Something nice from Catchy Colors...

Try this link.
Should take you to a fun little Christmas 2006 assortment posted through the catchy colors photoblog...
=)
Merry Christmas!
D.~

P.S.- December Bills: paid in full...
.Carrollers at the door with a plate of goodies, too...
.My favorite nephews coming to visit with both their parents in tow...
.Next school day? -> January 15th.
.
Ooooh. I'm o, so, gonna enjoy my month "off"!
Cheerios to all of YOU!
All the best in 2007!!!

Owh! =)

After testing her baby language theory on more than 1,000 infants around the world, Priscilla says there are 5 words that every babies 0-3 months old say - regardless of race and culture:

• Neh="I'm hungry"
• Owh="I'm sleepy"
• Heh="I'm experiencing discomfort"
• Eair="I have lower gas"
• Eh="I need to burp"

These words are actually sound reflexes....

Check it out! Here's the link (to yesterday's Oprah Winfrey show) to read and or listen to this way cool revelation about baby-kind!

Cheerios!

D.~

Time for Another Prairie Home Joke...

Life is all about ass: You're either covering it,
laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it,
trying to get a piece of it, or behaving like one.

(This joke was credited to:
Barry Clark, Fredericksburg, Virginia)

Butt....
it SOooo reminds me of my last bf - I just had to paste it here.
.
Note:
"Jokes are democratic. Telling one right has nothing to do with having money or being educated. It's a knack, like hammering a nail straight. Anyone can learn it, and it's useful in all sorts of situations. You can go your whole life and not need math or physics for a minute, but the ability to tell a joke is always handy."
- Garrison Keillor

=)
Cheerios 2 all of you!
D.~

P.S.-(in rememberance of Pearl Harbor ... I'm being especially kind to any and all veterans today... which reminds me, I got a few cards I need to get out in the mail. God bless all our men and women in service to this sweet land of liberty!)

Ah...the Christmas HYMNS!

One of the special things about church services in the month of December are the Christmas Hymns.

Today's services were opened with this one:

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o' er the plains,
And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains.

Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav'nly song?

Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the new born King.

Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.
Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.

Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.

.

(yeah. If you're reeeeeally into music... you'll note from the way I factored in the 'Glorias' above here - that I take to the 'alto' line - thankful, too, of all the other voices which cover and out shine mine. heh.)

.

Today, being the first Sunday of the month, was also a fast and testimony service... those always bring the spirit close.

It's a blessing and a privilege to fast and pray for special purpose - all of which would be incomplete if it was not followed up by generous offerings.

A blessing and special privilege, also, to have the opportunity to either stand and bare personal testimony of the Gospel - as Christ exemplified through out His entire ministry - or, sit quietly by, listening to other's speak, through inspiration's power, of the deeply moving experiences, treasures really - that they've gained through exercising their faith in the gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Awesome, uplifting, thought provoking, stuff.

.

I had a mini break with the grindstone last night...

I went with friends to the theater on campus and took in the closing night performance of 'Miracle on 34th Street'.

It was sweet.

I'd forgotten how cool and funny and sweetly touching small town community theater is. 'Cause you just 'know' a good portion of the cast, personally (in some form or fashion) - which only adds to the delight of seeing them carrying on 'in character'. (Big, cheesy grins!!! ha!)

It was the first time I'd been in that theater for anything (other than the induction ceremony to Phi Theta Kappa).

It's all pretty much 'black-box' and I wondered how they'd pull off something as complex as 'Miracle on 34th Street'.

Ingeniously, they used a projector to change backdrops for the scenes which meant the most elaborate set up they had overall, was the court room set - and for that - the actors individually carried their own props on and off the stage area during the fade-to-black in-between the scenes.

.

I'm thinking this was my big cozmic prompt to get out and do more in the name of FUN! Once the semester is over and I hit that luxurious Winter break... ahhhhh. (eyes glaze over...)

Ya know, I poo-pooed and put up a wee resistance...

I didn't wanna go.

(Listen! -> Hear that faint rattle of m' Marley chains connecting text books to brain. ???)

I sure did enjoy it, though once I got there and was in the mix and thick of it all.

Thankfully my friends wouldn't take "no" for the answer - your ticket will be at the door. .. . .. .

When I got there, a gracious man by the name of Tom told me, "You've been paid for."

&

I thought, 'Yes. So I have. Haven't we all?'

...reflecting on the Christmas season we are now entering into....

... haven't we all been paid for?

... by, Him whose birth the angels sing...'

Glo - ooo-o, ooo-o, ooo-o ri-a in excelsis Deo.

=)

D.~

Crunch time...

I may not be posting for a while...
Finals are hurling towards us.
Only 2 (2!!!???) weeks left for classes before finals week drains the living breath out of each and every surviving brain cell and nerve, that have not yet deserted me.
Plus...
I've a grand decision to ratify.
I'm thinking about pulling a double major.
For the equivalent of one more semester's work I can double degree.
One in graphic design
One in business
I'm 97% certain this is what I should do.
.
There was one consideration of special interest that I had been holding in reservation to taking this course and extending my time here at MCC.
.
After careful observations, prayers, and reflections over the questions I've asked and the answers (& non answers!) I've received - I'm pretty sure I know what the right pathway is here.
.
It's the one I'm already on!
.
...and that's a very good thing to carry into this finals week with me!
.
Cheerios to all of you!
=)
D.~

First Thanksgiving of All

Some thoughts from a favorite book of mine: PURE LOVE - readings on sixteen enduring virtues - selected with reflections, by Marilyn Arnold.........

"I do not know of any, excepting the unpardonable sin, that is greater than the sin of ingratitude," said Brigham Young, (Journal of Discourses 14:277) In the United States, and in other countries too, the idea of gratitude has been formalized bya national holiday. In the United states we typically observe the occasion by honoring the Pilgram fathers and mothers who gratefully made a feast from simple fare.

FIRST THANKSGIVING OF ALL

Peace and Mercy and Jonathan,
And Patience (very small),

Stood by the table giving thanks

The first Thanksgiving of all.
There was very little for them ot eat,

Nothing special and nothing sweet;

Only bread and a little broth,
And a bit of fruit (and no tablecloth);

But Peace and Mercy and Jonathan
And Patience, in a row,
Stood up and asked a blessing on
Thanksgiving, long ago.

Thankful they were their ship had come
Safely across the sea;
Thankful they were for hearth and home,
And kin and company;

They were glad of broth to go with their bread,
Glad their apples were round and red,
Glad of mayflowers they would bring
Out of the woods again next spring.

So Peace and Mercy and Jonathan,
And Patience (very small),
Stood up gratefully giving thanks
The first Thanksgiving of all.

--( Nancy Byrd Turner.)

cornucopia....

Anemae Jacks

That's right. The assignment for yesterday's class was to annimate 'something' and since I was working with the Jacks I did them. I was gonna post the little show here, 150 seconds.... however.... the 'Quick time movie" failed to load. Oh well. I wasn't that satisfied with the action in it... although I did like the way I was able to get the ball to bounce and spin and kinda flatten/flex a little, everytime it appeared to hit the counter top.

I wanna

Yes. I wanna animate everything we've done so far now... I've gone crazy for the Cinema4D program...
the toy train,
the 3D logo - I choose the Gazette name plate for that one. Having the 'newsboy' <-(airplane) come flying outta nowhere, barrel roll, and fly through that uppercase G would be a gas, I think. =)
then there's the tea pot & dishes you have not seen here yet, and of course,
the butterflies at the gazing ball.
I'm wondering if having the butterflies emerge from the gazing ball one by one would be a good effect?
I was thinking about replacing the art work on their wings with the faces of my lovely nieces and nephews... only problem is I'm not sure if I have the most up to date pix of all the little darlings.
There was a camera full of good shots from the 4th of July 'lost' sometime shortly there after.
*sighs*
Maybe I can capture some good ones on my 'spy phone' tomarrow. hehehee.

"Happy Thanksgiving!"

Guess I'll move along to wishing everyone a "Happy Thanksgiving" here's a sampler clip-art from Dover...
bless their hearts, they send me sampler clip art every Wednesday - the old style stuff - the stuff with no ties to copy right.
I like the old charm these have very well indeed, thank you very much.
See the next post up for some special Thanksgiving thoughts I'd like to keep journaled here.
.
.
.
I think that I, like a lot of people I know, have much to be thankful for.
We like to complain... it's a human frailty, hard to over come when it was such a successful strategy for survival, during the infancy / toddler years... and to this day how do you improve? Zero in on what could use some improvement? If you haven't the fortitude to register or receive the occasional honest complaint to or from someone deserving to do or have better?
Tomarrow, though, it's all about what is good and what we as individuals and as a nation have to be thankful for.
I'm thinking about starting a list. lol!
let it run on til next Thanksgiving.
That would be a whoot, no?
I'll start here:
1st I'm thankful for my testimony that Christ lives. I'm extremely thankful for the knowledge that there is a God, a loving heavenly Father, and I am thankful for my church - the best spirtiual school I've ever attended - It has worked miracles in my life.
2nd I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for the love they've shown to me.
3rd I'm thankful for the opportuity to return to school and study after my hearts desire... this business of Art.
and finally, I'm thankful for all the good people I've meet along the way thus far - many, many of you are truly remarkable human beings - nothing but the best wishes and blessings for each and everyone!

(What are you thankful for?)
Hugs,
D.~

Depth of Field

. As promised here's the assignment, cropped in tight with some depth of field added in. 1st front and back have the blur. 2nd a look with only the back in blur. 3rd no application of depth of field. Which do you like better?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Xs & Os people.
Xs & Os!
;-)

D.~

10 Jacks...

The assignment was to create a ball & jacks scene. This picture used to be a lip-stick, a perfume bottle, an ear-ring & an eyebrow pensil. I decided not to "reinvent the wheele" so I used the basic back ground and materials to create the new scene. the red ball used to be the lip stick. The jacks here, used to be 1 dangle ear ring. I'm also supposed to apply a "depth of field effect" - just haven't gotten that far yet....
When I do - I'll doc. it here.

Cheerios to all who pass this way!
and...
if I don't get back on before next Thursday...
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!!
=)
D.

Move over Maxfield Parish... =)

Butterflies in the sky...

It's Greek to me...

Confession ('97)

It was 1997 (I think?) when I first heard his ‘confession’…

Thankfully it had nothing to do with me – at the least, I had nothing to do with scaring the boy. I liked him. There seemed to be an instant immediacy, a familiarity and trust between us – although I never talked about this feeling to him, to see if he’d felt it too, I just accepted it as is. I’d had enough confirmation in time past to verify this feeling, whenever it came, as generally being a mutual deal.

I was just a momentary supervisor in time to him… an 'on-the-job' training coach for pity’s sake…

One night the boy blurted out, “Love is a bad, bad thing. I don’t want anything to do with love.”

I don’t recollect now, why he’d say such a thing to me. Perhaps I’d asked, in passing, how his girlfriend was, or made some conspirator’s remark as in: ‘wouldn’t you love to be done with work, out of here, and off with your friends ….?’

It surprised me, what he’d said.
Had I heard right?
Was this young man on the edge of hating love and hardening his heart?
….. forever, maybe?

I do remember what I said to him:

I told him that I thought he'd had it wrong.
That to me, love - true, pure love - is a good thing. The very best thing you can ever cultivate in your own heart and the greatest gift one human being could ever bestow, sustain, and nurture in relationship to another.

I told him that one needed to keep in mind though, that just because you'd the best, heartfelt gift to give - it didn't necessarily mean the person you'd most like to give it to, would receive that gift. They may not be able to.

And…
Also…

Did he not know that there must-needs-be opposition in all things?

I told him I knew that there were a lot of wicked ‘things’ out in the world masquerading as love – all of which really had nothing, whatsoever to do with love - quite the opposite actually... those things, those pretentious, impersonating, imposters … were/are/and continue to be the bad thing, the scary thing, the stuff that’ll hurt you - for the very fact that they are not at all what they pretend to be, they are not LOVE.

I told him that:
Real love is the ‘balm’.
Love is good.
...
and
...
Good is good.

I’m not sure he heard me right. I wonder now if he’d thought I’d said, “REAL love is DA Bomb!”
lol
;-)

Isn't it amazing how, sometimes, trying to clairify something for someone else, helps us to better sort the subject for our own sakes?

For me, the scary thing was this thought of the young man ordering his world with the good thing as bad (and so very possibly giving bad things a status of gooood.) No decent coach EVER wants to see that!

hummm guess I'll roll over to Sunday on this note:

Hebrews 10:35 - Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Love and love s'more...
D.

Roswell...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!
I just finished handing out goodies to all the little children hitting up the campus for treats this year.
Dig it!

This picture takes advantage of a program aspect that even lets you pick what place, date, and time you'd like the "sky" in your scene to be. . . then automatically renders it in there for you!
Cool Beans?!
Yep.
Set this one to Roswell, NM - at just around midnight....
Have a sweet, safe night!
=)
D

P.S.-This is one that looks better if you double click on the pix and view it enlarged....

Porch Light On...

A run on the LAW...

That's right.
A run on the LAW...
feels somehow like I 'got away' with something.
I had 4 big test out of 5 classes last week.
The 1st one being in my Business Law class.
Over a half dozen chapters.
Thank God, - literally - and the teacher, for that one being an open book.
I hadn't read all the chapters.
I tried, but, not only is this book the biggest, heaviest, most cumbersome book I've got this semester - it could quantify as a major sleep aid, people.
I missed a class or two of lecture.
(Death, Illness...)
...and...
Here's the amazing part:
I managed to miss out on only 8 questions
and I still scored a 100%!!!
(insert beaming smile here.)

He (teacher), bless his heart <-(in the true Nebraskan sense of this phrase), graded on a curve & I managed to be one of the one's topping the curve!
Whew!

I was disgusted, for a minute, reviewing the test when I saw 2 questions that should have been logical gimmes - which I totally blew... but then I recalled that I'd missed 8 and still scored a 100%. By the Grace of God, I'm telling ya ...and... through the open-book, open-notes sensibilities of this teacher.
=)

Happy Wednesday / happy Hump-day everybody!

I've a great deal more to do so ...
Back2it.
D.

So I learned some more about applying textures, backgrounds and such...
and I applied what I learned to the Teapot exercise.
Here's my results...

Friday October 13th

~
They found your body
(& the corpus of your cat)
on a Friday, October 13th...

I'll never forget getting the call -
The one from your cousin...
Me in my Sunday dress -
curious over the strains of her small talking and then...
Her voice saying,
"Joe died."
.
.
.
.
The clarity and conviction with which I said to her,
"No."
"No!"
"I just talked to him!",
...made her second guess the finality of what she already knew to be true.
I know it did.
I could feel her hesitation...sifting through realities in her world
- up -
on the Holy alpine streches of a far-western, reaching sky...
She was considering the supernal, the supernatural -
worlds,
lives,
loves
without end.
I know she was...
Considering that you weren't "quite" gone yet...

...and...

in that instant...
realities in my world shifted too, to ........
I knew.
(NOT willing to believe it, yet...)
I knew.
You were.
&
She was - breaking - the news.

I couldn't make the funeral.
My veil would have been too thin

I've never been ground -
that deeply sad
in
all
my
days.

At least we'd talked
We'd said what we needed to say
maybe not all that we had to say
but, was it enough - ?
It mustneedsbe.
You.
So self-professedly bad at writing -
surprised me
NOT!
that you hadn't left a note...
...was I your note?
Nah.
You were never that planned.
More happenstance, perhaps...
I think...
... it seemed that way to your family...
that I was somewhat of a "Footenote" - from you...
you'd trusted me with pieces of mind, heart and soul
with shadows, doubts & fears which you'd not given over to them.

You joked with me that I knew you better than you knew yourself...

One year latter, I saw them for myself.
Your family.
I gave them every picture I ever had of you.
ok. I censured that sexy, fetching little-bathtub-one.
I figured your Momma didn't need to see that one.
=)
She was so agrieved...
Yet she was gracious and good to me.
They all were.
Laura told me of your later visit - your spiritual visit
The one to your Aunt, because her sister was too grieved for the loss of her son, for your spirit could not break through her thick tears to speak any sort of peace to her "Mother's broken heart"...
You'd plead for that to stop -
from the world of spirits -
you came, escorted no less,
a message,
a plea,
for your Momma to not grieve YOU, not so hard -
how her sad was holding you
somewhat tied...
... to her...
that...
She needed to know
that...
you were
FREE.

I tried you know,
to not grieve you so hard -
for the sudden end to your living possibilities
for "our world" minus you
I sent them a baloon for you -
that being a special thing between you and me
A blue baloon with a silver string...
and a peace rose.
and many, many prayers...
but you know all that by now, don't you?
I thought of the birthdays we'd shared...
I thought
a lot
of you.
I've stopped asking, "Why?"
I know.
You had to go, Joe.

Rest in Peace, Dear one.
It's good to know that you are free.
... I always wished you could be.
Only...
I never,
ever,
thought -
it would be like this.
Rest in Peace.
Rest in Peace.
Rest in Peace
D.~

Here's the cool thang...

Once you create a scene in Cinema 4D you can rotate, scale, move - it offers amazing flexibility in creative compositions.
Here's the Little Teapot & spoon exercise - with lights & from 3 different angles...
I even moved the spoon to the other side of the teapot and spun it around to a front view on the last example.
It's the same picture - but with this program you can spin it the way, almost anyway, you want to!!!
Before I "rendered" the scene I could even go down below the horizon line, & look at it, the teapot & the spoon, through the place mat... I mean to tell you this program is cool, cool, COOL!

Blue Gasssss

This was yet another class room exercise in lighting sceens from the Cinema 4D program.
The composition has 4 lights.
2 simulating jets
1 simulating a nebulean gaseous space cloud
1 "Omni" light, high & opposite the blue gas cloud to spring highligts off the ship.
Coolio - huh?
=)
D