stamina back. I'm proud that my daughter said she'd join in. I'm sure she and I will walk most of the way, but it'll be fun - a shared time with her I'm looking forward to.

As far as I know, races are happening all over the country this month, so if it interests you, do a web search and see what you come up with. Find one taking place near you and join the fun. Afterall, it is for a good cause.

For more information, click the pink ribbon above.