Welcome to Stupidity Korner:

Todays guest is me.

I was recording some tunes for some friends to learn, (we are stuck in "play it by ear" mode and frankly, we like it that way), and I kept getting this annoying white noise in the back ground.
I am looking all over the house. I am monitoring my levels and stuff, but this keeps happening and I couldn't figure it out cuz it hasn't been a problem in the past.

Well DUH!

Where did I oh-so-casually leave the mic laying?
Right next to my computer, who's fan is going!

In fact, the fan is blowing right across the top of it!
*Slaps own forehead!*
Doh!

That is todays episode of Stupidity Korner!

Oh! New Cyberness occurs!

I am having great fun visiting a new and g-rated chat room which I have recently stumbled upon.
They actually talk about things sometimes and yet, lurkers are not shunned .
I often think of Jim Steph when I am there, wondering if he is lurking about somewhere unbeknownst to me. And so would I appear as an unknown to him.
It was great!
I greated a kid in Gaelic who entered the room and while no one else knew that his name meant "music," I was able to recognise it and greet him appropriately.
This reminds me of the old days in RG.
There is a wide range of ages and talents and interests, and yet every one seems to get along and respect each other
It is a cool thing and a balm to the heart.

Theme Song for Sale

But since Mr. MacMax has been slinging the Scotish-isms in his goodnatured, haggis-fisted manner, I thought I would sling this new lovely right back.
It will eventually grace the Scotsman's Journal Mirror permanently.

Now here is the challenge;
Name that reel.

Oh sure.
Sure you can.

Two Things That make for a VERY good Morning:

My kid being home for the first time in 10 days from his crew job at Camp Corbett, and...







SCORED a cheapo Espresso machine at the thrift store.
YAY!
It is way different from the one at the shop. (duh!)
But I am getting the hang of working this little one, finally getting a decent Crema.

So it was really fun to set up my space with my Sugar Free Torani's and Cocoa, they way I keep them at the Bad Ass, and Blake came home yesterday, walked around the side of the kitchen and goes, "WHOA!"
I go, "Dude! I can make you a latte in the morning tomorrow."
He's all, "RIGHT on!"

Well that's better

Now, I hope to put the afore mentioned blog-weirdnes away and move right along.
I got home from Portland to check subscriptions and lo and behold a tidal wave - ok fine - 11 total - subscription requests for something called "RoundTable" came flooding in. First I was looking fro Free Pizza Coupons until I realised what I was looking at.

Coolness.

Nice job Aquila!

ok, so this blog is being mentarily weird...

It is late at night and my back is killing me, and I can hardly breathe because of stupid muscle spasms so I am goin gto go have a nice lie down and see if I can figure this stupid blog weirdness out tomorrow night er something.

Blue Max Shares Heartfelt Creedo

What fun!
Thank you Max for finding and sharing the audio-sentiment which lies at the heart of the Scotsman Journal Mirror.

I think you should be awarded something.
*thinks...*
Haggis is supposed to be important.
How 'bout some 'o' that?
Oh wait, no...I know...it's Scotch, isn't it?!
That would be the awarded prize!
;o)

What can people be thinking?

I don't know what has possessed me.
I don't know why I did it.
I managed to register at the Uru Obsession Forums.
I DON'T do forums.
On a wacky spree I decided to go register, thinking it would be no big deal and besides, alot of my good friends are there.
One of the first threads I find is of course, one about Mysterium.
"Oh good!" says I to myself, "I wonder who is going? (lucky dogs!)"
Let's go find out.
I see a couple of friends and it is cool, then I find the ugly head of weirdness raise itself up again.

Quoting one writer in the forums:

"...some people aren't going to Mysterium because they don't like what it has become..."

Well and what the Heek would THAT be? Hmm....?

THE DEFINITIVE, QUOTABLE ANSWER TO ALL THINGS MYSTERIUM:
Ultimately, it is the attendees that determine the spirit of Mysterium.
If you attend with a feeling of joy and a spirit of community, then Mysterium will be an awesome event. If you attend with a negative attitude and the idea that you will walk away dissatisfied, then you are likely to meet your own expectations. If you choose not to attend at all, then you forfeit your right to affect the outcome of Mysterium for yourself or anyone else. The planners simply arrange dates, negotiate with the hotels, suggest activities, and organize details. Nobody is required to stay at the hotels chosen, and no activity on the itinerary is considered mandatory. Mysterium is very loosely structured in order to give people the flexibility to engage in alternate activities should they so choose. What you do, who you associate with, where you go, and what attitude you carry are all up to you.
What Mysterium turns into is up to you.

But only if you attend.

So really, if there is anybody to blame, it's the people who vote.
The planners do not control things.
It has always been the Community who - oh WAIT!
I see it now!
Now I know what the writer of that quote meant!
He doesn't like the voting Community making the decisions that drive the event, making it what (ever) it's become.
NOW I see what he is getting at.

In this case, I think the writer of the above quote and I have something in common, because I have been coming to the same conclusion for the last couple of years.

Well, if I got nothing else from that ill conceived idea to join UO Forums, I at least got an education.

Well, its 2:21am. Time for normal people to be "in bed."
*eyes Leh and Scraper and The Good Doctor.*
;o)

Mih-
Community = Frobozz Electric? (We ARE the Boss Of You!)
I suppose that would explain how so many are ending up totemized.

Busy times

I was talking to my friend Amber today, who quit her day job today in order to pursue art. We were talking about how, when people hear that you've "quit your day job" they suddenly think you "arent working." So they call you and want you to do all this stuff, like this errand or that one. Baby sit their kids because "well, you're not working now, so..." which could not be further from the truth.
What is it about art that people don't get? If it can't be Quantified or Mass Produced then it isn't 'real,' 'viable,' or 'valuable?"
That's just stupid.
Yes person, I quit my office job in order to "work from home."
I am busy.
VERY busy.
Processing via creation and vice-versa.
It's work.
I am focusing on 'being a mom' now.
That doesn't mean I am sitting at home watching soaps and eating bon-bons.

I heard something interesting the other day at church.
Tim was reading through something that Jesus said.
It was about our perspective on our work and our possessions.
Jesus was talking giving an example of how not to be.
He was talking about this guy who's land had produced more than he needed to merely exist.
The guys dialogue was really bizarre.
He kept using the words, "I", "me", "my", and "mine" in almost every sentence in the paragraph.
He kept referring to "his grain" and how he "thought to himself" (oh now THERE'S wise council!)
he thought to himself that he should build bigger barns to hold all of his grains and his bounteous posessions and stuff. He was telling himself that he finally had earned enough now, that he could relax, and eat, drink and be merry.

God called him a nit-whit. (Fool)
The guys whole lifes goal was to gain enough resources (money?) so that he could kick back and relax and not worry, but just cruise along.

It really struck me as interesting because in America most of us have that as our end goal.
And here God calls us fools for having that as our goal.
Ineteresting.
So it made me think very differently about money/resources.
It's not my money - it's Gods. He is letting me earn it.
It's not my house - it's Gods. He is letting me pay for it, using the money He gave me.
These are not my kids - god just let me try to raise them.
Nothing I "own" is really mine.

So if working for a living to create a lifestyle which allows me to "kick back and feel secure" is wrong as an end goal, then what should be my goals for earning money?

It made me think that, while earning a living to support your daily needs and those of your families is not wrong in and of itself, it IS wrong if that is your end goal.

So maybe I should look beyond and think, perhaps I should be earning money to share with those who don't have it?
Maybe our perspective should not be merely for our own comfort, but with a greater goal to serve the needs of God, humanity and ultimately, eternity.

What is the main reason you get up and go to work?
I know mine has been to "earn more" so that I could kick back someday.
Guess I am an idiot.
The very idea has expanded my mind.
My prayer is that God will make it internalize so that it can go beyond mental, to practical living.

I miss my latte machine

Many years ago, I sold my espresso maker because it was not getting sufficient use.
(What was WROnG with me I have no clue)
But after working this week at the Hawaiian Coffee shop known as The Bad Ass coffee company, I have regained my love of being able to concoct a latte at will, in the privacy of my own home.
I will begin to watch the shelves at the Goodwill Thriftstores for suitable replacement.

I updated the Scotsman Mirror today. The Journal has added some new content and Culture and History is one of the sections. They provide at the bottom of each day's update an "On This Day In History" item revolving around some important event or person in/from Scotland.
Man!
There are ALOT!

Here is an tiny excerpt:

"Scots father of the stealth fighter
SHHHH! Keep it to yourself, but the scientist whose discoveries led to the development of the US's stealth fighter was actually a Scot: James Clerk Maxwell."


I had no idea how many pivotal events, people, inventions etc came to grace our world and culture via the Scots! So many things that I had been taught were invented/developed by other people were actually done by the Scots first!
Did you know that?
I mean, The Scots have thought of everything, done everything and been everywhere before everyone else, and then the rest of the world stole their ideas.
I wonder what the Scots would think of Texas?
Texas makes the same bold claims.

;o)

What I've been up to...

Man! I just realised that I haven't posted in at least a week or more.
Kid went to work in Portland, comes home on weekends - meaning I drive to Portland twice a week to get him and take him back again. Actually, this is ok , because I love to drive!
Quit the FT job, but still went in to train the chickie who took my place. I will still have to go back at the end of the month to teach her how to do the billings etc.
Today I worked on processing this, Mackenzie as her literary character dress up day, this , this and this mess 'o' fun.

One thing that was bothersome was the fact that the only time I could schedule to shoot with one of the girls was right in bloody stinkin' mid-day = crappy light. And then, when we finally go out on location, her energy went out after the first 10 minutes.
I am thinking, "Girl, you say you want to act, and you can't even sit around in wardrobe waiting for your turn at the camera and then get into character at the proper time. The 'hurry up and wait' is a thing you are gonna have to overcome sister.'"

Oh well. I didn't actually say that.
I still got plenty of photos to mess with, and plans to re-shoot some of them, but at the proper time of day.

I am tired, and I need to make another trip to Portland tomorrow.
I hope to hit up the art supply store downtown. Barb was telling me abotu soem funky new paint I should try out. Depends upon how much it costs. Maybe I will pick up some cheap canvases, or something. I dunno how. I have no $$.
What AM I thinking?
I'm not.

Actually I dunno what is going on.
I would like to have control of my brain again.
I had a major dizzy spell while driving the Suburban today...
(...brings new meaning to the words "deadly weapon." )
And my heart seems to race and pound at almost the same time every day.
That and I am fogetting many things, like conversations I have had with my daughter, apparently multiple times, and forgetting simple words - I referred to her kilt as a "kiln" twice yesterday.
She thinks I am just stupid.
As hard as it is to believe, my typos are increasing. ;o)
(As if I could have amymore than I already do. I swear, I think I will one day just leave an entire email or blogpost entirely unedited just as proof!) ;o)

I do not know what to think.
I might just be over tired for too many years.
When I mention my concerns to Stu, he says, "oh its probably just this or that," or that I am "probably fighting some bug/virus."
Maybe it's is true.
Maybe it's not.
Hmm, something to think about.
But apparently not mention aloud.

Well that was DREARY!
Hey, have a look at the fun photos - or better yet, go look at Blue Max's new kitten "Pixel."
There are few things more charming than kittens.

Another Song

So yesterday, I really felt that God had sent me a song in my head that I should pray with a mind toward David's mom.

Funny, at the same time of the morning today, I heard another song in my head out of the blue.
It was an old Celtic Standard, and this time I felt that the song was for me, as a gift from God to help me process David's passing.

The song is "The Parting Glass."
The particular arrangement is by Shaun Davies as he did it for the movie "Waking Ned Devine."

NEW SOUNDS UPDATE --------------------------->
link in the sidebar on the right:
Today, in honour of David, it is a snippet from Mr. Davies arrangement for Male Vocalist and Choir, which can be found by doing a search for Shaun Davies.
The song can be sung alone, or as a response by switching the pronouns in the refrain.

"Of all the friends that e'er I had,
they're sorry for my going away,
and all the sweethearts that e'er I had, they'd bid me one more day to stay.
But since it fell unto my lot,
That I should Rise, and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call;
'goodnight and joy be to you all.' "


Blackthorne has a really nice arrangement for it that include the repeated refrain of:

"Fill to me the parting glass, and drink a health what e're befalls,
Gently rise and softly call, goognight and joy be to you all."

Slainte David.