Looks like I better be looking...NOW!

Ah what a day!

Woke up sick (feeling better now, thanks!), the glorious, spring temps & weather are helping that, but..., just a little bit ago... (2 hours - maybe?) I was 'served' with an eviction notice.

Not because I've been a bad renter, mind you - not at all.

It's because the property owners want to sell - and I occupy the house.
'The house' is the best asset on the property, which would be most reasonably subjected to a quick renovation for said owner(s) to spruce up to get the property ready to sell out at the best, optimal price point -or- for one of them to take possession of.

I've got 2 options.
One realistic, and one fanciful.
Realistic option is: find a 'new place' pronto & quickly move out... so... (guess you all know what I will be doing these next 4 weeks! Packing up and apartment hunting!)

One thing is certain:
This shall be
A memorible 'leap day' for me, for sure!
.
.
.
OH! I almost forgot,
Fanciful option: Win the lottery, and buy the flippin' property for myself, and use it to make a few other dreams come true!!!
lol...
I'm off to check the local classified ads for 'rentals'...

Cheerios2 all of you - Have a great weekend!

Motivational Theory

I found this cartoon while searching the internet for info...

Class tonight.

I thought the teacher announced at the end of the last group project that there'd be no more group projects??? (yup. I typed that with a bit of whine running in m' fingers.)

Now... here I am working with others on yet another...group project.

(At least all the 'others' are guys. I'm the sole girl in the group, so maybe I should take back the whine and enjoy - A?)

Our topic: Motivational Theory.

(Hence the cartoon, I found - Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

So far we've decided to go with a brief opening in what it is, note some adaptations of theory not mentioned in our text books, then start tying everything back to practicle application in the workplace.

"Z" is taking it back to goal setting and employee recognition programs

"J" is looking into the positive and negative impacts MT may have on creativity and innovation

"D" [me!] is looking into the art of persuation, the diversity challenge and pulling out an assessment (to use as a handout for our presentation) along the lines of "What motivates YOU?"

(not alot can constructively happen until we know the answer to that question people!)

"B" was 'absent' tonight - so we're waiting with baited breath for his imput now...

So tell me... what DOES motivate you? =)

News:it's gonna be a boy (maybe)

I have not posted any meaningful updates for a while now.
I thought it was about time to do some catch-ups.
The big news at Christmas time in my family was that my brother and his wife are expecting another baby - due sometime in June.
The big news this month is that they've had an ultra sound and it is lookin' like a boy! yea!
That would mean that I am 5 out of 6 right in correct gender guessing my nieces and nephews - those that I could guess on anyways. The little hummingbird, came to us in a 2fer deal when her Momma married the Rock. ... and so the only one I have guessed wrong on so far, has been her baby sister (the one that just celebrated her 2nd birthday, end of January) - I was saying a boy for her as well. =)
I made a little neckless for her for Valentine's day and a Pin for her older sister. Those 2 really seemed to like them. Made me happy when they put them right on... even happier when, I tried to get the little one to give the neckless back, so I could look at one of the charms I'd put on it and she dodged me, with a shy smile and doubter's look - not wanting to relinquish the new trinket - at all.
Hehehee.
Love them kids.
Love those I teach in Sunday school too.
Yesterday, I had them set up an obsticle course then I made them say their prayers, just before and I blindfolded the lot of them!
Heheehee. I rather liked tying them up!
Then I sent them through the obsticle course they just made.
They were supposed to listen to me to be able to make it through - unscathed. (as you can well imagine some were better at this than others!)
I got 2 of them through everything then stopped and told them all the game was changing. That they were still going to have to listen only to me to make it through, but that the other 2 were gonna be telling them to do stuff to... only I wasn't gonna be talking as loud as they were.
Yep.
It got rather interesting at that point.
=)
and...
yes.
I eventually untied all of the children (de-blindfolded them) and we read some stories out of the scriptures.
We do a game with that too, every time I stop reading they have to say the next thing, and every time 'God' or 'Jesus' is speaking to someone - that's their part too.
I had to supress a laugh the first time I planned this out with them, and all the boys in the class responded by dropping their vioces down to as deep a pitch as what they possibly could to read those parts... lol! Kids!
;-)

Love Is ... Inscribed

There we have it.
I week's worth of 'Love Is...' posts to honor what love really is, and to mark Valentine's Day... which to me, and from what I know of it's origin, is an extention of what I posted of at Christmas time: The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of pure love.
'We', as in the collective, societal 'we' have 1st endeavored to celebrate Valentine's Day in tribute to a saint's reciprocal, altruistic, pure love - given without thought of personal gain, because he had 1st been transformed by a spirit of pure love in his life and was 'playing it forward'.
He was a condemed man and yet... his chairity (pure love) lives on - every February the 14th.
Whether you know the original story of Valentine's day, or not -
even those that would 'play' at love,
tip their hearts this way,
His way,
on Valentine's day.
ViVa Love!

Love Is ... Heartsong

Who doesn't have certain songs that remind them of special loves and those affairs that played out into that particular relationship or romance?
I remember trying to console an old roommate once upon a long time ago - (it was a 3's compnay situation, 1 Dorko co-habitating with a Bevus and a Butthead...) - anywho...
I said to the Butthead, "Here, let me put on some music! It'll help you to forget about that little old broken heart of yours... "
I'd go to pull out a CD...
"No!" He'd say,"That one reminds me of (insert random girl name here)."
I'd say, "er,... ok... we'll put on this one." (pulling out another CD)
"No!" He'd say, "That one reminds me of (insert randome girl name here)."
This little game went 6 or 7 rounds.
Who knew Butthead was such a romeo?
I finally settled on a brand new release, which, yes, reminded him of the current heartbreaker!
*sighs*
(yeah. I gave up trying to cheer up the Butthead)
When I'm not dating, I listen to the classical stations... something I never do with a "date".
I find it's great background music to whatever I'm doing at home and there's no lovelorn reminders sown into it, for me.
.
Still, like my 'Butthead' friend, I have quite the collection of songs - which remind me of special people.
.
What about you?

Love Is... A Moment...

... that lasts forever.

We 'forget' a multitude of things over the course of our life times, yet we will always remember, (and cherish!) those special times when we felt the 'love.'

Love Is... Kind

I found this on an image serch and happily saw it was part of a "slide show" set up.

You can see it here: Love

Love is...

Love is ... messy!

(butt... only if you're doin' it righ)

Origami Heart - Wiki How to

This was an interesting tutorial... on how to make an origami heart

Love is...

Love is... daring!
(maybe they're just holding on to each other for dear life!!!)
;-)

Cherry Nut Bars

My Father used to love this recipe...
I made it for yesterday's Pot Luck @ church.
The stake Patriarch told me that he really liked it!
So... while I'm fixin' on mailing him out a copy I thought I'd throw it up here too.
These things are 'OH MY GOLLY' good...

Cherry Nut Bars Preheat oven to 350°
Ingredients:
1- packaged white cake mix
2- egg whites
H2O
Salad oil
1- jar maraschino cherries
chopped walnuts

Assemble ingredients, in a large mixing bowl in the following amounts and order:

2 Egg whites – slightly beaten
2 T Maraschino Cherry juice
6 T H2O
4 T Oil
1 pkg White Cake Mix
Mixture will be thick; mix thoroughly and stir in:
½ C drained, chopped maraschino cherries
½ C sparsely chopped walnuts

Spray 9x13” pan with cooking spray and pour in batter – spread out to edges of pan. Bake in a regular oven at 350°, for 15-20 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test.

Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
(you will have icing left over – this makes enough for a double recipe of Cherry Nut Bars)

1 stick (room temp) butter
1 8 oz (room temp) brick of cream cheese
Cream together with electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add:
2 lb powder sugar
2 pinches of salt
2-4 T maraschino cherry juice to moisten while mixing

If frosting doesn’t seem fluffy enough add 2-3 generous spoons of Crisco for structure and volume – be sure to thoroughly mix this in and add:
1 generous tsp. of vanilla just before finishing mixing

Note: There is usually more than ½ C maraschino cherries in a jar – I disregard the ½ C measurement and use them all in the bars. You could follow suit, or, use the extras to top off the frosting along with a sprinkling of finely chopped walnuts.

Love is.... Lonely

Today would have been my Father's 30 wedding anniversary... had he lived to realize it.
Today my thoughts are with him, in spirit, and with the sweethearts that he left behind...

Wiki-"How To" of the Day: Romance Tutorial

How To Be Romantic
What "being romantic" means varies widely from person to person, but at its core, romance involves doing something to express affection in a meaningful yet unexpected way. A true act of romance requires creativity and sincerity, often inspired by love (either its presence or its possibility). While harboring affection for someone might be easy, translating it into romance usually is not. There are millions of romantic ideas in books, movies and on the Internet, but true romance comes from within. Here's how to get in touch with your inner romantic.
Read more... here

Real Love...

"Real love is always fated.

It has been arranged before time.

It is the most meticulously prepared of coincidences.

And fate, of course, is simply a secular term for the will of God, and coincidence for His grace."

Joshua Harris ~

Human Key Holders

Looky What you can get your sweetheart for Valentine's day... a nice gift for just under $25...

by Wrapables (From$24.95)

You'll never lose your keys again with these Human Key...

Holders mounted to the wall. These holders come in either His or Hers and with another key that's used to attach your house keys. Simply attach your keys to the key provided, and insert the key into the male or female forms.

This product was shortlisted for the 2003 Peugeot Design Awards.

A Shot at Perfect...

No.

No big Superbowl party plans.

I just thought I'd weigh in on who I'd be rooting for.

I don't sit down to watch many football games on TV.

I've tuned into local coverage of the High School's games when they've gone to state... it is my alma-mater, after all, and amazingly, they've had nearly perfect records for the last 5 seasons or so. (heartbreakingly - loosing the last match for state champs, in the last minute of the game - 4th and goal - one of the opponet's deffenders managed to trip up the QB. oooou. grimace/smile) They play tight, and tough, but fair.

Since the Patriots have managed to keep their heads into each moment of each game thus far - and avoid the pitfalls that sometimes plague the overly confident... I'd like to see them take it all the way HOME.

A Looooooooong time ago I "knew" a little feller from the great state of Maine.

His name was Lucus.

He was fan-natical over the Patriots - they were his team, he'd leave no doubt about it when ever there was a match up with them in it.

So, I guess, by way of transference; since I've always carried a soft spot in my heart for that Lucus, (friend of mine!) I've also been inclined to cheer on those Pates!

Chalk it up to wanting to see something perfect manafest, everyonce in a while, in this imperfect world...

or...

Blame it on "Lucus"...zeal!

Whatever,

I'm rooting for the Patriots!

Go team, go!

Fractal Heart...

From a 'Fractal' Art gallery... see here.

Artist Paul DeCelle has one facinating web site check it out, it'll blow your mind...