Migratory Birds

Business communication class last week detailed how problematic mis-communication can be and I was reminded of this little blurp I spotted in a Reader's Digest a looooong while back:

The inscription on the metal bands used by the US Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey – abbreviated as “Wash. Biol. Surv.�

A letter from an “unhappy� camper:

Dear Sirs,
While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and want to tell you it tasted horrible.

The leg bands are now marked: Fish & Wildlife Service.

Off to class!
Have a great week!
D.

CD's Testimony

Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ taught to His Discilpes and to us, and what we should remember every day of our lives, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our mind, and with all our soul, and with all our strength; to love our neighbours as ourselves, to do unto other people as we would have them do unto us and to be charitable and gentle to all.
There is no other commandment, our Lord Jesus Christ said, greater than these.

-- Charles Dickens "The Life of Our Lord"

For 85 years the manuscript was guarded as a precious family secret, and it was handed down from one relative to the next, with the admonition that it should not be published while any child of Dickens lived.

"It was not for profit, not for publicity, but as a domestic and paternal privilege that Charles Dickens took up the most lucrative pen in the literature of his day and dedicated it freely to the brief and earnest manuscript printed for the first time in this unusal little book," wrote P.W. Wilson in The New York Times when The Life of Our Lord was first published in 1934.

I think I know how Dickens must have felt.

Testimony is a very personal thing.

:) so glad I have one!

Note: The opening quote is from the very last page of the little book, as one of 2 prayers Dickens wrote for his young children. I copied the comment from P.W. Wilson, from the Pulisher's Note, in the forward section at the beginning... I have not read the book completely through! To tell you the truth, I've been saving it for "Christmas"!

5 misses from childhood

I almost forgot!
Burfica "tagged" me awhile ago about the 5 things I miss most from my childhood.
Here they are and I'm stealing the first one from the list 'Mom that's nuts' did.

no. 1. - NOT having to pay all of the bills, much less be the only one responsible to be sure that they DO, all get paid!

no. 2. - Grandparents.

no. 3. - The drive in movie theater is gone now. It was torn down a few years after I moved to AZ. I enjoyed it from the tiny tot years ( Mom & Dad making sure we kids were all dressed in our PJs before we went there!) all the way up through young adulthood. (I saw "Porkies" there as a newly released!) ...and Saturday matinees (with either my siblings or my friends) at the walk-in Fox theater on main street. That building is still there, but no more movies - Movies just aren't the social event they used to be. I remember when "Tora! Tora! Tora!" 1st came out - seemed like the entire town went to see it and the lobby was jam-packed with people discussing it during the intermission and after the show was through even. .. . 'course that's small town stuff, too. You actually might know 50% or more of the people in attendance to the show that night!

no. 4. - My childhood friends and the games we used to play together. Sometimes it was a simple card or board game, sometimes it was make-believe with blankets, bed sheets, clothes pins & chairs out underneth our mother's clotheslines, sometimes it was hide-and-seek involving an entire square block and all the kids in the neighborhood... etc...etc...etc...

no. 5. - The time, inclination, and agility (as a child, I could, and did, trim my toenails with my teeth, people! - lol!) to examine my world from the micro to the macro and all points inbetween - as, 'all in a days work' and not the 'exception to the norm'. [I.E.: Rolling down grassy embankments and spinning till dizzy - feeling those effects, just to fall down laughing with friends, staying down and looking for shapes like big ships in the clouds, or flipping over and looking at the amazing world of activity going on in grass and roots of the lawn you were in. Finding stuff like walking stick bugs, fuzzy catepillars and salamanders without even having to try! Catching fireflies and butterflies. Thinking that a boquet of dandilions was really cool...etc...etc...etc...]

Hum. Think I'll work on trying to get some of my childhood 'back'!
Don't worry! I won't be spitting toe-nails anytime soon.

Suffer the Little Children

The Doodle (above right) is a photo-shop-color-play-in-progress, born from the original Doodle(above left). Original Doodle was done for my "Sunbeams". Sunbeams are small children.
(Teaching "Sunbeams" was the first church calling I was given upon moving back to my 'Hometown' - Sunday school teacher for the 4-5-6 year olds. I let the kids kick their shoes off in my class. I wasn't with my sunbeams long, before I was called to teach Gospel Doctrine to their parents, the adults. I NEVER let grown ups kick their shoes off in class! LOL!)
The little bit of artwork was done in 2002 & took less than 2 minutes to do! This held the children's attention, captive, for approximately 2.5 minutes (maybe 3! lol!) including 'draw time'.

I re-found this, in a small, 3x5" notebook which I sometimes carry in my purse. I like it. (Both the pix and the notebook!)
The notebook usually has "to do lists" in it, price quotes or comparisons, Ideas to make me a millionaire that look like they'd take about a million dollars to do:- (Windfarm, RV Park, Xeroscaping company, a Virgin bar - I mentioned this 'Virgin Bar Idea' to someone one time and they stared blankly at me, for a moment, and said, "But who would you get to go to it?" I carefully explained that it would be a bar that served non-alcoholic drinks and anybody could go to it, families even, that one wouldn't necessarily have to be a virgin to be served there. :-), Ahem, I see measurements for home improvement projects, Inspirational quotes I fall in love with, 'how to get there' directions to important places I've never been before and need to travel to, address & phone updates to people I've lost track of and run into again. Phone numbers with nothing else written so I've NO IDEA what they're for, There's a love poem in there that came to my mind one day out of the blue - about a wonderful love that I did not have at the time! (Yes. Artist are weird about such things) ... Got a list of tools to get, to make-up a kickin' Pumpkin Carving Kit- I keep thinking I'll sew a canvas roll-up, to keep it all neat, organized and tied together. (Damn you, Martha Stewart! <-Sorry. She DID plant the big idea in my head.) I see notes on Sunday meetings past, a lovely design I imagined and drew up for a TV/entertainment center, a design sketch for a delicious decorated cake I really DID make, and there's thoughts on prayer lists and people to put on them - dating back 2-3 years. I got a new thought for a child to put on my prayer list this week. The name is 'Rebekah' <-Click this little name to see a part of her story - and maybe send her out some of your sunbeam love if you're willing.
Hope I didn't bore you too bad with the contents from my FAT LIL' NOTEBOOK - because there'll be more to come! (insert innocent, childish laughter, here -X!)
Love to all who pass along this way!
Dorko ~

Lists!

Updated 8/26-2005... Looking happily at missions accomplished, & with great dismay over those left undone I can see my 'Huckleberry' is right. Got to tighten up the ship here!!! Everything left undone rolls over to TODAY! Aaaarrrggg! <-(Dorko's battle cry, rolling up her sleeves!)
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I can't believe it's been Monday since I've posted!
[insert funny face of dismay here!]
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I'm a big fan of "to do" lists. This what I've got going so far:
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My List of Things to do Today!
â–  I will take some ibuprofen
â–  I will clean the cat box
â–  I will return all the phone calls I've gotten logged on my answering machine this week
â–¡ I will look into my online class.
â–¡ I will finish my reading assignments for graphic design.
â–  I will look over the list of materials I still need for the drawing one class.
■ I will write some things on my talk for Sunday’s sacrament meeting.
â–¡ I will look at my financial aid file & start one on scholarships I want to pursue.
â–¡ I will clear off the table and keep it cleared each day hence forth.
I'll repeat the words: "Filing not piling," as often as I need to - to get the job done!
â–  I will water all of my house plants today.
â–¡ I will wash the windows in my car and I will vacuum out the floor boards.
â–¡ I will mop the kitchen floor
â–¡ I will fold all the clothes
â–¡ I will get my wardrobe for the next week organized
â–¡ I will begin on the reorganization of my bedroom
â–¡ I will stick to tasks!
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I will try my best to get as much done today as I possibly can
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Additional tasks:
â–¡ I will begin in the basement
□ I will look over the sunflowers and harvest seeds if it’s time
â–  I will shovel out the weeds by my mailbox on the highway and toss down some flower seed
â–¡ I will broad cast grass seeds by the fence line and under the pines
â–¡ I will broad cast the flower seeds the Queen of Panic! gave me along my side of the ditches
â–  I will plan where to plant some bulbs hoping for flowers in the spring
â–¡ I will study my Sunday school lesson for the youth and bake them up some cookies
â–  I will update my prayer list
â–  I will pray
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Gee.
I better remember to find or just "do" a doodle or a drawing to post here tomorrow... hum adding another line to the list.....
LOL!
Cheerios!
Dorko

AUGUST-!!!

AUGUST IS: "Admit You're Happy Month!"
... also.... National "Win With Civility Month"
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AUGUST 6th is: "National Fresh Breath Day"

AUGUST 7th is: "Treasure Your Customers Day"

AUGUST 8th is: "Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Night"

AUGUST 17-23 is: "National Truck Driver Appreciation Days"

AUGUST 24th is: The 106th Anniversary of "Everybody Complains About the Weather, but Nobody does Anything About it Day!"

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More about AUGUST later..... :)

Revelation & Testimony

Personal revelation and Testimony go hand in hand, don't they?
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I smiled.
I had just been asked to give a talk in next week's sacrament meeting.
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(So, there it is, I thought, the 'rest bit' is officially over. I'd felt like I was 'flying under the radar,' so to speak, for the past 3 years; since moving to this branch of the church, I'd not been asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting! I knew that someday I would be - I just didn't know when and then, as seasons came and went, I became curious over not being asked and felt a little comfort within that curiosity, as if somehow, my Heavenly Father was giving me a rest in this thing, while I struggled to catch my household up from the move, settle in and deal with other trials He had for me to learn and grow from. Love the way His Holy Spirit gently leads me along! As I live and breath, though, I knew this was coming, and coming soon! I'm sitting here, now, looking at the calendar page for August. In the very first week (Saturday the 6th) I'd written, 'Fast and Testimony. Write my testimony. Write a talk...' followed by my personal musings on possible subject matter, 'Senior moments, personal blindspots - getting beyond those to real improvement', and 'be ye not easily offended...' amazing to look at that square on the calendar, now, and think back to my exchange in church yesterday.)
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So I asked back, "Do you have a topic?"
"Testimony"
I looked into the eyes of this kind, priesthood leader and thought to clarify, if I could. "Testimony," I repeated, "How to give one? How to ... get one? .... strengthen one? ...bear one? ...receive one? What it does for you? What someone else's testimony can do for you? ... "
I trailed off, because looking into those eyes and peppering the meat between us with questions, I'd perceived the response.... it was just....
"Testimony"
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I know how this goes. I pray like everything depends on God. Then I work like everything depends on me - listening intently and feeling after His Holy Spirit to guide me along within this task and within my doings as I apply myself to it.
Having faith that the Holy Spirit will guide me along, if I just let it, is an easy thing for me to do, after all, it happens all the time. I have a testimony!
Now, I just need to draw ever closer unto Him (Praying, reading the scriptures relevant to the topic and principle, and most importantly hearkening to the tender thoughts, feelings, impressions and visions which will form and translate into the sustenance of this 'talk'. I've learned it is best to be the messenger only - and if I feel like I, myself, have learned something sweet and wonderfully nurturing - by the close of the time allotted to me, I know then that the Lord was with me, all along the way!)
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I'll be nervous, because sometimes I feel the spirit so strongly that it squirts out my eyes. I just hate it (embarrassed) when I feel I have something important to say and tears flow along with the words! I guess I should check myself on that though because I wasn't given over to many tears before I gained the depth of testimony that I have now. It's a physical manifestation of a spiritual change within my heart of hearts. So on second thought, I realize I should learn to love those tears, when they come... or at least learn how to deal with them. (Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out - LOL! tissue!)
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The topic in yesterday's sacrament meeting was REVELATION, next to the Holy Ghost, that would be my favorite spiritual gift. I cannot think of a better lead into a discussion on TESTIMONY than that!
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What about you all? Anyone have a personal revelation or a testimony they'd like to share? Keep in mind what they say, 'a multitude of sins are forgiven, every time you bear humble testimony'
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Doh! maybe that's why I was asked ... well, off to class for me!
Happy Monday - D.

The Red Marble

Got the following story in an e-mail from a cousin. You may have already seen it? I had not.
It's one of those 'call to action' e-mails that entreats us to send it on. I usually break the chain. You can decide for yourself if this would serve a positive purpose or not in your world. I found it a good reminder of how far tender mercies can travel...

The Red Marble
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Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy,delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
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I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.
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"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
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"H'lo, Mr.. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas . sure look good."
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"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"
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"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
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"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
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"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
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"Would you like to take some home?"
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"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
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"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
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"All I got's my prize marble here."
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"Is that right? Let me see it."
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"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
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"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
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"Not zackley, but almost."
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"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."
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"Sure will. Thanks Mr.. Miller."
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Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."
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I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.
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Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr.. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
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Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... all very professional looking.
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They approached Mrs.. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
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Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
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Our turn came to meet Mrs.. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
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"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.! They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size ... they came to pay their debt."
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"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
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With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
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Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that takes our breath.
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Today ... I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ... .. A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself .. An unexpected phone call from an old friend .. Green stoplights on your way to work . The fastest line at the grocery store .. A good sing-along song on the radio . Your keys right where you left them.
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They say it takes a minute to find a special person, An hour to appreciate them, A day to love them, But an entire life to forget them.
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Send this to the people you'll never forget. If you don't send it to anyone, it may just mean you are in too much of a hurry.
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Hugs!
Dorko

Fantasy Flame

Something from December of 1978.
I'm a little fuzzy on the details. I think I was high. I'd been "partying" with friends. There's a face you may be able to pick out there. That's a cracked mirror the candle is floating just above and, um, ever see a candle flame quite like that? Sooo, yeah, I 'may have' been weaving a little fantasy in with the flame here. More 'if's: If I had this in 'do over' mode - I'd replicate the image in the mirror. I'd make more 'faces to be found' in the candle, mirror and flame. I'd stick some 'bobbles' into the background and give more elevation to the candle so it is immediately recognized as 'floating'... But now I'm off to the college book store to get supplied for the semester! Soon, VERY soon, you'll be seeing 'fresh' works here! Cheerios2U all and have a fantastic week's end!

Goodbye, sweet one...

"Lady" is most likely NOT the name I would have chosen for this friend of mine. She was already fully grown (5-6 years old?) and impeccably trained when we started walking together back in 1995. It was only at the urging of a 'friend' and against my 'better judgment' that she came to live with me. She quickly won over my heart, and deep affection from almost every human-being who ever spent a moments notice in the same room with her. Sometimes the world labels with names that draw ill repute, before a being even has a chance to prove their temperament, and contribution to life. This baby girl was ALWAYS more a 'Lady' - than a bitch. She was never a bitch. That dog was the best dogger I've ever had the privilege of hanging with. Today I had to make the tough choice. You see, her body has been progressively failing in small degrees for quite sometime now. There is a fullness of time, that comes - when we sometimes have to be the judge. It aint easy. This is the hard choice... tempered only with thoughts of what is merciful? I've been in utter agony watching over her, lifting her, helping her negotiate and manage the infirmities of advancing age. One can only adapt so far before you see the quality of life for the beloved irrevocably marred. Today I said my last good-bye to this faithful, sweet, granddogger.
I'll not be posting again for a few days.
I need to keep REALLY busy, here, and um, I'm having a rough time just typing these few lines.
I thought to spare my coward self and not post at all, however this is my online journal and she has been an important part of my life for many, many years. She deserves a tearful, heartfelt tribute and every ounce of love I'm sending with her fuzzy little butt, into the spirit world - rest easy there, Lady, girl - Someday I hope to see your legs, strong once more, and doing your happy dance - before walking with you again. You good, old girl, you!

Quoteable Quotes

This I learned from the shadow of a tree, that to and fro did sway against a wall: our shadow-selves, our influence, may fall where we ourselves can never be.
-- Anna E. Hamilton
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(Get a daily wallpaper and quote from www.paperquote.com)
(I want to give credit to the artist J. Morris for his Autumn Morning photograph I found it on Artcyclopedia)
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Opie turned me on to this quote service.
You can get daily inspiration; quotes and pictures, however, I like the daily scripture quote the best.
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Love a good quote.
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Whenever I find one that strikes m'fancy, I do collect them, trying to commit them to memory.
I stash 'em on the hard drive here. I may write 'em down on a note card - tape it to a bathroom mirror, fridge.... or one time, I went so far as to prop it up on the dashboard of my car. (possibly more on this later.)
I even purchased a 'Quotationary program' that has 10s of thousands loaded up in it along with a handy search forum and a means of adding more to it.
This habit has come in handy a few times when something needed to be said, and I knew I couldn't do it any more effectively or succinctly or eloquently than whatever 'Quoteable Quote' was floating up to my mind from the "Ah! Archives". [insert beaming smile, here]
Whyever would I need to reinvent the wheel?
Learn to discern and think for yourself, certainly...
But learn from the best you can find!
Off to do just that -
Cheerios2U!
Dorko runs off, singing:
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"Welcome! Welcome! Sabbath morning...now we rest from every care! Welcome! Welcome! Is the dawning, Holy Sabbath day of prayer..."

Gerrr, baby

I did this on a whim. Looked at a blank piece of paper and picked this little feller out with a few strokes of a pen. Sooo... if I was following friend, DLAK's guidelines, this would be a "doodle" as it originally took me less than 5 minutes to sketch out.

I always have liked this critter and labeled him 'poo-chee', even though I'm not certain what he is. Hound? Fox? Coyote? Maybe I should've named him "Wiley"! Hehehee ~

Post script: {Partay @ Dorko's house! I just looked down at the stat counter and noticed I'm my own 5,000th visitor..... she shoots, she scores... latw!}

No way am I doing HNT, but ...

While there is no way am I participating in Half Nakid Thursdays, I'm amazed, amused and unabashedly entertained by those of you that are! I found this old sketch of Rachel McLish's legs. My brother, Rock, had a 'celebrity' crush on her back in the late 70's. She was all over the weightlifting magazines. (And I'm pretty sure, he would have like to have been all over her!) lol! Have fun with your half nakid thingie! Doh. That didn't sound quite right...

Running on...

Note to self: Hit the ground RUNNING in da morning!
I have appointments. School. Funding. Books. Orientations. (do I really need that?) Financial Aid! I'll be busy all day long.
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I have a class schedule, which includes as current, 2 classes I was previously waitlisted for. I will take that as a good sign and I'll be taking 15 credit hours - so no doubt, I'll be busy:
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Drawing 1
Intro to Graphic Design
Digital Imaging
Intro to Business
Business Communications
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I'm excited/scared. Been a while since I've been in classes. I have always wanted to pursue a career with an artistic base. Books and tuition will be taken care of so... great opportunity... just how to keep a roof over my head, utilities paid and food in the fridge that freaks me out a bit...?
Happy Wednesday to you all!
Dorko

I found my MOOD ring!

No kidding! I really did. It's in the bathroom right now. It's turning colors as we speak, 'cause I'm saving energy and NOT air conditioning 'The little freak's room' ! I apologize - that's what I used to call it in my youth, you know, about the same time in space, when I was sporting that ring! I found this on the net today:

Your Mood Ring is Purple

Sensual Clear mind Purpose is known

Mood Ring Generator

Go ahead, people give 'er a whirl and let me know what mood we caught YOU in...!?

Of Mice & Men...

Yesterday, it was during the last meeting of the day - for Sunday worship services, that I felt the most focused. My attentions were all over the subject being discussed! The talk was on Happiness. The teacher used many good stories and examples to illustrate the connecting gospel principles. (I was just reading some blogs and was reminded...) This is one story that was told... . ... about a little mouse being chased by a big cat and just as the situation looked the MOST dire, the mouse turned to squeak, and instead, a big "BARK-BARK-BARK" came out! The cat, confused (& maybe a little freaked out - ran away!) Hehehee. This is why it's good to learn another language! :) Ah, the gift of tongues! Don't you know?: Good, to the point, timely communication - can work miracles!?
Love & Cheerios2U all!
Dorko

Rolling Thunder...

Another kind of rolling thunder is passing by my way this week! I've counted at least 15 motorcycles in 30 minutes on a mini excursion into town yesterday. Come to think of it - I've been hearing riders rollin' by the house for, I'd say, 4 or 5 days now. Humm... Could it be STURGIS?

One google got my answer! Ride free, have some fun & be safe!!!

(Maybe next year... I'll have a "Kool-aide Stand" with loads of ice all ready to go!)

The Boys of Summer Compassion

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A remarkable day at the ball park in deed!
Heard the story on NPR this morning.
Click on the link and you can hear it too...
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5 minutes ago...

This way?












Or this way?
Which way do you like most?
And... Yes.
This is so 5 minutes ago!
Alekx wanted something "recent".
Mom wanted color.
I just finished this rendition of an idea I stole off a greeting card back in 1997.
I've been using the image/idea in training classes, (simple drawing - not this elabroate) I'd toss it up on a dry erase board before a class was to begin and then ask the participants what it was "saying" once all were settled in and class had begun.
Consider yourself settled in.
Class has begun.
What is it "saying" to you?
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Hehehee. . .
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Here's a Hint: axn28D+
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Love going out to ALL of YOU this weekend!
Cheerios!
Dorko

Thunder and Lightning!

- Cool as the water... meltin' from the winter snows... you are the island I been looking for.
I don't know where you come from, but I can feel you coming on...You're the storm inside my soul that's raging out of control.
- Call the wind out. Call out the thunder. O 0 Lightning - only you can will the weather... I said come on - Won't you come on? - Lightning your mine. Tonight, tonight... You caught me while I was sleepin' restin' from a heavy run. I saw you in your evening gown, you were lighting up the sky. No matter waht tomorrow brings - Lightning You're mine tonight. Woah, lightning your mine tonight...
- Crack the Horizon... only you can split the night, Then comes you mother cloud to take you away. Another wind will dry me, and the sun will make me warm, but to me my life will always be the calm before the storm...
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*sighs*
good old song, good old memories...
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I found this old haunt and thought I'd make 'light' of my nephews' fright (from the recent storm experiences) with it ... & who knows? This could be the culprit to alot of my frustrations this past 6 or 7 days!
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I decided to post art work on 'Fridays' and I am a picture or 2 behind on that decision! So why not post this now, even though the most recent storm the nephew endured was the 24th of July??? ...And even though it's not Friday, I missed last Friday...and so... well, there's another reason behind the tardiness of art postings & my wanting to throw this up at this time; I have not been able to POST! Not properly....! Or, ...telephone out, or, ...receive incoming calls, much less use the Fax machine - with any reliability, in over a week now!!! Grrr.
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My Aunt called earlier, and when I asked why the call, she jokingly said, "Well, I've decided to disown you..." I knew exactly what she was talking about. She'd (no doubt) been trying to telephone me for days now and she kept getting a busy signal... only I, likely, was not on the phone at all!!! My sister, the Queen of Panic!, alerted me to the possibility of a problem last Wednesday. She tried phoning ahead to me, via cel, and got a busy - then got here and found out that I - wasn't!? I had not touched the phone; it had not rung. Hrumph!
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So! I'm having to drive into town to give my complaint to the phone-service people. The guy comes out yesterday... I was fixin' on posting and all of a sudden 'No Server'... I discovered the phone van parked in the drive when I went for water. Yes. 'No Server' leaves me thirsty. So I go out into the 109 degrees to fish for wassssup? He gleefully tells me that he's found the problem! A surge protector dealie on the line "obviously did it's job, because it is fried!" <-(His exact words) & he said he'd have me going as soon as he checked the line. Yay! I happily returned to office here and started off-line work on photos from the 4th of July. Then, after all good business people have called it a day... I find out I still have no server. I can not e-mail those photos to anyone and I can not call to complain to anyone because... dun-dun-done!... I have no activity for phone line at all now!!! No squawk! No snap, crackle, pop! Heaven forbid I have an actual dial tone = oh, no! Nothing. I'm telling you zip, diddly-squat! (I was "disappointed" to say the least.)
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Drive into town this morning. As soon as I hit the door to the phone place, the guy who has been helping me? His desk phone rang. He took one look at me, looking at him and ... he reached for it! Hehehee. (sure. it's funny NOW!) and He made darn sure he stayed on that 'business call' the entire time I was in their shop. . . pretty convenient for him wouldn't you say??? lol! (Divine intervention?) :) .... on to the end, here; some other very nice people at the phone place, reassured me that someone would be out, to double check the 'problem' again. Anti-climactic end of story... "Travis" the field phone tech, who introduced himself this time - did, in fact get things going this afternoon... ah. The sweet relief of a problem solved!
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And now I hear Thunder and see some Lightning galloping in... along with the feel of those sweet, cool breezes! Reminds me of that old REOSpeedwagon song... Lightning, which was, after all the inspiration for the art... also reminds me of the good senses the great God of Heaven hath given to me, along with his commands... let those with ears to hear - hear... let those with eyes to see - see, and oh! The messages of love He's inscribed upon my heart... to feel! Humbles me to know that the master of all creation has carved me into the palm of his hand, and holds me there, through every adversity...large or small...
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Cheerios2U all!
(Here's to an 'amp-ing good' weekend ahead!)