How Does Her Garden Grow?

... by the square foot!

My sister sent Me and our Mom on a shopping spree to the "Common Scents" gardening place (handy location - just across the highway from my house) as a special treat for my graduation and for her Mother's Day gift.
We had a good time looking over the beautiful hanging planters - in splendid full bloom, etc..., etc..., etc... plus there was a fussy little ladies "Tea tasting" going on Sunday which we enjoyed, too!

I so wanted one of the full bloom hanging plants - however decided to spare that in favor of some more practicle fare, like strawberry plants (Yep. Got them hanging NOW - lol!) and Tomatoes - which I still ended up splitting out with Mom - and some Purple Sage (2)... I got pleanty of full sun and well drained soil for those bad boys to root around in!

Just as I went to planting I noticed that my trusty trowel had some how made it to the drive and had been totally destroyed by driveway traffic. grrr... miner set back so the strawberries and 1 tomatoe got planted the old, old, old fashioned way - bare handed digging!

Well, sheesh, ya gotta sieze them moments when they're red hot - don't ya?

(I've since been to 'the Wal' and bought another cheepy)

I am hooked on the square foot gardener's philosophy when it comes down to digging in and then watching my garden turn out big dividens! I saw a feature in Better Homes and Garden's magazine a while back that had raised beds - I mean really raised beds - like up 3, 4 feet off the ground that looked like the ideal way to:
1 - foil those rascally rabbits
and
2 - save my aching back and legs from weed "tremmers" ha!

I'm just going to have to condition this back and those legs to endure as raised beds are an investment best made by a home owner - I'm not putting in all that time and expense out just yet - I need to bite the bullet and become the home owner 1st.

Anywhoo... back to my excitement in planting stuff - I wanna get most of it in by the end of the month - I'm already getting a late start by the standards of many more seriously minded area gardeners. The big bonus is the satisfaction and taste of "home grown" aint nothing like it in the
market place, IMHO, and I get the peace of mind factor, knowing that my lettuce is not going to be subject to "recall" because it may be harboring deadly microbes! It's good to know what you're getting - same reason I'm excited about getting back into a regular schedule of sorts - I'm cooking up those fresh meals at home, something I dearly love to do but was too, too pressed for time to enjoy in this last semester's push to graduate! Only thing better than THAT is cooking it up with a special someone in that there kitchen or grill pit with ya... and believe me... I'll be working on that this summer too! =)

Ah!
"Summer"..... "Summmer time, time, time" .... "and the livin's eee easy"........

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On these summer mornings .... I'mma gonna rise up, rise up, singing - gonna stretch m' wings - and FLY!".... matter of fact, I already am!

(Which explains why I haven't been around the blogosphere much, y'all! Heheheee)

BTW: The 'secret garden' picture is a link to some other coolio garden pix...

Enjoy!

and

Cheerios 2U all!

D.

Graduation Day...

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- at long last...

Accomplishment...

I've always wanted to go to school to further my creativity and my skills in 'art'.
Now, I'm graduating with my associates of applied science degree in graphic design.
Hoo-rah!
One down, 99 more 'life-time goals' still on the wall...

(I should write out that list of 100 here someday, shouldn't I?)

No time to say "Hello" "Good-bye"....

Something beautiful in the e-mail files from a beloved friend o' mine...
I saw 'em at the Art Exhibit today, in fact.
I was escorting a (surprize!) visitor - from way, way, way out of town.
I've been busy beyond belief, but - I'm none too busy, to squeeze out every moment I can in "visiting" with him and to have my Breakfast with the man, too - come sunrise, at least, that's what he suggested to me this morning. *sighs* It has been such a long time.....
More details...
forthcoming...
as I get...
through
these
last
few
d
a
y
s
=)
(Meanwhile, for those of you that just can't wait for your gardens to grow... try: this link! Just start clicking away or try a click and drag technique... Kinda fun...)

Something from Cinema4d...

A "Still shot" compostion (plus a detail from it)
-all rudimentary creations using the Cinema 4d program...
Thank you Opie, once again, for the inspiration.

=)

Gentle thoughts for today (from my e-mail friendlies)...

• The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
• When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle. It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain and gag himself.
• The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
• He who hesitates is probably right.
• Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are " XL." If you think there is good in everybody, you haven't met everybody.
• If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
• The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.
• There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt
• A penny saved is a government oversight.
• Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words "The" and "IRS" together it spells "Theirs."
  

"The Pestige" 2006

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With little time to watch such and no time to explain it to them, my brother and nieces dropped a load of rental DVDs into my hands and sped off towards the established child exchange point – a day early, trying to out drive the storm – before the storm even hit us.

Smart move on anyone’s part, let alone, anyone living in Nebraska, facing such severe weather forecasts which always mark these, our magnificent, turbulent, jubilant springs!

I heard one niece is expressing interest in a career in the FBI – and this is the one that couldn’t say enough good things recommending the above movie, “The Prestige”, to me a minimum of, like, 3 times…. =)

A bit of my heart went with them… as it normally does, each time I must face off the departure of dear ones. I was at once disappointed that our ‘Girl’s Luncheon’ had been pre-empted by the incoming menacing weather and happy they’d been able to come at all. We’d almost had ‘an even dozen’ at my place for the holiday last weekend…. Love, laughter, a little bit of learning, and a bunch of good food – adding strength to those family ties.

I was so tired, finishing up a double run of reports last night, at work. I am desperate over the thought of any hindrance to the schoolwork I need to complete right now. I am truly hoping I am not coming down with a light case of walking pneumonia. (<- this is my mantra of the day today!) and thinking back to last night…. I was thanking my lucky stars on the drive home, that the snow fall, which had been as near perfect as any I’d ever witnessed, with it’s large fluffy flakes, falling lazy-like, down from the sky… that this terrible storm had steadily depreciated in estimates in each sequential forecast throughout the day (1st: 10 to 12 inches!, Next: 8 to 10 inches! Thereafter: up to 6 – 7 inches! 4-6! So on and so forth… reminded me of a rather raunchy comedy bit I’d seen one time out on the California coast, butt… that would be a whole ‘nuther post! heh.) By my late, drive time home, last night, we’d seen a bunch of moisture – another desperate, needful thing in these parts – and absolutely no accumulation. Magical.


Which brings me back to “The Prestige” – it was an interesting film. (yep. Watched it. Tired. Spent, really. Not feeling too good. I reasoned that the movie would be a welcome deviation and momentary escape – my gamble paid off, too.) I liked it. Magic, trickery, mystery, artistry, and some science, with ending twists I certainly enjoyed.


Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine play out well, here and I scarcely recognized David Bowie in his portrayal of Nikola Tesla…

Not for the 13 and under crowd, (there’s a couple death scenes not good for little kids, I think) however, if you’ve an interest in something thought provoking and a bit twisty and haven’t viewed this one yet – you might give it a spin in the ol’ DVD player.

I’ll not be posting much between now and graduation.
Nevertheless...
Cheerios 2U - all!
=)
D.~

FAITH

A late 'Easter' post - concerning faith...
love these scriptures from the Book of Mormon:

….By faith all things are fulfilled…
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
(Ether 12: 3-4)

… I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith….

For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God.

Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
(Ether 12: 6-11)

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
(Moroni 7:37)

Dear Lord,

Strengthen my faith - that I might serve thee continually, and well!

Amen!

Don't know what she's complaining about... LOVE a hard workin' fellow with a creative vibe....
Good luck with all your dye jobs!
;-)

Tracks...

Ah! The tracks of a certain cottontail...

I'm not convinced snowfall at Easter time is an Easter Bunnie's best friend!?
2 things:
1 - Proof, for kids ... "Easter Bunny" lives!

2 - My little Easter bunny has got himself a friend...
;-)

April Fool's & still together ...

Happy anniversary to the Queen of Panic and her handsome hubby the Arch Nappster!

You were so in love (& still are!) it made my heart glad to be there with you - on your wedding day!

Thanks for all the love the 2 of you have brought... to each other, to your families, and into the world - through the uncountable kindnesses and gentle encouragements you've served up to your friends, neighbors, and the occasional, wayfaring soul.
My universe is a better place through the addition of your 2 sons - what noble princes lie beneath their roughish smiles and amiable characters!!!
Yes, I'm in love with them - I LOVE you all, and can't hardly wait to see and visti with you again.... looking forward to that day, praying "safe travels" for you - always and all ways!
=)
Love and Hugs,
D.
PS- This post was no hoax, however if you're in a foolish mood today you can click to the Museum of Hoax's quiz made up especially for April Fool's!

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Hey. This one's for that friend "out there" struggling for strength and for balance. Actually, I know a couple of you that are....
My prayers are with you through this time of uncertainty and change. Take courage, and take inventory.... what is it you are learning from this? YOU are not alone, there IS love in the world for you...
I love you.

Have a sweet weekend and try not to get all caught up...
in
the
Landslide...
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I took my love and I took it down
Climbed a mountain and turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
'til the landslide brought it down

Oh, mirror in the sky -What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin'...ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
I don't know.....I don't know

Well I've been afraid of changin'
because I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder, even children get older
And I'm getting older too....

So, take my love...take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
and if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills...
well the landslide will bring it down
The landslide will bring it down

Line Rider

Reviewed as the Etch-o-Sketch for the U-Tube generation, you can find "Line Rider"
by using those key words in any good search engine... or just click the link ^ there!
"Top Line Rider" is a site that has some pretty inventive road trips already outlined (yep. pun intended) for the little rider dude. Check it out if you've got another spare moment or 3.
Special thanks to the "Bipanator" for turning me on to this cool and groovy site!

Trashball

NPR comes up with some crazy stuff - (exactly why I like it)!
I found this interesting tid bit under their Arts & Culture tab this past weekend. (CLICK the link and you can listen to the story)
Christopher Goodwin's blog can be found here:
TRASHBALL! A SUBSIDIARY OF EX-COMMUNICATED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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Made me slow down a bit to think: how fascinating, how ironic, too!
Oh, to revisit & really examine what we've throw away -and/or- see something we've deemed useless, close up, from another's perspective - someone like Mr. Good win perhaps...

My packrat Mother once told me to toss an unopened letter from an insurance carrier -she'd let the policy lapse... I pointed out that she'd not even opened the darn thing! She maintained it was trash and of 'no interest' at all, until I torn it open - [saying I was at least going to see what they'd had to say to her]. It was one a good time to be a disobedient child! I found a $230.00 check enclosed. They had refunded her premiums! Boy Howdy! Did her tune change then! Talk about one person's trash being another's treasure! lol! That was cold cash there, people!

Then... the other side of the "coin", so to speak... what kind of garbage do we hang on to - in our homes, and in our lives, that we should really, really pitch?
I mean, I've had ugly little items in my house - even moved them with me (!!?) - from one place to another - that I've absolutely hated. Couldn't stand to even look at them... why then did I keep them?
I've resolved a few years back to stop that. Boy, does it feel good to toss an ugly! I've been working on being "ruthless", when it comes to weeding out bricker-brack & with a packrat Mom, God knows I need to be! (She handed me a sack of "stuff" the other day - that I didn't need, but now have to go through, before I pitch it... because, YOU KNOW, If I try to pitch it before going through it, I'll have that mental flashback to the $230 check incident! LOL!!!)

Humm, some of us maybe inspired to do some Spring Cleaning...
so...
What about you?
You ever trash something you wish you could get back?
or...
You got anything you've been hanging on to - that has absolutely no use or value to you?

=)

Spring Fevers...

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OK. I confess. I pop over to Cathcy Color's Photo Blog every now and again - mainly to de-stress...
I may have spent too many hours in the laboratory, though, because, I do believe there's something... um, "sexy" about this tulip photo. . .
lol!
(Golly. I hope I still respect that flower and this post come morning!)
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(Go ahead. Click it. Enlarge it. so... you can get a reeeally good look at it. you know you want to... lol!)

Author Unknown

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1st things first! "Happy Birthday" to my sister! Love & LOVE s'more! Hope your day was everything you needed it to be!
Now then...
I had this drafted for a ArtZ Friday post. I just couldn't get to an honest internet connection to load it up last night...
I did this work in my first semester Photoshop class.
It was an assignment in photo composition.
It has undergone quite the transition since I first began it.
I plan on displaying the original photographs I used and the one or 2 'earlier' versions I have saved - before I arrived at this final piece, when I put up my work in the gallery, here at the Wrightstone, at semester's end.
(That's the last thing. to display/show our portfolio pieces.)
And I am at peace with the piece. lol! check the phrase-ology, I crack myself up sometimes!
I really liked the way it turned out.
I have shown finished prints to a few people already and they have asked me for copies.
I did give one to my boss for her husband - she said she wanted to make a gift out of it, to him.
She said the text, "Take with you words...."
Have a special meaning for him and between the 2 of them.

How cool is that?

=)
Dig it.

Cheerios (and nothing but good words) to you all!
dP

PS: You can click on it to enlarge, however because of the layers I had to reduce the image and so lost quite a bit from the original in order to post it on the web - so I don't believe any copy will print too well... e-mail me directly if you'd like a decent print.

Happy Spring!

Sushi Ya-Ya: I

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Take a look at these 2 web site home page designs and ... tell me what you think, 'K?
The imanginary "client" is a restaurant named: Sushi Ya-Ya.
The assignment is to come up with 2 rough designs for a web site.
This is design 1.
The site concept and metephor is "A Beachcomber's treasure"
Navigation will be through the thumbnails on the left.
Supporting pages include:
• About us
• Locations
• Menus
• Contact us
• Novelty Shop

Primary target end users would be young professionals -

Sushi Ya-Ya: II

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OK.
This is the 2nd design. I know. Same concept and site metaphor - this time the focus is more on the collectables as objects of art, themselves.
Same entry into the site navigation. I envisioned mapping the images to make them the hyperlinks to the various pages - once in the site the colors soften up and mute a bit and the icons reduce to smaller, ever present, buttons lined up horizontally along the upper right of each view pane.

Tell me,
Which one do you like better and why?

Fire Rainbow

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Rainbow's are special in my world.
A personal reminder to me, that: "God keeps his promises"

A true friend sent this picture and I thought...

"This IS too cool not to share."


THIS IS A FIRE RAINBOW - The Rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.

The picture was captured this week on the Idaho/Washington border. The event lasted about (1) hour.

Clouds have to be cirrus, at least 20K feet in the air, with just the right amount of ice crystals and the sun has to hit the clouds at precisely (58) degrees. .... or at least that's what the e-mail said!

Dig it.
=)

Gettin' snapy

Ok...
maybe it's the stress I"ve been under...
But...
Monday.
Driving back to work at the end of a nice lunch break.
Beautiful day!
Happy & healthy... =)
I am the only car on the road.
'The road' happens to be a wide, pleasant, paved residential street that rolls into a school zone and then stretches on down to business district and McCook's fabled cobblestones (the bricks).
I'm behaving my self respectably behind the wheel - speed limit - watching side street intersections (even though I'm on a 'through' street & all cross traffic would have stop signs...)
2 blocks from school zone it happens.
A behemoth SUV backs out of a driveway right in front of me!
It's almost like they waited for me to get up close and then at just the right second to screw me up - "I Own The Road" backeds right on out, onto the street.
Ou............
[I was So NOT impressed!]
Slam brakes!
Get a good, tight grip on that stearing wheel!
Then I get a clear looksie at the driver.
Some woman with a cel phone cocked up to her ear!
Ou............!!!!
NOW I WAS impressed! ...and not in a good way, mind you!
I mean what the heck is up with that???
If you've dialed the number .... in your drive way.... why not just finish the flippin' call while sitting in your flippin drive way, huh?????
Why, oh, why do we need you to back out in to traffic, at such a time as that???
Hey! Never mind the fact that I was the only one out there & headed her way - I still get counted as traffic!
Or, maybe we should give a little more thought to that - I was the ONLY vehicle heading that way - couldn't she have just let me get on by before she backed her big ol' boat out onto the road???
Heaven's to mergatroid!
I'm thinkin' this other driver, 'Ms Cell-lo Lame-brain' is just dang lucky I'm not a sociopath with a shotgun.
Otherwise, I might have just blasted away at her!
C'mon people!
A little common sense, please!?
*sheesh!*

!?

From my e-mail land...

"A wish for the more difficult people in your life... "

(Glad these inventive minds are on my side!)

=)

An exercise: composition with typography.
I actually did this last Spring, but can't find my original files so I had to replacate it.
That was a bit of a process, however I like this new one much better than the original.
(the quilted effect with the patterned Q over the pattern background... much more interesting than the plain yellow I had going before.)
This will be a portfolio piece.
I'll try to post them all by 'show time'
Hugs!
D.~

1 Corinthians 12:1...

There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dream or imagined you could become.
~ Orson Swett Marden

Just wait... (lol!)

Somethin' to think about...

Mind set matters....
I was watching a late night show that took some e-mail tom-foolery out to the ''average Joes" on the streets of some big city. They got the least likely to be cyber savvy people to read some stuff out loud for their cameras. One lady (accompanied by a sweet looking gentleman I took to be her husband) stood out for me. When they came to a 'lol' abbreviation - she obviously didn't know what it meant, moments later, feeling the pressures of that rolling camera, she interpreted it to mean: Lot of Love... isn't that sweet?


"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
-- Mark Twain

"Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."
-- Former Governor of Texas, the Late Ann Richards (9/1/33 - 9/13/06)

"You can't be truly rude until you understand good manners."
-- Rita Mae Brown, novelist

"My mother always told me I wouldn't amount to anything because I procrastinate. I said, 'Just wait.'"
-- Judy Tenuta in Early To Rise, 4/14/06

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
-- Dale Carnegie as quoted in Early To Rise, 1/18/07

LoL, ya'll!
D.~

Peter Max...

Do you remember him?
C'mon! Remember the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine"?
Ifn you don't know don't remember... here's a bio-link to Peter Max.
and...
Here's a link to his official Home Page .
I loved theAnimated Scene (found under the fun button)

Note to self: When pulling together my new web page(s)... always include a "FUN" button. . . lol!

Cheerios!
D.~

When words fail...

“Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meaning can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.”

-- Martin Luther King, Jr. ~


Happy weekend!
D.~

This is a snowflake

This is a snowflake.

There are lots and lots of snowflakes flying around outside right now.

Flying because gail force winds began huffing and puffing before the dawn.

(yep. I was up that early. lol!)

It's not so bad.

I see they're mostly swirling about.

Bad is when they all head one direction: sideways.

I'm gonna heat up some herbal teas, snuggle down, and work out some art.

If you'd like to see some groovy pictures of snowflakes and ice crystals just click the link: SnowCrystals . com

The Snowflake Man
"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind."
Wilson A "Snowflake" Bentley 1925

(ahem) Try not to think too deeply about the lowly snowflake...

Have a great weekend everyone!

=) D.~

Artist Philosophy...

I am building & on the edge of expressing my personal Artistic Philosophy for portfolio.

In terms of all things ART I can so identify with this:

I need no warrant for being, and no word of sanction upon my being. I am the warrant and the sanction.
— Ayn Rand, Anthem

So...
A nod to - Ayn Rand (Feb 2, 1905 - Mar 6, 1982) today!

Paperwork...

Reminder to self: Get it done!!!

Ah... the Eternities...

We sang this Hymn Sunday.
It's one of my favorites and if I was to pass away tomorrow I'd want it sung at my grave side service - becasue it speaks of the mysteries of God and lists the things that have no end...
...and it just gives you an awesome vibe, when you stand and sing it with a friend...

It's called:

"If you Could Hie to Kolob "

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1. If you could hie to Kolob

In the twinkling of an eye,

And then continue onward

With that same speed to fly,

Do you think that you could ever,

Through all eternity,

Find out the generation

Where Gods began to be?

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2. Or see the grand beginning,

Where space did not extend?

Or view the last creation,

Where Gods and matter end?

Methinks the Spirit whispers,

"No man has found 'pure space,'

Nor seen the outside curtains,

Where nothing has a place."

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3. The works of God continue,

And worlds and lives abound;

Improvement and progression

Have one eternal round.

There is no end to matter;

There is no end to space;

There is no end to spirit;

There is no end to race.

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4. There is no end to virtue;

There is no end to might;

There is no end to wisdom;

There is no end to light.

There is no end to union;

There is no end to youth;

There is no end to priesthood;

There is no end to truth.

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5. There is no end to glory;

There is no end to love;

There is no end to being;

There is no death above.

There is no end to glory;

There is no end to love;

There is no end to being;

There is no death above.

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Text: William W. Phelps, 1792-1872

A Surprise, a Special DVD

Big smiles and hugs - some more - to Alekx and Burfica for sending that special DVD to me.
I was excitedly surprised.
I cried.
I laughed.
I cried (again).
I played it.
I paused it.
I rewound it for the "who was that?" factor... =)
and I'm fixin on playin' it again.
Maybe tonight.
Brought back so many memories.
Brought up a regret or 2...
But mostly brought up how very, very special your Mother was to me, right along with the 2 of YOU!
Thank you so very much - for all!
Love you,
all ways and always
D.~

Ball & jacks

Yep.
Changed the profile pix again!
lol
didja ever noticed the background...?
(whispers -> this scene was set in "the little freak's room")

Identity packages

We are building our identity packages in portfolio:
the letter head, business card, envelope design, resume... and yes... more.
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Our choices of basic design elements telling just as much, if not more about 'the symbolic self', as what any content of text ever could.
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At the same time Ethics and Moral Development are the topics in our on-line leadership classes.
... practically speaking, the 3 most important influences on character formation are:
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• Associations. Family, friends, and role models help shape our future lives. The example & encouragement of some people may improve us, while that of others may pull us down.
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• Books. The printed page and other media can poison us with wrong accounts and harmful thoughts, or can enlighten and lift up our lives with reason and spirit fundamental to a healthy person.
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• Self Concept. We do what we do to be consistent with who we think we are. Our primary motivation is not self-preservation, but preservation of the symbolic self. Whosoever considers him- or herself to be honest, brave, and worthy is likely to be so, s our oute lives are first decided in our inner hearts.
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1. Associations - Who in your life has influenced your character development?
2. Books - What books, films, and other media have helped you become a better person?
3. Self-Concept - What image of yourself has shaped your values and guided your life?

Ah.
Homework.
Happy weekend everyone!
=)

Love is...

Outside the scriptures this is the best quote I've ever seen on LOVE:

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained”
C.S. Lewis quotes (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)

Happy Valentine's Day to all who pass this way...

Love and love some more!
D.~

Valentine recipe

Several people have asked me for this recipe.

Once upon a time ago - it was one of my Dad's favorites & since his birthday is the day before Valentine's Day I have a tendency to associate it with the holiday...

It is fairly cheap, fast & easy and has a big "yum" factor to it too...

Cherry Nut Bars

2 egg whites - slightly beaten
2 T Maraschino cherry juice
6 T Water
4 T Oil
1 Pkg. white cake mix
1/2 C sparsly chopped walnuts
1/2 C drained chopped Maraschino cherries

Combine ingredients in order listed.
Makes a thick batter
Spread in a 9x13 pan
Bake 350 15-20 minutes - until set

Frosting 1 -
butter
chopped cherries
cherry juice
powdered sugar
heavy whipping cream


Frosting 2 -
softened cream cheese
powdered sugar
cherry juice
whipped topping

(Sorry about the no measurements on the frosting choices, my family just does this by feel & to taste)

Baptizing a Miracle...

I felt the Holy Spirit very strongly in church today.
Yesterday, the elders baptized a Miracle.
=)
That was the boy’s family name. … but really… aren’t we all miracles?
He looked so very handsome dressed all in white.
I had the pleasure and the privilege of speaking at his service.
Today, he was confirmed a member where upon the brethren conferred upon him a blessing and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We were also privileged to be witness to the blessing of a baby – so sweet.

It’s long been rumored among the faithful that when over come by emotion in the singing of a sacred hymn,

(…that heartfelt swelling of the breast that bares testimony of the Holy spirit drawing most near – that which sometimes renders humankind tearful & speechless…)

…it’s said that in those moments the angelic host can and does carry your part forward…

I thought I heard them singing with the congregation today – and this is the hymn:

Redeemer of Israel

Redeemer of Israel, Our only delight, On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day And our Pillar by night, Our King, our Deliverer, our all!

We know he is coming To gather his sheep And lead them to Zion in love,
For why in the valley Of death should they weep Or in the lone wilderness rove?

How long we have wandered As strangers in sin And cried in the dessert for thee!
Our foes have rejoiced When our sorrows they’ve seen, But Israel will shortly be free.

As children of Zion, Good tidings for us. The tokens already appear.
Fear not, and be just, For the kingdom is ours. The hour of redemption is near.

Restore, my dear Savior, The light of thy face; Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;
And let the sweet longing For thy holy place Bring hope to my desolate heart.

He looks! And ten thousands Of angels rejoice, And myriads wait for his word;
He speaks! And eternity, Filled with his voice, Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.

A very short story

Blame it on my little e-mail friends...


A Very Short Story



Man driving down road
Woman driving up same road
They pass each other.
The woman yells out the window, PIG!
Man yells out window, B * T C H!
Man rounds next curve.
Crashes into a HUGE PIG in middle of road and dies.

Thought For the Day: If only men would listen

Why I Need the Birds

I grabbed up the rare luxury of sleeping in this morning - hushing over the harpy voice in my head with its endless "to do" listings...
and I was blessed with this little treasure.
A poem by Lisel Mueller which was featured on today's Writer's Almanac, and given deep favor by Garrison Keillor's bartone reading.... you could listen to it here: The Writer's Almanac or just read it through, below...

Why I Need the Birds

When I hear them call
in the morning, before
I am quite awake,
my bed is already traveling
the daily rainbow,
the arc toward evening;
and the birds, leading
their own discreet lives
of hunger and watchfulness,
are with me all the way,
always a little ahead of me
in the long-practiced manner
of unobtrusive guides.

By the time I arrive at evening,
they have just settled down to rest;
already invisible, they are turning
into the dreamwork of trees;
and all of us together —
myself and the purple finches,
the rusty blackbirds,
the ruby cardinals,
and the white-throated sparrows
with their liquid voices —
ride the dark curve of the earth
toward daylight, which they announce
from their high lookouts
before dawn has quite broken for me.

Shapeshifter Burfica!

I was visiting Burfica's site this morning and saw this:
"...I pick teams I like the way girls do. If it's an animal I'll always cheer for it. If it's two animals I pick the cuter one. hehehehehee"
... and I wondered...
So, if Burfica was to magically become a shapeshifter... what animals would be her favorite ones to switch off to?
.
.
.
You tell me yours I'll tell you mine!

QUOTATION:	A man’s character is his fate.
ATTRIBUTION:	Heraclitus (c. 535–c. 475 BC), Greek philosopher. . .On The Universe

- Oscar Wilde -

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
.
.
.
"The Great and Wonderful Love"
.
.
.
;-)

From The Little Prince...

The Dean of Business and Community Education turned me on to a well loved children's book, (I'd been invited to her house to help her bake cake)
I took this book along with me the last time I'd gone on vacation.
(There were going to be some very, very, very long layovers in the travel plan)
Here's a bit of wisdom from it:

The Fox: It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential, is invisible to the eye. – from The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Weird thing #1 about me - I LOVE children's
literature and still read it, from time to time - I hope to never out grow it.

Weird thing #2 about me - A long time ago (& in what seems to be another life-time) I began to refer to the bathroom as, "The little freak's room". There's a multitude of reasons why. People, including yourself/myself do things in that room that they'd do no other place... Even people you scarcely know – may have occasion to come to your home and ask to privily use this room. Imagine: Strangers - securing themselves into this private and yet somehow public space. . . and they “do” things in there they’d never do if you were watching them. I’m not just talking about hygienic things… ;-) I’m also talking about snoopy things, like looking into your medicine cabinet, or poking through your vanity drawers – peeking into your linen closet. . . Never a good idea to stow “treasure” away in a bathroom, unless it’s truly a private, private bath…. (my sister lost a "friend" & a special Jade&Sliver ring once to this type of thievery friend asked to use the bathroom just before she ended her visit at the house and we never saw either one ever again! Queen of Panic was none too "happy" & I took note on what not to do with my special jewelery!)
Burfica may remember her sister and I hanging a Bull Whip over the door to the
bathroom in the apartment we shared. It made a handy reference for anyone in
need of answering to nature’s call… “Bathroom? Oh! You mean the little freak’s
room! It’s up the stairs and straight on, it’s the one with the whip over the
door.” Lol! (good times)

Weird thing #3 about
me – I am generally calm, collected and able to do whatever needs to be
done in a trama/drama situation. Drop to my knees, check vitals and begin CPR
til help arrives…, pull the broken bits of sewing needle out of the finger (that
the Singer just ran over) & then administer the first aid…, break loose from
my date and intervene, in a fight-scene-turned criminal assault… but, after the
fact, I’ll seek solace in solitude – I’ll honor the need to ‘defib’ a bit –
curl-up into that proverbial “fetal ball” and process the residuals….

I had to leave this yesterday with something lame like, "um, I gotta go to work!" I'm Fishin' up the rest of the list of 6 now.... which needs to be revised, because the Opie ... never mind!
Weird thing #4 about me - I'm not a big fan of finger pickin' noses, mine or anyone elses! :P I can Soooo identify with Burfica's not wanting anything icky on her hands. If I think it's gotta be picked (not just in need of a clean blow) it's off to the little freak's room we go... where I get down to business with a cotton swab. They do a much better job than any finger could ever do in nose duggery!

Weird thing #5 about me - I'm, I'm a crazy magnate? I am beginning to have this fear... Crazy people seek me out. Really. Some flippy characters have sought my acquaintance over the years and it seems to have gotten worse.... If there's someone in a crowd, who's a fry or 2 short of a full happy meal... they'll find me. I've actually entertained the thought of getting a degree in clinical psychology, figuring if the crazies are gonna keep dropping on by I might as well get the proper skill-sets to DEAL with 'em (as effectively as I positively can). Maybe some nice art theropy...? ***disclaimer! This weird thing is in NO WAY a commentary on anyone in the bloggosphere!!! So if you are reading this, #5!? -> IS NOT ABOUT YOU!!! LOL! ***

Weird thing #6 about me - thinking,,,thinking,,,, ok. okokok. I'm an 'organizer' - in a good way (no this has nothing to do with adult entertainment) My MOM is a pack-rat, terrible bad. I can hardly stand to visit her at her place for more than a few minutes because, well my mind starts to bend over the crap she's got piled every where. My place has gotten messy inbetween semesters because of the time factor -but that was the first thing I tackled at break. I like everything in handy sensible reach, logical storage, for where ever what ever I do in that room. Kitchen I can stand in one spot practically and reach, pull out, put away - neatly everything I have and need there etc.... all over the house. I have a well thought out system that makes sense to me...(& I mean I really think about these things - I don't suppose most people go through the steps I do to put 'abc' here because of this or that bla-bla reason. It's all about flow & usabilty! Like the Entertainment center needs to be close to an "exit" traffic lane from the house so I can easily shut it down on my way out. I try NOT to put the TV opposite windows because of daytime glare sometimes you can't help what you've got to work with in an apt. layout... I'm the dishwasher & right-handed so Glasses, plates, bowls need to be in an upper right-hand cabinet from the Kitchen sink... bla, bla, bla...

Bonus "#7"- I've said a "good-night" prayer every night of my life for as far back as I can remember... they've evolved over the years. I've also said a "good-morning" prayer every morning for the past 10 years - solid. (this one is always a 'gratitude' prayer - rarely asking anything, here, only listing things, places, people, situations, lessons, blessings... that I've especially noticed and that I'm especially grateful for.)

Cheerios 2 all of YOU!

D.~

The Lemonade Game

I just came from Entrepreneur class.
The fist 15-20 minutes of class were spent here: The Lemonade Game
Yes, yes! -> Playing the lemonade game.
This was both great fun & a hands on learning experience for the class.
Try it yourself and see how well you do!

I'll have to have another go at it myself. ... my 'notebook' computer I was using in class 'folded' up on me (unexpectedly shut down) so my first whack at this was lost. Not before a learned a couple tricks at scoring in the lemonade biz, though! (Ice melts , EVERYtime... so not good to stock up on that!)

Sunday night studies and up dates:
from one of my online classes...

The Art of Leadership

art (noun) 1. skill acquired by experience or study. 2. a system of rules to facilitate performance; the use of skill and imagination in applying such rules (the art of building, the art of persuasion). 3. endeavor requiring special knowledge and ability (fine arts, practical arts). 4. the product or result of artisitc faculty (body of work).

leadership (noun) 1. showing the way or direction; the course of action. 2. indluencing or causing to follow by words and deeds. 3. guiding the behaviour of others through ideas, strength, or heroic feats. 4. the position or function of one who leads (the king led his people). 5. the ability to lead (she displayed leadership skill).

I think I'm gonna dig this study. Second page into the text has this question:

What is Leadership? - the answer is social influence. It means leaving a mark. It is initiating and guiding and the result is change. The product is a new character or direction that otherwise would never be... by their ideas and deeds, leaders show the way and influence the behavior of others.
Then, to show the importance of ideas, we are asked to consider the legend of King Arthur, who led the Knights of the Round Table with his vision of chivalry:

My teacher Merlyn, who always remembered things that haven't happened better
than things that have, told me once that a few hundred years from now it will be
discovered that the world is round - round like the table at which we sat with
such high hope and noble purpose. If you do what I ask, perhaps people will remember how we of Camelot went questing for right and honor and justice. Perhaps one day men will sit around this world as we did once at our table, and go questing once more... for right... honor... and justice.

Ok. That's like, page 2. (lol) and I'm lovin it - looking forward to more interesting toss-ins as we go merrily along our way! =)

Better get back "tuit"... wanna keep the grades up. I fished a letter out of the mailbox, yesterday, nominating me for something called the National Dean's List. No cost to send in a Biography and it automatically gives you some leveragible perks. ... (i.e.: scholarship info, etc...)

May you, yes, YOU!!! have a blessed week!

=) Cheerios,

D.~

Sillies from e-mail land...

Ok. I finally posted the answers to that news quiz - I'll post the links to that one later... right now I've Web Design II to attend to! =) yes. happy, happy, joy, joy... I am digging this! As part of "Portfolio" class we'll be creating our own web page to post our Art - cool beans, huh?
This means I'd better quit typing here and start paying attention to the lecture. hehehee

As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Remember:

1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert have written an impressive new book.
It's called "Ministers Do More Than Lay People."

2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink and be Mary.

3. The difference between the Pope and your boss...
the Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.

4. My mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it is gone.

5. The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you're in the bathroom.

6. I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once. The seat folded up, the drink spilled and that ice, well, it really chilled the mood.

7. It used to be only death and taxes were inevitable. Now, of course, there's shipping and handling, too.

8. A husband is someone who, after taking the trash out, gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house.

9. My next house will have no kitchen - just vending machines and a large trash can.

10. A blonde said, "I was worried that my mechanic might try to rip me off. I was relieved when he told me all I needed was turn signal fluid."

11. I'm so depressed. My doctor refused to write me a prescription for Viagra. He said it would be like putting a new flagpole on a condemned building.

12. My neighbor was bitten by a stray rabid dog. I went to see how he was and found him writing frantically on a piece of paper. I told him rabies could be treated, and he didn't have to worry about a Will. He said, "Will? What Will? I'm making a list of the people I want to bite."

13. Definition of a teenager? God's punishment for enjoying sex.

14. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.

Cheerios 2 all of YOU!!!

=)

D.~

Who's Who News Review

Sooo...
As promissed here's the quiz we used for "table topics" at our Holiday party for the Gazette gang. See if you can work through it without cheating and googling the answers. It's ok to make up answers if you just don't know, matter of fact that was a BIG part of the fun, we had with this thing!!! (No pressure - this is more about fun than facts!)
=)
I'll post the real answers, along with the site I got them from, in a couple days:

Working at a newspaper, we work in an information industry, during a time that's been labeled the 'information age' - how much do we really absorb / pay attention to?

Here are some personalities that may not have been universally famous before the year 2006, but which, nonetheless, became famous by making national and international headlines last year. (For an example: Barbaro - The 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who broke his leg in the Preakness)

Here are the names - what was the story?

1. Claude Allen: President Bush's fromer top domestic adviser, arrested in March - charged with stealing around $5000 worth of merchandise, (ranging from $2.50 items up to home-theater systems) from stores & then returning the products. Plead guilty (in August to a plea agreement) to a misdemeanor count of theft. Allen is to pay $500 fine and $850 restitution to Target.

2. Michelle Bachelet: Chilean doctor and public official, was elected president January 06, becoming Chile's first woman leader. She is a survivor of the Pinochet dictatorship, which was responsible for her father's death & subjected her to prison, torture, and exile.

3. Jill Carroll: Freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, was kidnapped at gun point in January in Baghdad, held for 82 days by a group demanding the United States release all Iraqi women prisoners. She was freed in late March.

4. Sacha Baron Cohen: Actor/Comedian - Best known as Comical fake TV interviewer "Borat". As Borat he starred in the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006).

5. Isabelle Dinoire: Frenchwoman who received the world's first place transplant, appeared at a news conference in February; answering questions about her injuries, explaining that after passing out from taking drugs, her dog chewed her lips, nose, and chin...

6. Taylor Hicks: Singer/Talent Show Contestant Best known as the "Soul Patrol" winner of American Idol 2006.

7. Rev. Ted Haggard: Evangelical minister from Colorado, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals in November, after Michael Jones, a gay escort, said he had a 3 year affair with him and gave him drugs. Haggard, who has been a liaison to the White House, initally denied the allegations, but later said he had hired Jones ot give him a massage. He also said he bought methamphetamine from Jones, but never used the drug.

8. John Mark Karr: Schoolteacher, was arrested in Bangkok in August in connection with the 1996 murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey. The case against Karr was dismissed 2 weeks later when test results revealed that his DNA did not match the sample taken from Ramsey.

9. Princess Kiko: Wife of the younger son of Japan's emperor, gave birth to a boy in September; sparing Japan a controversial debate over whether women should be allowed to ascend to the throne. The child is 3rd in line to become emperor.

10. Alexander Litvinenko: Former KGB spy, died in London in November after being contaminated with the radioactive isotope polonium 210.

11. Kaavya Viswanathan: College student, admitted in April that she copied several passages from 2 books by Megan McCafferty for her own novel, How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life. The Harvard sophomore received wide attention when she was paid $500,000 in a 2-book deal with publisher Little, Brown. Her star dimmed quickly as Little,Brown recalled all copies of the book. Viswanathan, said the plagiarism was "unitentional and unconscious."

12. Harry Whittington: Texas Lawyer, was accidentally shot by Vice President Dick Cheney in February during a hunting trip. His face, neck, and torso were sprayed with dozens of pellets. Cheney - and the entire Bush administration - faced resounding criticism for not publicizing the incidnet for nearly 24 hours, for placing the blame on Whittington rather than Cheney, and for joking about the accident. (after which time the rest of the nation, it seems, went on to joke about the incident as well!)

Bonus: Zinedine Zidane: Kicked out of Soccor's World Cup, for loosing his cool with 'the headbutt heard 'round the world'

Schooling again...

Classes stated up for the Spring semester this past Monday.
It's all coming together pretty darn fast now.
I've got to keep reminding myself about what is and what is not good for time management!!!
I love the blog-o-sphere so, I'll not abandon things here for too long...
Matter of fact I've started up several other blogs for specific things, few of which are or will be connected to this.

I put a beautiful quick post together earlier today - about catching up on movies while I was snowbound and off on Holiday break... and... and... dang. Blogger ATE it! : (

sooooo... here's m'list again... almost all of these are from the older, cheap isles, the keep 'em for 7 days rentals - because I don't frequent the video rental store like I used to. I don't know why. I LOVE a good movie and I'd never seen any of these before I picked up movies for each week I was on 'vacation':

Round 1:
Billy Elliot
Cinderella Man
Freda
Finding Neverland
The Garden State

Round 2:
X Men
The Matrix (which I still ahven't seen! It quit playing 1/4 to 1/2 into the movie. So I returned it. I found out it was the only copy the rental place had and it was scratched up... so I replaced it with...)
Bad Santa
Miracle
Spiderman
Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Round 3:
Prairie Home Companion
Nanny McPhee
Little Miss Sunshine (so disfunctional that I had to go to the 'sceens' selections just to get the thing to play! lol!)
The Break-up
Pink Panther

Round 4:
Devil Wares Prada
Leagally Blonde
The Work and The Glory
The Lord of the Rings:
•The Fellowship of the Rings
•The Two Towers
•Return of the King

I was impressed with the Lord of the Rings movies, I believe Peter Jackson got it as right as could be done. I had an extra appreciation for them after taking the multimedia class last semester - (we worked with Final Cut Pro... which is what movie makers are using now to edit film / sound) I had a bit of trouble with the sound on my rinky dinky tv some of the dialog was getting lost in the musical score & I noticed you could select sound opitons at the menu portion of the DVD. I settled on English subtitles and that smoothed everthing out plus, gave me some of the whisperings sprinkled here and there that I would have missed otherwise.
I remember I was encouraged to read those books (about 30 years ago) by a friend who looked and sometimes acted rather Hobbit-like, Scott Lorentz. (God rest his soul)

I got that 2006 news quiz with me but I think I'll make another post out of it for tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!
=)
D.~

Another Storm link...

Someone e-mailed this to me and I forwarded it on to a few others... I did want to post it here too. I liked the blogger commentary that the guy put up with the pictures. 'specially the one about the pet exercise sign...lol!
The Queen of Panic! ought to find some interest in these as there's some shots of the damage around Kenesaw (she weathered a few storms there herself!) =)
Anyways, here's the link: http://www.extremeinstability.com/06-12-31.htm... scroll down once you get there and follow along pages 1-4. as Storm Crazy Photoman takes you on a little journey.

In other news... I went to the holiday party for the Gazette Saturday night. If it hadn't been for the fact that they were holding a five dollar bill of mine hostage, I might have skipped the party and a whalloping good time, (as it was snowing again all day that day and into the next, you know? Just makes one want to snuggle up at home!) - the deal was you got your five bucks back when you got to the club house. We had the run of the Heritage Hills (golf course) club house and it was just the right size venue for the festivities. I had been inducted onto the planning committe and practically every idea I came up with got played out at the party- all the way down to the making of silly hats out of old gazettes, everyone there had to do this (at the tail end of the party) - each table sent their best effort forward for 'a fashion show' - and then the whole room picked 2 winners: as king & queen of the paper hats. This was such silly good fun! At one point I turned around to see one of the editors, (big guy) had gerry-rigged a pipe cleaner scaffolding/frameworks deal on top of his boxy little hat and had dangling from the center there, a shinny round silver christmas ornament. I'm hoping someone snapped a photo of that one - lol!
We also played: signature bingo, live body bingo, & "The 2006 who's who in the news" table topics, & there was a mini golf putting tournament... which not every one was immediately aware of, I saw a couple people nearly "taken out" by a put or 2 because they'd unknowingly 'wandered' onto the 'green' - well, my golly! They'd set that up right in front of the acess to the Men's and Women's restrooms hehehee.... you couldn't get there any other way.

We were served a wonderful, catered meal. And each found something very special at their place setting - a troy ounce of silver minted into a LARGE Liberty coin, (Indian head on the front, Bison on the back - ) especially for the Gazette. It's silver reclaimed from the lithographic plates used in the paper's runs by some sort of electro-magnetic process... "just one more example of how we do whatever we can to recycle and reclaim. We thought it'd be special if you each got one of these." ...is what we were told.

I love working with these people at the Gazette. I'm glad they called me back after Thanksgiving to fill a part-timer position in customer services. It's going to fit in great with this spring semester.

I don't have a copy with me, but I'll post that news quiz I dregged up - later on this week. I thought it was way fun... the publisher said they might decide to make that one a yearly event! =)

Love and hugs people!
D.~

Blizzard-shots

I captured some interesting photos on my 'spy-phone' however, I've been having troubles downloading from the dadgum phone off to the computer so I could post 'em up here.
Meanwhile the NTV people have gotten tons of pictures submitted to them under their community correspondent program.
Click here on nebraska.tv
There's some great shots from area viewers...
Meanwhile word is we have another storm moving in!
=)

2007 Spiritual theme - for the strength 0f our youth:

" ...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly;

then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God... "

-- D&C 121:45

A throw back to New Year's

'Nebraska nation'
Human behavior...
Sportmania...
This is funny... at least it struck me that way! I laughed about it last Sunday night/Mondaymorning:
New Year's eve.... thousands and thousands and thousands of Nebraskans (25-26,000 or more) hunkered down, snowed in, no power, treacherous ice and blowing snow everywhere, down to only 1 TV station at my place.
...the 'NTV' news being broadcast by a couple cub reporters out of the Grand Island station due to serious damage to the main station and tower in Hastings (huge chunks of ice breaking free from the tower and crashing through the station roof!!!)
...and what's the lead story?
Get this! ->
Hundreds of phone calls in to the station from Nebraskans wondering how the hell they're going to be able to see the big Nebraska vs. Auburn game if the dadburn station that's subposed to air the match is disabled and not brought back up on line, by kick-off the next morning!!??? (New Year's Day.) lol, lol, lol.... gotta love these fellow Nebraskan's and their dedication to first things first! Right? Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see the Husker's get their butts-kicked, myself, because the original channel everyone was yelling about isn't one I normally get. Due to all the fuss, though, the one (and only one) I was pulling in got "special permission" to also broadcast the game. Whoo-Hoo!... too bad those Huskers went on to drop the ball - over and over again. *sighs*
In other, yet somewhat related news... I just thought I'd speculate a bit on market 'futures' here....
the President finally got around to declaring this state a Federal disaster area - which will help us, however, no power often times means 'no water' in these parts since alot of wells are electronically switched... this means plenty of live stock where not only near impossible to get to but, they've been 'OUT-there' in below freezing temps and below zero wind chill for days and days without feed & water... they've not counted this cost yet but more than likely there's a few million $$$$ frozen to the ground right now that won't be heading to any market - ever.
I'm thinking the cost of beef is about to go way up.
If you love it, now might be a good time to stock up on all things, beef.
Just a thought...

Update...

Turns out my unexpected bovine was a BULL.
Yes.
That makes it official bull-sh**, that was left behind...
and,
speaking of behinds,
I'm especially glad, now, that I did not run right out there and "check the rear" for this critter's station identification! lol! =)
.

Hello 2007!

Hello 2007!
...and helloooooooo...
(heart - skips a beat, for fleeting fright and 2 more measures, for sheer surprise!)
What is this strange, oddly BIG (and *gasp* moving!) shape standing on just the other flimsy side of my door?
Good Golly, It's barely 8 a.m. and dang it am I glad I'm not nakid right now... pulling on the teddy bear nightshirt - coming straight up out of bed was a good idea... why did I do it?
Ah, yes.
Intuition.
Whispered, "you may have an unexpected visitor" ... and now, coming up out of the basement, I find I - I have ... a ... (pulls the lovely lace curtain aside) COW??? (an unexpected visitor, indeed!) A rather nice looking brown cow ...in my carport.
Parked neatly in, next to the car.
A window peeping cow - apparently.
As close to the house as she could be - 'for warmth no doubt,' I thought.
There we stood.
Gazing at one another.
Looking through the large glass, a window through the door, really, and into each other's big brown eyes.
Humm.
I'll call Rick. It's probably his cow, even if it isn't, he's going to be much more ready, willing and able to deal with her... or is it him? Yes. I'm pathetic. Living in beef country and I'm 'zip' knowledgeable on how to tell the difference, nor do I care, to tell, mind you, between cow and steer. (If I had to lay money on it I'd go with steer though!) ;-)
Rick is a favorite of mine (even though I don't talk to him near enough these days)... and I'm not just saying that because he come along on his tractor Sunday morning - blading all the trails out here, along with a courtesy bumpout, in the driveway directly behind my car - Whoo-hoo! - God Love him! - he's a cousin, who operates the Well Drilling service just up the road from me. And, did I mention he keeps a few cows around the place?
So I call him up and get Lisa, his lovely wife - who asks me, before calling Rick herself, what color is the cow?
"Brown." I say. "It's a very nice, brown cow. In my carport. Staying nice and warm up near the house and out of the wind."
I got to thinking after we'd said goodbye that - that was a good question. The cows across the road are mostly black with an occasional white patch. I guess that's why I immediately thought this was Rick's cow. Because of it's beautiful coloring. Then I wondered if it was the same 0ne that was so watchful over my mowing last summer.
=)
Soooo watchful that it almost made me feel bad I wasn't bagging the clippings and dumping all that sweetness over the fenceline for that cow to savor for real - rather than just standing by - a watchin' and a wishin'.
.
.
.
Any who,
What does the 'Sign of the Bovine' mean exactly?
Especially at the beginning of a brave, new year?
Does this mean I'll have good luck for the rest of the year?
...meat (ahem) meet the 'beef-cake' of my dreams?
... I'm taking it as a good sign - no indication that I'm about to be slaughtered - heh. please!...
...How do I KNOW it's intended to be a good sign of things to come???
Simple.
That beautiful, brown cow left behind a little brown gift... lol...
Now, I'm ready for anything and everything!
Moooove it on over people.
Keep a wide shovel close by
And ...
Let the good times roll!
Love to all who pass this way!
Hugsss,
D.~

Pictures....