Peek-a-Boo...

Thought I'd look in on the old blog just to see if anything was going on... and maybe leave an update. I am looking forward to visiting you all after the semester starts... I definately have some catching up to do! =)
I'll be adjusting to this crazy schedule with the work I'm doing right now - just in time for it to end, and for me, to start school up again.
If I happen to be in town, at the paper tomorrow, (it may end up that way depending on how much work I get done for them tonight!?) I'll up date some art here... if not I promise, come Monday afternoon - updates.
Big smile and warm wishes for any and all who pass this way...
Hugs,
D ~

Whew! Hot Hot Hot Summer....

We like a little heat in our summers, now don't we?
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I'll let ya'll wonder if I'm 'just' talking about the weather... or... not? (heh)
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School will have to start for me to get a break in the action out here on the Prairielands.
I'm working here and here and while I'm not actually working at this place, I am working with these people...
There's a link to a recent, local news release, related to economic development, the center for enterprise, main-street development and this 21CSI on their Web Page (I'm being told that is scheduled for an up date in the near future)...
I'm enjoying a VERY minor roll in (human) resource development with the 21CSI people... hoping all goes well - would love to find a way to build and continue rather than work myself out of a great job... however... it'll be what it'll be, my focus right now is on the present.
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Reminds me of that old quote I love so well:
Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
Today is a Gift -
That's why we call it 'the Present'
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I promise to post an update on my drawings soon...
Just gotta make the rent ...and um, 'grab a little summer gusto' fer m'self while the getting's good! lol! ;-)
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Cheerios to all who pass this way...
D~

FARTS and GARTS

A couple up dates on the drawings I've been working. These are not the final versions by any means. At this stage, at least here in Blog-land, they are still WIP (works in progress).
The file association 'fartsandgarts' is a play off a specific password to a specific program I've used at the collage... 'garts' representing graphic arts and smarty pants me, thinking, "Well then, the Fine Arts would be..." ahem. Yes. ;)
So as not to get all 'diatribee' on you - I'll just skip to the latest thought: that I could check my freehand progress and perspectives through layers and opacities plus add interest in background - quickly - by scanning and then blending the 2 disciplines together.
This 1st image at the left is a Hack version of what I'm toying with.
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Here's one other... looks like just the underdrawing I thought I had a few more in the bag with me today. My appologies to that special one of you who'd sent your darlings my way! I wish I would have jumped the lastest versions on to the drive for down load today - and I thought I had! The old brain must have subcomed to the heat... or should I blame humidity?
I have been busy-busy and most of these are complete or near complete in my sketchbook at home. Maybe I can manage another post before week's end....? I don't know if I'll be able to get that done. I am researching the biblical principle of "Unity" this week. I have to give a talk, you see. I've been called/asked to talk on that topic in next Sunday's Sacrament Meeting. I knew, in advance (through the spirit) that I'd be giving a talk soon - I just wasn't sure about the theme. I should have been able to guess, though. Seems like the Spirit always calls us to expound (and expand? ...ourselves, perhaps?) upon the very issues we're currently in need of reviewing.
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Hope all your flowers are blooming brightly!
... and all ye children are of one accord....
Love.
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and
Hugs,
D.~

Hellllloo!?

Long time no write I know...
I've been doing some good work in my sketch pad.
Now... just how to get all that transferred over to here.
;)

Hope you're all enjoying your summer.
Saw the first flashes of Fireflies just this past week...

(Sigh)
LOVE Summertime!

Hugs,
D~

Great disconnect...

This is the last post from the old home base for awhile.
Students, especially non-trad - just have to pinch pennies where ever possible to attain their (academic and various other) goals sometimes.
So-long internet access.
Don't fret.
I'll be around.....
;)

Now if I just had some capital...lol

You Are a Visionary Soul

You are a curious person, always in a state of awareness. Connected to all things spiritual, you are very connected to your soul. You are wise and bright: able to reason and be reasonable. Occasionally, you get quite depressed and have dark feelings. You have great vision and can be very insightful. In fact, you are often profound in a way that surprises yourself. Visionary souls like you can be the best type of friend. You are intuitive, understanding, sympathetic, and a good healer. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

A Fable...

We talked about 'free agency' (or some might know this principle as 'free will') in church today - I discussed it with the youth in back tracking to Joshua's great call to action "Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve..." scripture... and the matter of "choice" moved forward with us into the book of Judges (which was today's lesson).
In the 3rd hour meeting the ladies again, gathered to discuss this topic from the back drop of a general conference talk titled: To Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency, by Elder Rober D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
As I listened to the 'sisters' participating in that last meeting of the day - adding their thoughts and feelings to the lesson... I thought of how marvelous, and still rare a blessing it is - even in our modern society - that women can so freely express themselves. Given the fact that for centuries my ilk have been counted as property, chattle, suppressed and oppressed and to this very day held captive in many sectors of the world by the evil designs of conspiring men....
Even in 2006 -America the beautiful - women are wise to be cautious with whom they associate and aline themselves... an unwise choice of companionship can seriously comprimise a woman's opportunity to have her voice heard - and the horrid reality is that sometimes we are silenced completely.
I thought about this tale I'd just recieve in my e-mail this morn from a less active member of my church and I relayed it to the Sisters. It's a good story. I thought I'd post it here for you to read and ponder as well.............

Leave your thoughts for me after you've read it through? =)

A Fable From the Round Table…

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
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The question?....What do women really want?
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Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end.
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He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.
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Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer.
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But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.
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The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first.
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The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend!
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Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.
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He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table.
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Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life.
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Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared.
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And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.
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The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half.
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Which would he prefer: Beautiful during the day....or night?
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Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day - a beautiful woman to show off to his friends. But at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch (?) Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments?
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What would YOU do?
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Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.
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Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.
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Now....what is the moral to this story?

The moral is.....

Thankful..

I got this e-mail from a school friend today... they've been trying to figure out how to e-mail me since semester ended, bless their heart! I guess they finally figured it all out! lol! :D

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFEWHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBANDWHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart! <-(AND MEAN IT, WHEN YOU SAY IT!!!)

Small workings...

So!
Another hour or so into it. For a total of ??? (I didn't keep very good track of how long it took to get the "under-drawing" done) I'm figuring that I'm 2-3 hours along on this drawing at this point.
You can see by comparing it to the last post that I did a little more work to the left eye, beard & 'skin'. As always I've scaled these so the page will load quicker - however if you care to click directly on the picture itself - you can zoom in quite a bit. (I'm rather happy with that eye so far... I'm going to have to rework the other one quite a bit to match up!)
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Here's a preliminary under-drawing for yet another 'practice' portrait I just started tonight. =)
Might be kinda fun to document how these things progress, I guess.
Hope everyone's week is progressing nicely!
Cheerios2U!
D.~

?

Mom (my Mom - not 'Mom that's nuts', although mine certainly is suspect... ) seems to think I can pick up some extra bucks doing portraiture for people. She called me up the other day and said that a friend of a friend had a photo of someone special that's passed and they wanted something special done with it - I'd certainly like to give it a shot.
I'm all about working hard this summer so that I'm in fairly good shape to meet my goals come fall and spring '07.
Thing is I sux at portraits. Maybe it's just that I'm so unpracticed at them... I've not really studied the mechanics of it in depth and I've serious doubts about my abilities to 'capture' someone's essence on the page. (Queenofpanic! is surprisingly good at being able to do that!)
Here's a start at a practice portraiture: ... I'll throw this one up in bits like I did the still life from last winter... this particular scan has maybe an hour - maybe two, of work into it.
As you can see I'm all over the place on a portrait, no methodical left to right disciplines here... whaddayathink?
Should I finish this one off .....?
or...
...... mark it with a 'B' for Bad and head on back to the drawing board..........???
Inquiring minds want to know, now.
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L-8-R!
D.~

On Giving...

Charity = Pure Love.
More succinctly, Charity = the pure love of Christ.
Here's an excerpt from a favorite book, PURE LOVE - Readings on Sixteen Enduring Virtues - Selected, with Reflections, by Marilyn Arnold. This selection is from the chapter titled, Charity Seeketh Not Her Own:

T H E R E . A R E . T W O . SE A S

There are two seas in Palestine.

One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it, and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.

Along its shores the children play, as children played when He was there. He loved it. He could look across its sliver surface when He spoke His parables. And on a rolling plain not far away He fed five thousand people.

The river Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.

The river Jordan flows on south into another sea.

Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above the waters, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.

What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas?

Not the river Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the country round about.

This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.

The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously.

It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.

The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named The Dead.

There are two kinds of people in the world.

There are two seas in Palestine.

WHY Weave a Web?

I got this joke from my friend, Helen - a 70+ something, retired school teacher....

Helen: "Why do spiders weave webs?"

Me: "I don't know, if figure it's to catch their prey."

Helen: "It's because they don't know how to knit or crochet."

LOL!
An old lady joke to be sure - I wasn't expecting it from the Helen - which of course, made it all the funnier!

Wishing all a Happy Mother's Day!
- Do something good, and nice for the women you love - like, um, tell them that you do!!!

Much love flowing out to all of you,
Hugssss,
D.~

Woman's day off...

I laugh about this. .. .. ... as if! - EVER!?
lol.
The "Hayfield" has been mown so it more closely resembles a lawn again.
Loose limbs & twigs have been stacked by the trash bin.
The plants have all been watered.
Kitty's box is clean and fresh.
Fluid levels in the car have been checked, topped off, and in the case of the oil found to be a bit dirty... however, I can't manage an oil change just yet, so back on the list to wait for another day.
Trash containers have all been emptied, relined and trash has been taken out to the bin.
The laundry has been washed, dried, folded and is in the process of being put away...
The dishes are all done up - the kitchen is picked up and in decent shape.
I just came back from cleaning the church so check yet another thing of the Saturday to do list.
Phone calls have all been returned.
Still need:
I got to make more phone calls to set up some visting teaching appointments
Vacuuming
a Quick scrub down in the bathroom
Make up that order of cup-cakes for my friend, Tara*
Make up that ruhbarb cake for tomorrow afternoon's social*
Distribute all those Mother's Day cards I've bought/made
Study tomorrow's lesson I'll be sharing with the youth
Work on some pencil sketches to post here, on Blogger :P
-and even though it's a bit late - it's still not too late - so...
Map out how I want my garden to be growing this season - so that by the close of Monday night I will have gotten it into the ground!
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*(Sigh. More dishes.)

Straight As!

No.
This is not a continuation of Monday's post
lol!
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Yes.
This is me being a shameless braggert.
I got grade 'A's posted-up for my academic efforts this semester, all classes except for - doing the Math... and that was an A+. (Cool Beans, huh?!)
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Yes!!!
I'm happy about all of that.
I'd been doing the Math all over my world. It pays to do a regular inventory, don't you think?
Some things add up and somethings just don't... what's the mathematical term for that? They don't agree, I believe that's it. And of course any thing following after a recorded error, just gets worse - especially if you don't recognize and reconcile the root problem. One thing the single life style has taught me is- never trust someone other, checking over your figures to be true - must less accurate in their assessments. While it's nice to have the help, don't be mislead! You should always know for yourself - what your running balance is and ought to be. You GOT to do that for yourself. It's your responsibility and of course, you pay a price anytime you neglect those. Got to be diligent. Got to also be true and honest in your dealings with others, too - there should be no exceptions to this rule...
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I just re-read all that - bla-bla-bla! lol.
Told you all I'd be working EXTREMELY hard - when I committed to doing this.
Ah! A 'Pursuit of Excellence'! I'm on a good trek and I'm beginning to reap some rewards -=)
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I might still take a summer class... I'd better decide soon!
The real focus though, is to continue to work-out, and work smart, at a job or 3 - put myself into good position going into semester 3!
Yes.
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Got to go ... It was 1/2 past bed time when I started this post - doh!
Cheerios 2U!
D~

Today's lesson...

"I Cannot Go Beyond the Word of the Lord"
Numbers 22-24; 31: 1-16

Think about these statements and the type of person who would make them:

"If [the king] would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God" (Numbers 22:18)

"All that the Lord Speaketh, that I must do" (Numbers 23:26)

"I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak" (Numbers 24:13)

My Sunday school youths came up with these qualities: Righteous, God-loving, God-fearing [yep. had a little clairification talk on that one] and Obedient.

I explained that these were the words of a man named Balaam, who professed strict obedience, but, in his heart desired eathly rewards and honors. Basically that "...their lips draw near unto me...but ...their hearts are far from me..." thang. (see Isaiah 29:13) I asked the youth, "Who is it that knows your hearts - ?" (They all seemed to have an answer for that one, too - God.)
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I further explained that this is the old testiment story with the account of where the guy's donkey actually talks to him....
"Like Shrek!?"- someone immediately offered. =) LOL! Man, I love these kids!
"Ok. Like Shrek and DON-key." I replied - in a terrible accent. I sux at sound effects and accents.
"Have you ever had an animal, maybe a pet you're close to, talk to you?" - I continued, trying to work in the lesson points and stay on task...
"My parakeet!", someone said.
"NO!" said a bunch of others.
Someone brought up America's Funniest Home Videos and the talking doggie they saw there, um, ok, that may have been me. . . sometimes I digress.
"So," I probe on... "Why do you think the guy's DON-key talked back to him?"
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(I just LOVED this!)
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(Cracked me UP, now!)
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"Because she was an ASS!" - Chimed a voice from the back row. (God love that back row!)
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O.
MY.
GOLLY.
I HAD to keep my composure as the teach, right? Forget about it - who can't chuckle over that one??? If you was ever gonna try to get away with saying something like that, outloud, in Sunday school class, and NOT get reprimanded for it, because, well, you'd be RIGHT! - THAT, Ladies and Gentlemen, was your shining 'moment'. Funnee, huh? :D

We discussed the main points of the lesson - that while Balaam had sought the will of the Lord and was clearly instructed - Balaam was tempted by the king's offer and inquired of the Lord a 2nd time (as if - God's gonna change His mind on what's the best course of action for Balaam to take!? Lot of correlations to parent/child relationships on that point - then I jumped to the end - because we generally have a tough time getting to the end of our lesson plans, on any given Sunday, with this sharp little group -lol! I asked if any knew Balaam's ultimate fate? - Then I reminded them that if we continue to push our boundry lines with the Lord, knowing full well what He has already commanded - He will, in fact, recognize our free agency and allow us to choose for ourselves, often to our own loss and or utter destruction. They were listening and participating - this was very good.)
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It got even better, when I had a couple of the students I figured would be the best at maintaining reverance, read the scriptorial account of this unique biblical event. (Numbers 22:22-35) Because, it does sound funny, reading it all out loud in Sunday school. That word 'ass' coming up repeatedly - most especially when we see that the 'ass', a 'she-ass', btw, (dumb animal) sees what the [quote] "MASTER" [end quote] (smart man?! <-yes. questionable by this point in the story.) does not see!
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Maybe you just had to be there. We had a good time and when they quieted down they were ready to listen, to ponder and to feel after the spirit and not just the letter of the law. I love feeling that good spirit with them.
God Bless them, one and all!
I pray those favors for you and I as well.
Amen and amen.

Welcome, welcome...

"Welcome, welcome Sabbath morning - now we rest from every care... "
*sighs* The Hymns. I love the Hymns ... that's the opening line in one we sing in my church from time to time.
I rang in the morning down at the river. How glorious to sit still and know ... God.
To hear, and see, and smell, and almost taste his creation come awake and alive - vibrant - at the Sun's rise!
A sure metaphor, in my mind's eye, correlating to His Son's rise - the sweet victory of light over darkness... Resurrection and restoration over the sting of death and decay... freedom from the bondage and wages of sins.... etc... etc... etc... Today is a day that the Lord God made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

(2)
=) D.~
PS: I found this lovely, copyrighted photo, at http://photohome.com/index.html being both a student and a teacher I thought I should follow proper protocol and give due credit to the site and the photographer, Allen Matheson - I liked this shot by Mr. Matheson because it reminded me of what my experience was - this morning.
Top of the morning and everything good to you, this day, and al'way.....

Trippy Skys - There is no place like Nebraska...

Howdy friends an neighbors,
I got these great photos from a friend in AZ of all places!
(Burfica over at Don't Eat the Tomatoes e-mailed them to me.) I thought they were pretty neato.
Dramatic skys + they brought back great memories - I lived in Hastings - I walked around the Heartwell Park area every morning for it's beauty and my excercise.
Kudos to 'Jorn Olsen' - for getting the shots - How many times have we all wished we'd have brought along our cameras?
Have a Happy Weekend!
_______________________________
Ever see anything like this?
Jorn Olsen works for the Dutton-Lainson Co. in Hastings, Nebraska, lives by Heartwell Park next to Hastings College and took these photos.
The stadium lights are at the Hastings College stadium just east of his home.
The clouds are called Mammatus clouds.
They are quite rare, but really beautiful.
They do not precede a tornado, or foretell a storm, but are formed when the air is already saturated with rain droplets and/or ice crystals and begins to sink.
The worst of the storm is usually over when these kinds of clouds are seen.

RandomTandems

Work. =) God Love it!
Everything is boiling down to these scant few, (yet really big) assignments due Tuesday and Wednesday, along with my finals in 4 different subjects.
Work is 1/2 keeping me from being a total wreck with nerves right now.
I had to 'abandon' my studies and split shift at the dorm's cafeteria Saturday.
I've really enjoyed working there this semester. (Last fall was another story - but I won't go there now!)
One of my co-workers mentioned that they're fairly skilled at proof reading so I brought my newly tweaked resume in for them to look over. I have some jaggies in paragraph alinement that need to be straightened up. ... and I thought I should reword the flow in one of my objectives ... other than that, I'm good to go with it. Matter of fact they told me I could just make a living out of writing up people's resumes - they liked mine so much. <- (I thought that was a very nice compliment.) Bright and early this morning I got the call back on a position I'm extremely interested in! So setting up a time to discuss graphic design with an honest to goodness *potential* employer! Yea! About a year and a half - 2 years ago I took abunch of testing for a government position as a 'TSA' - which I passed yet, somehow, I missed the 2nd phase in that process. They've contacted me again and I've yards and yards of paperwork to resubmit, but I'm darn sure going for it... as you never know what direction the good Lord is going to open up for you next... AND... I'm being considered for another position which will require a top secret clearance, so, might as well get myself broke in to doing yards and yards of paperwork right along with getting my references, work and residence histories in spit shined order. SO. Maybe I'll stick my head outside today and take a whiff of that clean, prairie air - just refreshed by a sweet little sunshower this am. Maybe I will. As a break from the papers. Before I have to go to my appointments... and my other work, this afternoon.
lol. =)
*sheesh!*
Happy Monday 2All!

Cleaning out...

Love quote of the day:

He is not a lover who does not love forever
-- Euripides

I've been cleaning out some 'old stuff' I've had hanging around for a year or so now.

Once upon a time ago, I'd high, maybe even 'forever' hopes for it.

But.

You know what they say about time - it tells!
And shit smells -
and that's a fact, Jack.

I think old Euripides is spot on with his time table - one sure fire way to separate out the pure heart from the pretender izzant it?

Did it? Will it? Does it - stand the test of time?

Business Math

Easiest course of the entire semester.
Last classroom session & testing were this morning.
I didn't get any sleep last night...
I think I ran into a wicked batch of chiggers cutting across the green zones from parking lots to classrooms.
I was up at 4am googling for remedies!
Still... I passed the semester in this class with a 99%.
I'm estatic about that, as I'd missed a test, back in February.
(I was mind-numbingly sick, so I didn't call the Teach. in advance of my absence. I just laid-in that moring, waiting to die.)
Then I find out - The teacher's policy: no make up tests!
She did provide "bonus" work for those wanting to improve their GPAs.
I did every one of those dang bonus assignments.
What a deal.
Miss one whole test and I still made it to one tick off of 100%.
I'm way happy right now.
{BEAM!} =)
Ok.
I got the tough classes to study for now and 3 labor intensive "final projects" to sweat out.
I got resumes to get out, too.
Luckily, I' ve just a few scant updates to add to what I've already got there.
(I will not have a job past May 4, unless someone hires me real quick!)
Head up - armed and ready...
Here I go again.

dP- back2basic design

I went back to the basics.
I RARELY, if ever sign my work with my full name.
I have always used my initials.
I've signed art pieces this way for over 30 years now.
This reverse logo sizes nicely and is as easily recognized at a miniscule size, 1/4 inch or less.
Looks just as well (I think) at full page size.

The one with the rainbow gradients doesn't size down as well.
But -
I like the little bit of pizzaz those gradients give it.
.
God has given me various blessing over the years.
One of the best was the bow he hung in a cloudless, pure, blue sky - the day I was baptised, full emersion, in his Son's name. Let me know 3 things that day:
1 - He keeps His promises. (I've been lied to alot.)
and
2 - He was well pleased with my entry into His kingdom through that watery gate.
and
3 - So long as the children of men will exercise their faith, miracles will never cease. (I, for one, am Hap-hap-happy 'bout that!)
.
P.S.: If you are interested, I edited the 'Snitch in Time' post below. You can grab a print from the jpeg - if you want it.
=) Cheerios2U!

A Snitch in Time

*Edit: I jumped a version compatible to blogger. Just look at that variance in RGB (color mode!) from a jpeg to a scanned printing. Quite a bit of compromise in quality, isn't there?
Feel free, btw to copy / print the cleaner version here. You might change color mode to CMYK before you print, but then again, you might not. ;) Cheerios, people!
.
The assignment: Create a clock using Adobe Illustrator program. Illustrator has a 3D tool that we were also instructed to apply to the design.

I apologize for the image quality here. I forgot to jump a version out of .ai and into another file assignment compatible with Blogger. So I scanned the test print I brought home with me and we see here a little dithering around the halos. I got those cool things using something called the sparks tool. I also hand drew the key line, which was a nice after thought, that I intend to keep- on the saved version at the Mac Lab.

I took my inspiration from where we 'get time' in the first place. Time as we know it, being derived from the movements of the cosmosphere. Circles & Sphere's being my favorite shapes... I felt I should give it a feeling of movement. And, it needed wings so it could fly - like my time so often does. That's what I used the 3D extruder on, btw, wings. I liked the effect I got out of it. I alos fell in love with those halos. An amazing effect, thankyou sparks tool. I know this scan doesn't do them justice. Trust me. behind the black face, is a gleaming orb, as brilliant as our own dear sun. This thing originally started as an abstracted pull from JKRowling's Snitches. The fast flying orb in Harry Potter's Quibbage matches. They're so fanciful, elusive, and highly prized. (Worth 150 points whom ever catches the snitch wins the game for their house.) I added the black face because I wanted the time (lines & circle markers) to show up better. I wanted to give the face numbers, but then numbers are limiting - aren't they? And, well, your time is not my time is not their time is not THE time etc... I didn't want to put any limiting factors on this time piece, rather I wanted it to feel expansive.

I played a little, to try to get rid of the dithers, something which goes away almost entirely when you use a dutone filter like "old photo". I liked this effect so I saved a version of it too.

May time forever be on your side, my friends!
Love and (fierce) Hugs,
D.~

(It's Friday. Time is always shorter than what we think it is. Who doesn't want a fierce hug?)

Adobe - PE2

We got to play with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, today in Desktop Publishing class. =)

Holy Mother of Pearl, Batman, I think I'm gonna name this one "Splatter"!

Li'l Scavengers

Nice.
Big time nice.
Seriously.
I couldn't have asked for - nor planned, a better Easter day than yesterday.

Mild temperature - almost hot towards the late afternoon.
Everybody came to my house.

I declared pot-luck so we all shared in the joy of bringing something to the table.

Favorite family members gathered around, (including that new baby!).
EVERYone getting along well, enjoying each other's company.
And the kids? Perfect blends of courtesy, curiosity, and cuteness!

I wanted to give my niece a set of those story eggs I blogged about last Easter. I didn't have time, with all the other preparations, to gather everything together for them. Then I thought, "Why not make a game out of it with the kids?" soooo that's exactly what we did! And they really seemed to enjoy the scavenger hunt with me.
That's 'our scavenger list' I've thrown up here, as my reminder, and now, memento, of some of what we did together, yesterday.
Of course, it was during the outdoor portion of this scavenger hunt that my nephew insisted upon introducing me and his little cousin, to a newly captured snake and lizard he and his elder brother had plans in taking back to Minnesota. The reptiles were comfortably confined to plastic containers, thoughtfully arranged with habitat, and stashed under the pine tree windbreak bordering the northern side of the house. I reckon they were about as 'nice' a snake and lizard couple as one could find in the wilds of Nebraska. =)
Once we'd found all the things to go inside the dozen Easter eggs I signed the inside of the carton and asked every one else to sign it too. I wanted the little one to have a keepsake to cart home with her. Then I suggested they look inside the eggs once more, as I read to all, the "story", which goes with them.
After that, my sister boiled up some eggs and set up a couple coloring stations at my table with papercups and cupcake tins to keep them from tipping over. <-(an ingenious grandma suggestion!) They had the best time doing that!
Then when their handiwork was dried and pass around for all to see, it was out to the side yards to play that old hide-n-seek game with the artsy eggs. They went a couple of rounds with my sister and brother - in - law attending.
I don't know if the queenofpanic! ever dug up any of those flowers she'd talked to me about? This place, being origially our grandmothers', I kinda thought she should take any and all that she wants. Someday they'll sell it off. "First one to come up with the money"- is what my Uncle says, because managing it just gets to be too much after so many years accumulation of responsibilities and difficulties. I rent the place from my Mom and her siblings.
I was rocking a sweet little baby to sleep while the hunt for bright eggs was on. I swiped my sister's camera and popped off some photos of the kids. Hope those turn out. I'd just love to do a pencil profile of that baby and image it with her sister, too.

...

=)

Click on the picture ^ for a more traditional Easter sentiment from me 2U!

Good Friday Thoughts…

Cognitive Dissonance is a term used in psychology when something is not ringing ‘true’.

I ran across the term, again, last week while preparing a persuasive speaking assignment, for a business communications class. (it’s been a couple years now, but I did, truly, love my Psychology 101 class!) My topic was on Organization. The pursuasion would be for turning chaos to calm. I found boo-coo information by googling those key words. I drew a lot of my supporting informatin from, lifeorganizers.com, which listed '5 Rules for Life Organization'. Rule # 4, the one that brought this term back to my rememberance - hit home with me. It said:

• Your life should be consistent in make up
• What’s called “Cognitive Dissonanceâ€� in psychology, can be a bad thing if you don't recognize it for what it is and take action to resolve the dissonance.
• Example - If you're living somewhere that you don't want to live, with someone that you don't want to live with, doing something you don't want to do - well do you need to go any farther to find out why you feel miserable most of the time?
• Another, more personal, example: I worked for manager that wanted me to lie to my team members, other employees and customers. I don't lie. I can't stand it. It makes me feel sick inside. That manager consistantly broke the rules of operation given, in this firm's employee handbook. I filed reports and ... ultimately I quit that job. I was in a lead position myself. I could not sustain that kind of leadership. Staying meant that's exactly what I would be doing. Some people might have been too afraid of the unknown (how will I pay my bills with out this job?) to walk away, but I absolutely knew I was doing the right thing and all would work out eventually. Instead of feeling trapped in something I knew was wrong for me - I saw opportunity to be FREE to find what was the RIGHT thing for me! I was rewarded with many great blessings I'd have never enjoyed otherwise. It still stands as one of the best life decisions I’ve made to this day. That was a couple years ago, and I'm still reaping the rewards!

This term, cognitive dissonance, came to mind again, in Relief Society last Sunday, in the form of a thought provoking question, introduced during our classroom discussion. AND!!!! -> it's come to mind, several times, throughout this passing week... doh! -> I'm digressing... back to the Sunday meeting & discussion: The lesson we were reviewing was on The Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The question was… did Christ have a choice… ?

• What if Christ had decided, in Gethsemane, NOT to seek His Father’s will?
• Not to put God first, at that point in His life?
• He could have ‘cut and run’!
• What if Christ had decided to pass, on the bitter cup, and say, in His heart, to His Heavenly Father, “I don’t care what Your will is! I just can’t do this!â€�
• Surely He had that choice???

As I said, since I’d just worked with it, this term, Cognitive Dissonance came to mind – and I mentioned it to our group, saying, that I figure by the time Christ got to Gethsemane, He didn’t have it in Him to be turned in His course, nor did I feel He had it in him to make any other choice. The ‘Cognitive dissonance’ would have been too dissuasive for Him! – nothing else would have rang true to His being. Still the scriptures say, it crossed his mind...(see ST. MARK 14:36)

How can one walk so perfectly close, in obedience with God, and then turn fearfully away? – in the very moment in time, when that relationship is THE ONLY thing you have to bare you up, and see you through it all? It doesn’t ring true does it? Christ, then, immediately defers to what he understands to be, His Father's will, for Him.

And, to all who would ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ, how poignant an example, to NOT just have a belief, but truly to have obtained to a perfect faith, complete trust, and a sure knowledge of God. And in relationship, we see then - God's love and majesty, magnified, working in, through, and 'round about this 'Only Begotten' one.

A lesser choice does not ring true in our hearts when we study the gospels about the Lord, Jesus Christ and His life’s work, up to that point of total commitment. (which is what I see when I look into Gethsemane’s Garden; the remainder ordeal of betrayals, trials, beatings, ridicules, stress, and distresses, up to and including, crucifixion – all seemingly more like follow through, to me. IMHO) AND, opting a lesser choice, doesn’t bear sway, for Saints of yore, nor in these latter days, in what we’ve found true, in the risen Lord – hence.

Cognitive dissonance. . . indicator, perhaps, in lessons to be learned for progression. Can one obtain a to a full measure of what they were meant to be - without it?

I feel that my God, who is love, would want us to ponder and pay close attention to that term in relationship to how we might best live out our lives. I know now, that I certainly need to - in order to be of better service to Him.

I’ve known this disquiet. That feeling of disharmony, and mismatch in relationship to spirit, personality and endeavors. I'm not always as brave as I'd like to be. Tisk. I have not always recognized it for what it is - I've sometimes seen it as the road to chaos. When often times it's been the Fog Horn to calm. It’s my heart of hearts signaling, warning, that I'm in dangerous waters giving allowances to direction that’s contrary to what God would have me go and do. =)

How important is Christ's Atonement in my life? I have a testimony. Faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit [including personal revelation], testing -for surety, stregnth and endurance, redeemtion, service, transfiguration...sweet communion through prayer. There is no cognitive dissonance in that, for me. . . - just in the way my shortcomings and transgressions play off against eternal truths.

I aint what I'm gonna be. I aint what I oughta be. But, thank God, I aint what I used to be!

In closing, some scriptures from ST JOHN Chapter 14 come to mind:

• Verse 1 – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
• …vs. 6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• …vs. 15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments. <-(emphasis added. lol!)
• …vs. 21 – He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. And…
• … vs 27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

And at parting – a way to keep cognitive dissonance firmly at bay, perhaps, outlined in this scripture from the Book of Mormon:

• Mosiah 2:41 – And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

This Good Friday, I’d be remiss if I did not stand by my covenants & testimony – unashamed, and in all soberness -I bear, a solemn witness, to all who pass this way - of the Lord, Jesus. He is the Christ. He LIVES! And through His great love, He has done so very much for me! He is my Master, and my Commander, He is my brave Redeemer, in whom I know and fully trust. He is my Prophet, Priest and King. He is my ever living Head. (He's the one 'running the show' - in my life - at any rate! Big smile!)
I leave these things with you, my witness, and my testimony of His divinity, in His holy name, even the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen ~

Classic...

Found this little test on Miranda's blog.
Big smile.
EZ rider.
Heh.
I could use some EZ Rider gas mileage right about now!
*Whimper*
**sigh**

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Final Submission

Thought I'd re-submit the poster mock-up, here, in blogland.
I got some great advice since printing this off yesterday (in a whole nuther class for xtra credit - but that's a whole nuther story...).
I did some fine tuning.
Little changes often make the biggest differences, or didja already know that - fer sure?!
lol!

Poster

The assignment: Design & create a (12x18') poster for the (upcoming) student art exhibit at the Wrightstone Fine Arts Building.

I used the building's construction as my inspiration. Brick and Block and a skylight that runs the main length of the building. The skylight is made up of rectangular panels over rectangular framing. "Rectangular framing" - being a repeated pattern in most art exhibits, I thought it would work out ok.
What do ya think?
I just finished this design - but have not taken it to print yet...
I left it open to tweakage. ;)
The blessed event is open to the public.
Drop on by if you're in the neighborhood!
lol!

Design Process

As promissed here are a few of the images I went through in the design process...

Logos

The assignment: Come up with a name and logo for your own design firm.
- (Should you manage to complete the course offerings, and, brave out on your own, in the business world, this might be something you'd actually use!) -

My original thumbnail shows a classic column with a blue line in an asymetrical arch to the right of the column with the black retangle reflecting the 'Design Paradigms' name.
(I liked it, because it rhymes [Paradigms is pronounced 'para-dimes' <- like someone just gave you 20 cents!] and, it also carries on the 'dP' signature I've always used for my art)

I also liked what Steven Covey had to say about Paradigms in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
Covey made me want to understand them better when he said:

"Before we can understand these Seven Habits we need to understand our own "paradigms" and how to make a "paradigm shift".
Both the Character Ethic and the Personality
Ethic are examples of social paradigms. The word paradigm comes from
the Greek. It was originally a scientific term, and is more commonly used today
to mean a model, theory, perception, assumption, or frame of reference. In the
more general sense, it's the way we "see" the world -- not in terms of our
visual sense of sight, but in terms of perceiving, understanding, interpreting.
For our purposes, a simple way to understand
paradigms is to see them as maps. We all know that "the map is not the
territory." A map is simply an explanation of certain aspects of the territory.
That's exactly what a paradigm is. It is a theory, an explanation, or model of
something else." - end quote.

I took the original through a bunch of applications before coming up with this version.
I rather like the addition of the spiral line element topping the column - don't you? I think it adds even more symbolism and interest to the design.

I'm putting a few of the images I worked through on here to show you a bit of my work process.

PLEASE, please, please feel free to state honest opinion, thought, critique in your comments...
Next time, I post I'll tell you all the elements, symbolisms, and meaningful references I see in this design.

Just for fun, why don't you tell me what you "see", "perceive", "understand", "interpret" - from this logo design??? I'd be curious and grateful to know and have your input!
Cheerios2U!
D~

Burnin' down dah trailer...

Little did I know, when I posted the exploded Happy Face last Saturday (April Fool's!) how prophetic the little guy would be...
After posting I:

• Finished up the housework scheduled for that day.
• Went into work (@ the college Cafeteria).
• Helped pack a dozen or so huge roasters, filled with baked beans, sloppy Joe, and cole slaw to the gym, along with brownies for 400, the super huge beverage coolers marked "ice tea" and "lemonade", and all the assorted trappings right down to the latex gloves - all because that's where we were serving din-din - special event, don'cha know? MCC's "Homerun Weekend". We began serving at 6. That, coincidently is the same time that we normally quit serving. (I should have known then it would be a long night) The deal wasn't all that bad. Lots of familiar faces. Live entertainment - a young woman and her guitar playing for her supper so to speak and asking for requests. I leaned in to one young man, a ball player, passing by my section of serving table, (I had the cole-slaw and brownie detail) and said, "Hey! Go up there and tell her we'd like to hear some Frances Scott Key." He says, "Oh. Gee, I'm not sure who that is." I smiled at him - big smile. "He wrote the Star-Spangled Banner," I replied. "Oh!" Was about all he could manage, back to me, and he hurried on to the beverages. *twinkle* Children there seemed to be having fun! I notice one of those go fish booths set up in a corner - the ones where you throw your line over the blue curtain and go fishin' for a prize. Hadn't thought about that experience in decades. Looked to me like there were an awful lot of Troll-dolls living at the bottom of that 'lake'. That's mostly what they were all catching =) . At any rate, packing up and moving equipment from the cafeteria means one thing in the end; packing up and moving everything back - and THEN cleaning up. OY! I was tired.
• Went back out to home
• Chatted with Opie
• Thought, "Gosh, I'm tired... I... should... go... in... to... b....e....d......." That was the last thought before being rudely nudged to consciousness by 1) the cat & 2) this obnoxious noise, behind me and just outside the place - in the drive way by my car... what the ???
• Pulled up mini-blind to see a Fire Truck(s) with Firemen in the drive, hosing down the trailer house just right south of my house house, said trailer being completely engulfed in flame and merrily burning to da ground!!! 5 a.m. - including the daylight savings time change. Now I'd like to say April Fool's here but I'm not fooling.

See? It made the front page of the local Gazette. Strange weekend, that last one. That suspicious fire (no one living in that trailer - no power even hooked up to it - water lines even, all disconnected...) wasn't the only sensational, and terrible happening. There were a couple more sharing the front page lime-light, too. Jeepers-creepers.

Exploded!

The assignment: Computer generate, using the Adobe Illustrator program, an exploded view of a simple object.

The point was, to demonstrate to all, how much easier computers have made this type of work, for those of us endeavoring.

Ha!

This took, an excruciatingly long amount of time for me, to complete. Partly because, well, I am just learning. So, a fair amount of trial and error went into putting this together. - and - I'm building a portfolio here. So, I'm picky about details you may not even notice, but that, I can see, and that, I know are there. Lastly, this was not the 'simple object' I originally thought it was going to be! The 2 rings with the eight 'teeth' which normally hold the little Happy Face Air Freshener together were a major source of frustration! (Grrr!)

I spent hours and hours and hours at maximum magnification levels lining things up, (losing my place!), grouping shapes and gradients together, (undoing bad stuff!), creating subtle color variations, (ect, ect, ect,...), and, in the end, I printed twice - because, I realized I'd forgotten to add my little signature 'dP'. It's on this version. (Just another detail that most won't see. But I know it's there.)

I do like the end result.

The hours spent become a small matter in gathering and reviewing the lessons I learned in the doing.

Screw the stress of, well, everything that's stressful in my life right now! (I'll not bore you with livid detail, lol!)

Being satisfied with a job well done?
THAT makes me a happy girl!
(even if my semester and my 'id', are looking and feeling more and more, like this particular little drawing!!! =) lol!

Happy weekend to you all!
Love and Hugs- D.~

P.S. I scaled this copy down so it would load up faster. If any of you would like a "nice" copy to print I did save one, complete with printer's marks in a .pdf format. Cheerios!

P.S.S.: Happy (wedding) Anniversary to 'The Queen of Panic!" and her hubby, 'The King of R.E.M.!" LOVE YOU BOTH - BUNCHES!!! And I ain't April foolin' about that!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Irish Blessings
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

find more here and here

For My Merry Friends in Law Enforcement -

Cop Quips: Sense of Humor Police style

So you thought police officers didn't have a sense of humor.... The following were taken off of actual police car videos around the country.

#15 "Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."

#14 "Take your hands off the car, and I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."

#13 "If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."

#12 "Can you run faster than 1,200 feet per second? In case you didn't know, that is the average speed of a 9mm bullet fired from my gun."

#11 "So you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"

#10"Yes, Sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. ! Oh . Did I mention that I am the shift supervisor?"

#9 "Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."

#8 "The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"

#7 "Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy, and step in elephant stuff!

#6 "Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."

#5 "In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC."

#4 "Just how big were those two beers?"

#3 "No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want."

#2 "I'm glad to hear the Chief of Police is a good personal friend of yours. At least you know someone who can post your bail."

#1 "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we
don't... Sign here.

lol!
See any favorites?
:D

5 Star Family Fun!

Just saw Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Ware Rabbit.
Yep.
May be the graphic artist in me but I stand by my title up there...
this movie was 5 star family fun and maybe even worth the time and trouble to buy one's own copy for keeps!
I LOVED this movie.
Cheerios!
D~

Spring Break!

Whooooo Hooooo!
Maybe I can get something done around this place?
Maybe I can catch-up with my blogger friends?
Maybe I can grab some "ME" time?
Ah... just considering the possibilities...

Sweet springtime is my time is your time is our time
for springtime
is love time
and viva sweet love.
--e.e. cummings

Happy Birthday to Mother

Today is Mom's.
We decided, early on in the week, that lunch would be good.
Thought about a movie but then work flip-flopped on me.
So lunch for sure.
I got the steller idea to call my brother, last night and ask if he knew what today was going to be. That boy sure did!
So I invited him along on our luncheon.
We all met up, downtown, at the Beiroc Cafe. (Pronounced BEER-Rock)
Where we discuss movie options amongst other things.
The nephew (previously pictured right here on Cheerios&HeavyCream) had wished his beloved grandma a happy birthday, earlier in the day and had offered the 5 star suggestion that we all just rent "Walk the Line". =)
Our fear, (later confirmed at the video store) was that it'd be so popular we wouldn't be able to find a copy of it too rent.
Then my brother, bless his heart, pointed to this little advertisement tent, you've seen the like, little specials of events or treats, sitting up 'pup-tent' style on diner tables.
"Why don't you just check this out?"
It's a special showing of an old classic at our towns' historic little Fox Theater - the even is actually a fund raiser for a prospective politician. We think it'd be a fun way to enjoy ourselves in celebration of Mom's B-day. Who cares if we have to wait a day? The price seems right. (I think Mom's even a little bit excited. Kinda like taking a little trip back to yester-year, for her. "1956! That's even a year before [thequeenofpanic] was born!") 1956 - she would have barely been into her 20s. Hehehee. Hope the temps are just as nice as today's 70s....
Also hoping you have a classic week end, too!
(See the pix I scanned. I made off with the little ad. I'm gonna make it into a Happy Birthday Card for Mom! Don't Moms like the homemade stuff best?)
D.~

I was afraid of this...

Problem!?

It's severe upper respiratory CRUD I've been doing battle with for, lo, these passing 3 weeks now, I've lost my voice!
I haven't had laryngitis in decades.
People talk to me on the phone and say, "My word, Dorko! You sound terrible!!!"
(!?)
"Yeah," I sweetly reply, "but I'm just as cute as I EVER was!"
PROBLEM?
I have to give a talk in my Business and Professional Speaking Class this Friday!
And I have no voice.
Maybe I can just type it all out and employ the old follow along with the "bouncing ball" trick, projecting it on screen, at the front of the class. =)
I gave a small verbal report this morning... and it was a real struggle, even with the scintillating subject matter I'd chosen.
Topic this morning you wonder?
How "we" differ in our treatment of animals... last week's Gazette published 2 reports (and 2 very different methods of operandi!) for escapee animals.
Item one, a news release from the eastern edge of Nebraska, told the story of 2 cows making a run for it, somehow managing an escape from holding pens in Omaha, (They have big holding pens there, think of the world reknown 'Omaha Stakes') ... said cows, running wild, through the streets of Omaha, NE. (Can you imagine!?) The Omaha Police Department in hot pursuit, reported that after several attempts to regain control of the situation and capture the cattle, the bovines were unceremoniously shot dead.
(I was kinda saddened by the report. Thought, for a moment that it would have been 'nice' if they (the outlaw cattle) had been recognized for their ingenuity and daring, and given pardon. May be even put out to pasture rather than dressed up for the diner table, but that's just fanciful me.)
Another account last week, detailed the bravado of a Show Doggie of a different sort. Champion Bohem Cest La Vive, the full name for a Whippet, more commonly refered to as "Vivi".
Said article related how search efforts had escalated to now include 12 Psychics engaged now, in consultations with authorities as to the whereabouts of the Westminster Kennel Club winner... and, get this, there's been a $5,000 dollar reward posted... (I'm thinking you have to bring Vivi in alive to collect it though.) The 12 Psychics were mostly stressing a strong sense that the dog was safe and sheltered in a warm area. The hunt for Vivi began when she somehow managed to escape handlers, thus, leading airport personel, both on foot, and in 3 different vehicles, in a run across the tarmacs of JFK International Airport, reaching top speeds of upto 25-30 miles per hour. Vivi somehow managed to nose her way into a marshy area of the grounds and that's where the trail went cold. The end of the report stated that, "Droppings consistent with those of a 30 pound whippet were found near cargo bays." Some of which are heated. Them Psychics might be on to something - the heated cargo bays were being searched as of that reporting!
So! Vivi apparently stopped long enough to drop a load! =)
(Sorry, couldn't resist a snarkism, here...) And provide a bright hope of picking up on her trail, once more! (I know, I know! I'm bad.)
Get-ALong-Little-Doggie! (What ever that means!)
I'm wishing for the best of all possible out comes for Vivi, a whippet. A whippet good...
:D

Running behind...

Running behind sux just as much as being sick sux! =)
I am beginning to feel better ... which is good, because I'm throwing a Baby Shower this Sunday afternoon for that new baby, darling Haley and I so want to get to hold that little bundle of wonderful!
I am not posting, much, because trying to catch up on school assignments is rough when the programs, tools - equipment I need to do the work are specific to this building or that class room lab all on campus.
For instance, I can't just sit down at 10 p.m. any given evening, here at home, and "catch up" on my Illustrator assignments, because they all must be done inside of the "Illustrator" software program - a pricy little bit of computer fancy, which I do not have.
I could download a free 30 day trial of that program to use at home, however I don't have a MacIntosh computer to load the dang thing down to (add another to the list of pricy, little bits of computer fancy that I do not have!) and... (ahem! <-clears throat), we all know the cliche about poor, starving artist... I'm not starving by any sense of the imagination, but I've got a whooper testamony on poor, so, little Miss Artsy-Fartsy me is not likely to get a MacIntosh on my desk this semester nor those remaining in my program pursuit. (insert dreamy, wishful sigh, here)
I just got to follow the admonition of my sweetie, Opie and "tighten up" every chance I get to get it done and remain on task. And find comfort and some balance in knowing that all concientious students face challenges in working through their course - it's that growing learning process we all love/hate.
So. Thems a lot of words to say I'm prioritizing school over play just now... however... ya'll should just KNOW that I still love you. (Beaming Smile!)
I'm pulling a nice little (hand drawn) picture together for Baby Haley. I'll post it and maybe the progression of it on here over the next couple days.
January's birthstone is Garnet, flower is Snow-drops, and since the party is this weekend the color's are Pink, and Red, and White.
The party theme (will be woven into my picture too!) is: Prayers go up, Blessing come down
May it ever be so.
Wishing good stuff for YOU... all ways and always,
D. ~

To My Valentine...

To My Huckleberry Friend -

Today, you know, I thought of you...
Just the way I always do.
Yesterday, and the day before...
of you, I'm thinking, more and more.

Sometimes I think of what has been.
Sometimes my thoughts are more pretend.
I wonder if you think of me?
I wonder what those thoughts could be?

If I could only read your mind,
What kind of thinking would I find?
At times I feel I'm on the brink,
Of craziness with what I think!

Am I crazy to think of you,
Just the way I always do?
Maybe I should call and say,
How much I thought of you today....

I Love YOU so, so, so much!
Big, deep, heartfelt kisses and warm, tender-loving hugs - just for you sweetheart. Just for you!

No-no-NO-no-NO-NO-NO!

Sick.
Watery eyes.
Burning throat.
Hypersensitive respiratory.
Nausia.
Light headed to the point of feeling faint...
Yesterday I was burning up.
Today I can't get warm enough.
Not good.
A teacher suggested that new "Airborne" stuff.
I went out and got me some.
Not sure if it's really making a difference or not - but I do like the way the lemon-lime effervesce feels going down my tender little throat.
eh.
Sweet sleep here I come....
Later, ya'll.

Wanna get published?

Got the great American novel and need HELP(!) breaking into the business of all things literary?
.
Maybe Cyndi can help.
Here's her new website, www.hughesliterary.com.
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Meanwhile, yours truly has homework, artwork, and a Baby Shower on her "to do" list! :P
(and ... downloading the pieces/parts to a composit work for tomorrow's post!)
C-ya!

Photo-Touchup

This is a nephew.
One of 2 belonging to the Queen of Panic! Heh.
(I begged the pix from him after I saw it up on our IM)
Once I got the photo, I realized I could use some of my new found skills to enhance it a wee bit.
=) Where was this technology when I was on my way to sweet 16?
Ahem...
Well, looking closely, you'll not only see his eyes are blue, but that I got rid of the camera lens lint, too!
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Lots of love going out to this one, and all who pass this along this way today!
Hugs!
D. ~

Seniority

Here's my Friday...
I get up and get my happy self to class on time. So far so good.
I know I need to do these things: Class.
Homework for 4 different subjects, all due in classroom time, next week.
Bake and decorate a cake, (*for a small fee*), for a friend's Super Bowl party - I've already got the icing whipped up.
Take my friend, Helen, a precotious 74 year old, to the Beauty Acadamy, as promised, for her appointment.
Put in my hours at the work/study job in Brook's Halll (dorm's caffeteria).
.
Everything goes off on schedule, until I pick up the Helen, for her 11 o'clock.
She wants to know if I can possibly take her to the Medical Clinic (after the hair appointment - which will take about 2 1/2 hours). She needs to get some medication from there. They will give her some 'free samples' and since she's not yet successfully negotiated the new medicare tares, snarls, and snares, she desperately needs to get these samples, while the Doc. is still willing to allow it for her. *sigh*
"OK."
Back to School... barely get cookin' with homework assignments and have to pack it in to go get the Helen.
On the way to the Clinic, Helen asks if we could possibly run by her bank - she's so grateful for the rides and favors she'd like to buy me a Wendy's lunch. . . and some gasoline too.
"OK." I say and add, "Your hair really does look lovely. They did a very good job with it today."
Off to 'mid-town' for bank then clear across town to Wendy's.
Nice lunch. Great conversation. . . although my thoughts are wondering here and there over how I'm going to get that cake baked up by the time I've gotta get to work??? ... and how ever am I gonna get all the homework done...in time for classes???
I don't want to worry Helen with those concerns, she's worried enough as it is, over the hundreds of little details that have woven themselves into her life, through the passing decades. Details which still serve to challenge the Lady, some difficulties having become ever more magnified, with every advancing year.
I tell her how much I enjoy our chats and let her know that I've shared one of her stories in a classroom experience, earlier, this semester.
While having lunch, Helen remarks how she really does need to get some things at the store and could I possibly spare some time to take her to the Dollar General and then what ever she can't find there she'll have to pick up at the grocery next door. (?)
I'm such a sucker for the elderly.
"O.K."
2 1/2 hours later and with moments to spare, before I need to be on the job - I'm driving Helen back across town to unload her and her goods at her home. She is partially disabled - paralysis in her feet, etc, etc, etc... it's hard for her to negotiate certain terrain.
There is a big black garbage bag on the dilapidated porch. Helen can't negotiate the distance from her back door to the alley way were the garbage containers live. She'd like for me to take that garbage around the corner for her.
I'd love to do it too.
But, there is no time.
This time I can't say "O.K."
I promise to come back, again, after my shift to take care of that, too.
*Sigh*
Right... never did get gased up and now I'm heading for work, while dang near running on empty.
Yet another thing to add to my list. Looks like my Saturday night is gonna be tight with me playing catch-up after work.
So much for "homework" and my little side business in "decorated cakes"...
They just don't have that much "seniority".
She's got her house dress on and "Chuck" the little dog is 'woofing' and 'Grrr-ing' protectively when she answers my firm knocks on her door, later, after my shift in the cafeterria's kitchen is through. I had over the bad of medications. She forgot them, left behind in my car seat, in the rush to unload earlier, this afternoon. "Oh!" I' ve been callling and calling you - you'll see that when you get home." She says. "I will need this medication in the morning, I'm so greatful you brought it back by!"
"And you know what else...," she says, more than she asks, "We never did get you that gas"
"I know."
"Don't worry about it."
"I'll pick you up for church on Sunday."
"We can maybe do something about it after that."=)
*one*last*heavy*sigh*
It's a privledge and a blessing to serve.
Ya know what I mean?
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Have a great week's end everyone!
D. ~