Well the girls did well on the first day of their lenten sacrifice.
Scout almost used a spoon today to stir her coffee, and she ate her breakfast cereal with a fork and then drank the milk afterward.
MacKenzie is reading instead of playing Club Penguin on the computer, and seems happy about it.
I am hoping to be able to get into the beta version of Joost (Skype product) but for the time being I will satisfy my curiousity by messing about with YouTube.
I would like to post Blake and Andrew's Videos (aka Blandrew-mations) there.
The whole crew is trooping off to Mitchell Oregon (aka "Wanna-Be-Ghost-Town") this summer for a two week shoot of some script they have been collaborating on for a couple of months.
It is good to see them put some real planning into a project and have a proper crew assembled.
I think they are hoping for another SHS Film Festival contender for Spring 2008.
Anyway.
Not much goes on around here today.
Snow came down and was pretty. I am glad because I am not ready for winter to be finished.
I haven't added my latest recipe to Eating Plebian and am feeling a bit remiss (sorry Blue).
I have been editing some of the MP Flying Circus episodes so that they are "kid friendly, " so that my youngest can enjoy the glory that is Python at an early age.
Give 'em a good start I always say!
Although I am sure people at the church and the Christian school would argue that our family is already butt-weird enough.
On the contrary, I think that the majority of them are far too "cookie-cutter" for my tastes.
:o/
:o)
;o)
Good thing I am not God.
Good thing they aren't either.
I suppose its a good thing that None of us is God.
And I am glad He is good.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Lent
Normaly I associate giving up food, when it comes to sacrificing something at Lent.
But no....as usual the girls come up with other things.
MacKenzie and her freind have decided that they are giving up The Computer and ice cream for Lent.
And then there is Scout who has decided to pick something simple and meanignful.
She has decided to give up spoons.
This should be an interesting Season.
But no....as usual the girls come up with other things.
MacKenzie and her freind have decided that they are giving up The Computer and ice cream for Lent.
And then there is Scout who has decided to pick something simple and meanignful.
She has decided to give up spoons.
This should be an interesting Season.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Moving and Spelling
So Scout has now got the bug to move to Wales.
I said, "Good Scout. You want to talk about spelling bee difficulties? You don't get any vowels there! Try that out." She answered with, "yeah but I can learn Welsh in any local pub!"
Thats my girl! Always finding the positive.
And all the while MacKenzie is wailing, "no no, I don't want to move. WE live in a puny and pathetic town and I like it that way. All my friends are here and I will never see them again."
"So", says I, "you'll make lots of new ones. You're good at making friends, and besides, that the UK is the soccer capital of the world."
She remained unimpressed.
Oh well.
I said, "Good Scout. You want to talk about spelling bee difficulties? You don't get any vowels there! Try that out." She answered with, "yeah but I can learn Welsh in any local pub!"
Thats my girl! Always finding the positive.
And all the while MacKenzie is wailing, "no no, I don't want to move. WE live in a puny and pathetic town and I like it that way. All my friends are here and I will never see them again."
"So", says I, "you'll make lots of new ones. You're good at making friends, and besides, that the UK is the soccer capital of the world."
She remained unimpressed.
Oh well.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Valentines Family Dinner
So we had a nice Valentines Dinner as a family (of course Scout was down with a hideous case of the Flu and Blake was battling the onset of the same).
We had a traditional "red" food, in this case, lasagna and finished off the meal with card opening and truffle eating - except that Scout and Blake could not eat their lasagna nor the truffles, so it was a subdued evening to be sure.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Evolution of a Virtual World by Lehsa
As requested by Mih, I've reposted my article here:
Many people today are familiar with online multiplayer games such as World of Warcraft (WoW), the Sims, There.com or Second Life. In many ways these games become a new reality for many of the users who frequent these virtual worlds.
Myst is a game that started out as a stand alone game. The aim of Myst is vague to those who enjoy the more in your face interaction of the first person shooter (FPS) or other action type video game. For me, Myst was the perfect escape from reality when I needed a little vacation from studies and work. The music was soothing, the scenery though static was calming and almost dreamlike, and the puzzles were incorporated into each world or "age" in a way that kept me interested and actively involved. The storyline of Myst was one I could understand... almost a parable of sorts. You as the explorer must figure out what you needed to do and who to trust.
While looking information up on Myst, I discovered a large underground community of fans interested in this surreal adventure game that up till I randomly bought it I had never heard of. Through this group I came to know the ins and outs of interacting online. I found a community of liked-minded people who enjoyed quiet pursuits of reading and writing... archeology and the art of discovering new worlds aswell as creating our own worlds through the inspiration of Myst's ethereal imagery. I also made strong friendships that have lasted the test of time, distance and some face to face interaction.
Myst to me was a world all it's own. A place I could escape to on my own and be alone. I didn't mind the character interactions with Atrus, his sons: Achenar and Sirrus or those of other characters in the various incarnations of Myst, Riven, Exile and the other sequels. I was happiest when I found a place in each game to turn my attentions to and feel the happy solace of peace and quiet. In Myst it was the singing stones in Selentic... in Riven the forest and docks of the Rivenese Village... The places were peaceful and I could feel like I was really there. No people to bother me and few interruptions. It was a nice escape.
Then I heard about URU. The community was abuzz with questions and curiosity about actually seeing D'ni, the ancient city never seen but only read of in the three books Rand Miller and his brothers at Cyanworlds had written. To see the cleft of Atrus' youth or the towering mass of K'Veer would just be a dream come true! Everyone including myself was agog with this news. There was also mention of an online version of the game. Initially, I did not see any use in playing with people in URU anymore than I had felt the need to play with others in the previous games. The idea of Myst had come to mean to many in the community, not just myself, to be a personal experience. It didn't seem right to some fans that it would be disrupted by having people other than your own avatar exploring the city. As much as I liked the idea of playing with my friends, it wasn't what I really thought would work with this kind of game.
When Uru Prologue was release as a public beta in 2002 / 2003 I didn't immediately jump into the fray to get in. I didn't try hard to get into Beta as I had dialup and figured it wasn't worth the effort if my connection was slow. I was content figuring things out in the offline version on my own or using the occasional hint or spoiler from the guidebook or online forum. My interaction with others in URU wasn't important to me. I wanted to experience this game as I had the other games... alone. I had little experience with Multiplayer Role Playing Games (MPRPGs). I didn't think having people exploring with me ingame would benefit my experience with Uru... of course... anyone can be wrong.
I didn't expect to get stuck in URU as much as I did. I did what I could but in the end I asked a friend for help. He told me "get online and I'll show you." I couldn't fathom how this was going to work out but I joined the URU site and connected my game to the net. Dialup was slow and cumbersome and yet I felt a kind of excitement I hadn't felt before. I had never played any sort of real "online" community game at that time and didn't know what to expect. Once the game loaded and I created my avatar and finally loaded Uru Live, my ideas of playing alone soon ended. I finished the initial puzzle, made it to my home age (Relto) and linked where I was told to get the communicator (the KI) so my friend could help me with the game.
From the beginning of this little adventure in URU I was bowled over with excitement. I couldn't wait to see everything that I could in this online world and when I knew my friends were coming to meet me I got more excited. My ideas of exploration alone versus exploring with friends changed in a heartbeat. I didn't see myself playing URU offline as much as I had expected. I did nearly everything related to the game on Prologue with my friends new and old. It was the best experience I'd ever had with any kind of game. I felt like I had it all, till the day Uru went away.
I missed the last day of Uru Prologue... I was saddened as was the online Myst community. People began to write stories, create art, make images through photoshop showing their friends and themselves still exploring URU together although they were now apart. Going into URU offline was now depressing to me. Where I initially thought I would dislike people joining me in this online world, I now missed the interaction with my friends. It was a sad day for the Myst community. As a gift, Cyanworlds gave the fans the first expansion pack To Dni free to replace the world we had lost. With this new expansion pack fans were finally able to explore the city of Aegura and wander through places we'd only read of. Soon Cyanworlds was selling a new expansion pack called Path of the Shell in which we were given far more content to explore.
Yet this was not the end of the dream... A new gift was on the horizon as new sequels to Myst were being released. This gift was called Until Uru. This was a user run version of Uru. It was the same content found in Uru Prologue but now fans were able to control the game in ways we hadn't been able to in the past. Many fans created their own servers called "Shards" where other fans could link in and join URU online as if Prologue had returned. Some shards were faster than others while some had more options than others. It all depended on the skills of the person maintaining the shard. People could once again run through the city of Aegura and join their friends in games of hide and go seek in the forests of Kadish. It was a miracle for those of us who had lost an online world and to those who had never seen Prologue.
Until Uru was not a true replacement for URU Live / Prologue. It was never meant to be more than a temporary solace to those of us who missed the online interactions with friends. As a temporary world it was never meant to last forever. In just the last 2 weeks, Until Uru was closed down. Apparently I was one of the last people to roam it's silent halls. I had no clue that it was to be shut down that very night, but I ran around a random shard and played in the silent city. There wasn't anything new but it felt like home. I wanted to see things that people did with this world created by two brothers. I wanted to see how people had made it a home by making this world their own.
Still, this is not the ending. It has yet to be written by fans or Cyanworlds. Myst Online is the newest incarnation of Uru Live. It has been given a new life to breath and live in the hearts of fans old and new. It has been given a new lease on life and a new chance to enchant those who have explored the depths of D'ni and those who are only beginning to gain an inkling as to what these worlds are. It will begin slowly like a seed in the earth. The seed will grow... the roots will take shape... a tree will grow and soon it will emerge.
If you feel the need to follow the call, you need only journey as far as the desert bird which flies over head.
~L~Tuesday, February 13, 2007
POCCNR Valentines
These little cards came home from Siberia with Stu last year.
They were created in Russia - hence the un-readable sentiments...
This kitty is my particular favorite because, if you have a cat of your own, you know how amusing it is to twirl things in the air above them and watch their little heads go round-and-round-and round, which is what I imagine this kitty to be doing with all the words looping around it.
And now it is time to revisit our old friends, the "Anti-Valentines":
I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother.-----
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead,
the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.-----
Of loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face.-----
Kind, intelligent, loving and hot
This describes everything you are not.-----
I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face.-----
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes
Dang, I'm good at telling lies!-----
My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life.-----
I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming.-----
My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way?-----
My feelings for you no words can tell
Except for maybe "go to hell."-----
What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.
They were created in Russia - hence the un-readable sentiments...
This kitty is my particular favorite because, if you have a cat of your own, you know how amusing it is to twirl things in the air above them and watch their little heads go round-and-round-and round, which is what I imagine this kitty to be doing with all the words looping around it.
And now it is time to revisit our old friends, the "Anti-Valentines":
I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother.-----
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead,
the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.-----
Of loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face.-----
Kind, intelligent, loving and hot
This describes everything you are not.-----
I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face.-----
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes
Dang, I'm good at telling lies!-----
My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life.-----
I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming.-----
My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way?-----
My feelings for you no words can tell
Except for maybe "go to hell."-----
What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.
Monday, February 12, 2007
No Offense But...
There is a phrase that people use as a door mat.
"No offense But..."
The majority of the time, people use this phrase in order to say something offensive without being held accountable for it.
They don't even couch the offending comment(s) in nice language, which is a dead give-away to their true intent.
I mean, if they TRULY were concerned with sparing the feelings of the other person it would show in their language through out the exchange.
My kids even do this right before they berate one another...well they did. I mean I call them out on the carpet for this because the intent of the heart is what matters.
People need to be accountable for what they say.
"No offense But..."
The majority of the time, people use this phrase in order to say something offensive without being held accountable for it.
They don't even couch the offending comment(s) in nice language, which is a dead give-away to their true intent.
I mean, if they TRULY were concerned with sparing the feelings of the other person it would show in their language through out the exchange.
My kids even do this right before they berate one another...well they did. I mean I call them out on the carpet for this because the intent of the heart is what matters.
People need to be accountable for what they say.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
This Changing Earth
The Earth Changes.
It is our only true constant - well, that and God.
I do not deny that there is concern among people regarding the possibilities of global warming.
I just want more proof than a clamoring society and a few media puppet experts.
I don't regurgitate everything I hear on the evening news or the Today show.
Just because something sounds possible, doesn't mean it is fact just because the media trots forward their selected "Expert," or if the general population thinks a thing is right or wrong - even as a majority doesn't make it so.
The Earth changes.
Man "CAN " affect it, but more importantly, Man is small and arrogant in nature.
Fortunately God has provided Himself with a way to erase His vision of our behaviour, and attitudes, and see us the way He originally designed us to be.
He owes us nothing, but because He is good and loving by nature, He reaches out, where religion is only Mankind reaching up.
That is the difference between God and man.
Our reach is stunted.
He has to be the one to do the reaching and fortunately for us, He has achieved that.
Unfortunately, alot of humans want to slap that Reaching Hand away for the sake of their pride.
Having a relationship wtih the One True God, The ALmighty Creator of the Universe is not necessarily religion, although religious organizations can serve Him in various ways, God is God, and Man is not.
Good for us.
Anyway, this is an interesting video clip sent to me by a friend with regards to the ever changing and remarkable weather patters we see.
I love the weather.
I love the sky and its violent changes and storms.
Enjoy the clip.
:o)
It is our only true constant - well, that and God.
I do not deny that there is concern among people regarding the possibilities of global warming.
I just want more proof than a clamoring society and a few media puppet experts.
I don't regurgitate everything I hear on the evening news or the Today show.
Just because something sounds possible, doesn't mean it is fact just because the media trots forward their selected "Expert," or if the general population thinks a thing is right or wrong - even as a majority doesn't make it so.
The Earth changes.
Man "CAN " affect it, but more importantly, Man is small and arrogant in nature.
Fortunately God has provided Himself with a way to erase His vision of our behaviour, and attitudes, and see us the way He originally designed us to be.
He owes us nothing, but because He is good and loving by nature, He reaches out, where religion is only Mankind reaching up.
That is the difference between God and man.
Our reach is stunted.
He has to be the one to do the reaching and fortunately for us, He has achieved that.
Unfortunately, alot of humans want to slap that Reaching Hand away for the sake of their pride.
Having a relationship wtih the One True God, The ALmighty Creator of the Universe is not necessarily religion, although religious organizations can serve Him in various ways, God is God, and Man is not.
Good for us.
Anyway, this is an interesting video clip sent to me by a friend with regards to the ever changing and remarkable weather patters we see.
I love the weather.
I love the sky and its violent changes and storms.
Enjoy the clip.
:o)
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
When Genius Strikes...
...does it beat you over the head until you are unconscious, and leave you with no recollection of it's presence when you awaken?
Ok, while Scout was re-watching this, I realised that, at this years Mysterium we need to gather as a huge clot and sing and do this dance together.
Tape it and upload it.
Wouldn't it be horrific?
Wouldn't it be dreadful?
Wouldn't it be stupefyingly wonderful? (in a painful sort of way?)
Let's DO THIS!!!!
Ok, while Scout was re-watching this, I realised that, at this years Mysterium we need to gather as a huge clot and sing and do this dance together.
Tape it and upload it.
Wouldn't it be horrific?
Wouldn't it be dreadful?
Wouldn't it be stupefyingly wonderful? (in a painful sort of way?)
Let's DO THIS!!!!
This is SOOOO for Lehsa
I KNOW how you love this song!
I KNOW this becasue you have said as much in the past.
This is for you, dear.
;o)
mwah-hahahahah!
I KNOW this becasue you have said as much in the past.
This is for you, dear.
;o)
mwah-hahahahah!
Monday, February 5, 2007
"Global Warming" my Gi-normous hiney!!!
Hey! isn't it crazy?
The cold spell that happens every few years.
Human are worried that our emissions have created this huge global warming issue and that may well be.
How ever, I don't hear anybody stating the obvious opposite:
Humans! You are arrogant!
You IMAGINE that your presence makes a difference to the cycles that this planet has been in for eons?
You are small (crunchy and good with ketchup according to "certain beings") and it is very likely that you have not so great an imapct on this planet as you might think. And you ARE very wont to think so highly of your own magnificence. ( BTW, isn't that what got Satan/Lucifer cast out? He fell in love wiht his own beauty until he couldn't see past it and became ugly and vile etc? Soemthing to think about...) ANY---Waaaaaaay...
Humans, it is just as likely that you don't make any difference and our globe is doing what it does the way that God designed it.
Get over yourselves humanity.
Your only value is what God assesses to each individual, and to Him you value as a person is priceless... but as far as afecting such a grand and global change - - - well, get over yourself humanity.
Such things are counter to what people want to hear.
but its my blog and I can say what I want.
People don't have to read....unless they have signed up for an RSS feed and then they have to delete it asap, after the begin to get offended, but oh well, what can I do about that?
:O)
The cold spell that happens every few years.
Human are worried that our emissions have created this huge global warming issue and that may well be.
How ever, I don't hear anybody stating the obvious opposite:
Humans! You are arrogant!
You IMAGINE that your presence makes a difference to the cycles that this planet has been in for eons?
You are small (crunchy and good with ketchup according to "certain beings") and it is very likely that you have not so great an imapct on this planet as you might think. And you ARE very wont to think so highly of your own magnificence. ( BTW, isn't that what got Satan/Lucifer cast out? He fell in love wiht his own beauty until he couldn't see past it and became ugly and vile etc? Soemthing to think about...) ANY---Waaaaaaay...
Humans, it is just as likely that you don't make any difference and our globe is doing what it does the way that God designed it.
Get over yourselves humanity.
Your only value is what God assesses to each individual, and to Him you value as a person is priceless... but as far as afecting such a grand and global change - - - well, get over yourself humanity.
Such things are counter to what people want to hear.
but its my blog and I can say what I want.
People don't have to read....unless they have signed up for an RSS feed and then they have to delete it asap, after the begin to get offended, but oh well, what can I do about that?
:O)
It has gone beyond all reason or control
I am a hapless, helpless victim...
I hear it while I am trying to sleep.
I eventually drift off into sleep and upon waking, it is the first sound I hear reverberating within the confines of my cranium.
Some body help me or offer advice to combat the insipid, redundant Song.
I kid you not.
I am hearing it and singing it all the live long freaky day.
My head is particularly stuck in the revolutions of "I was once a treehouse, I lived in a cake, but I never saw the way the orange slayed the rake..."
In the name of all that is holy PLEASE (*on knees, beseechingly*) PLEEEEEEZE make it STOP!
Stop the madness!!
Help?
I hear it while I am trying to sleep.
I eventually drift off into sleep and upon waking, it is the first sound I hear reverberating within the confines of my cranium.
Some body help me or offer advice to combat the insipid, redundant Song.
I kid you not.
I am hearing it and singing it all the live long freaky day.
My head is particularly stuck in the revolutions of "I was once a treehouse, I lived in a cake, but I never saw the way the orange slayed the rake..."
In the name of all that is holy PLEASE (*on knees, beseechingly*) PLEEEEEEZE make it STOP!
Stop the madness!!
Help?
Saturday, February 3, 2007
movie worth watching
Lady in the Water!
Ok sure its gotten some crappy reviews but if you child is between the ages of 11 and above and has seen LotR without flippin gout due to the scariness then I would say Lady in the Water is a great movie! If youa re a person who can easily suspend disbelief, (not to say that it was unbelievable) but it is based upon myth. If you are a believer in the values of myth and the joys of fantastical beings...if you are a person who believes that even the smallest creature can change the course of the future, then THIS is a movie for you!
Ok sure its gotten some crappy reviews but if you child is between the ages of 11 and above and has seen LotR without flippin gout due to the scariness then I would say Lady in the Water is a great movie! If youa re a person who can easily suspend disbelief, (not to say that it was unbelievable) but it is based upon myth. If you are a believer in the values of myth and the joys of fantastical beings...if you are a person who believes that even the smallest creature can change the course of the future, then THIS is a movie for you!
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Potpourri : soul searching, part 137
How is it that we spend so much lifetime in confusion and yet we get some things so absolutely right on?
Though much in life eludes me, I know somethings deep within my core.
For example: I know that my energies are best spent investing in the care of my kids, as opposed to working a fulltime job. I do NOT udge moms who are able to work, I merely say that I do not have the emotional energies to be so divided for any length of time.
Though my kids be teens, they still have emotional needs, often unspoken ones, and my energies are best spent trying to anticipate them and either be there, standing in the gap for them and with them, or withholding judgements or advice knowing that some lessons they need to learn on their own, and I need to remain available to help them pick up the pieces.
The pursuit of happiness is futile.
Happiness depends solely on the "happenings" in your life.
Pursuing happiness is a waste of good energy, for the rich and the poor suffer alike.
The wise and the fool equally have strife and trials.
There is nothing new under the sun.
What then, can we look to?
What then, can we strive for?
A life well lived.
(In my own experience this is not something that I can do apart from the strength gained by
daily conversations with God Almighty Himself.)
A life lived in seeking to do good, even when it does not benefit ones self, actually ends up benefitting ones self in the long run.
A life lived by putting one's own needs last - this is not to ignore ones needs, but to count them as secondary or less than those of another's - leaves one being challenged to achieve greatness, and fosters humility in ones self.
We all need to choose to eat our own "Humble Pie."
The alternative - if we are lucky or God favours us - is that we will be humilated in order to bring about the blessed state of humility.
Frankly, I would think that choosing to humble ones self would be vastly preferable to being humiliated by God, via circumstances or repercussiosn from poor choices.
Do we cry "Justice! Let there be justice in the world!?"
Or do we cry "Mercy! Grant unto us mercy for we are an imperfect species, destined to ever fall short while we exist within our fleshly tent?"
Frankly when I am tempted to say, "I deserve better!," I think what I should really be saying is,
"What do I deserve?
Do I deserve Hell and Death?"
Yes.
"Do I have better?"
Yes."
Then I should shut up, get over myself, and seek to do good to others before seeking my own good."
Though I own this personally for my self, I fall short in carrying it out with any regularity, even so, I believe that it is a universality that could be owned by most Americans - and even by most westernized cultures.
Though much in life eludes me, I know somethings deep within my core.
For example: I know that my energies are best spent investing in the care of my kids, as opposed to working a fulltime job. I do NOT udge moms who are able to work, I merely say that I do not have the emotional energies to be so divided for any length of time.
Though my kids be teens, they still have emotional needs, often unspoken ones, and my energies are best spent trying to anticipate them and either be there, standing in the gap for them and with them, or withholding judgements or advice knowing that some lessons they need to learn on their own, and I need to remain available to help them pick up the pieces.
The pursuit of happiness is futile.
Happiness depends solely on the "happenings" in your life.
Pursuing happiness is a waste of good energy, for the rich and the poor suffer alike.
The wise and the fool equally have strife and trials.
There is nothing new under the sun.
What then, can we look to?
What then, can we strive for?
A life well lived.
(In my own experience this is not something that I can do apart from the strength gained by
daily conversations with God Almighty Himself.)
A life lived in seeking to do good, even when it does not benefit ones self, actually ends up benefitting ones self in the long run.
A life lived by putting one's own needs last - this is not to ignore ones needs, but to count them as secondary or less than those of another's - leaves one being challenged to achieve greatness, and fosters humility in ones self.
We all need to choose to eat our own "Humble Pie."
The alternative - if we are lucky or God favours us - is that we will be humilated in order to bring about the blessed state of humility.
Frankly, I would think that choosing to humble ones self would be vastly preferable to being humiliated by God, via circumstances or repercussiosn from poor choices.
Do we cry "Justice! Let there be justice in the world!?"
Or do we cry "Mercy! Grant unto us mercy for we are an imperfect species, destined to ever fall short while we exist within our fleshly tent?"
Frankly when I am tempted to say, "I deserve better!," I think what I should really be saying is,
"What do I deserve?
Do I deserve Hell and Death?"
Yes.
"Do I have better?"
Yes."
Then I should shut up, get over myself, and seek to do good to others before seeking my own good."
Though I own this personally for my self, I fall short in carrying it out with any regularity, even so, I believe that it is a universality that could be owned by most Americans - and even by most westernized cultures.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
I HATE this new Blogger interface
I hate Google, and I HATE with a passion this NEW interface.
It sucks!
I can NOT customise my new template the way I could the old one.
I hate that Google is forcing everythign under "One-happy-freakin-golden-roof!"
Ain't so.
I cam avidly looking into finally purchasing my own domain and will set up my own blog somewhere else where I am the one in control.
I HATE huge conglomerates.
I hate Microsoft, I hate Wal-mart and I basically hate big companies in principle...but look at me?
I am stuck as a prisoner to these same companies mentioned - except Google - because the only things I can afford are what they provide - and even then Microsoft is overpriced and buggy.
But until I grow in my abilities, I am stuck with some of these ills.
It bites.
It sucks!
I can NOT customise my new template the way I could the old one.
I hate that Google is forcing everythign under "One-happy-freakin-golden-roof!"
Ain't so.
I cam avidly looking into finally purchasing my own domain and will set up my own blog somewhere else where I am the one in control.
I HATE huge conglomerates.
I hate Microsoft, I hate Wal-mart and I basically hate big companies in principle...but look at me?
I am stuck as a prisoner to these same companies mentioned - except Google - because the only things I can afford are what they provide - and even then Microsoft is overpriced and buggy.
But until I grow in my abilities, I am stuck with some of these ills.
It bites.
Saturday Morning Wake Up
Well it is a herd of teen girlies holed up beneath my roof, while The Boy(tm) is away at Break Away Retreat for the weekend. In his absence they have absconded with the Desktop and parked multi-images of some teen hearththrob named "Jeremy Sumpter"(tm) (sp?) anyway, and to top it off, I awoke to much gleefull cackling as they watched this.
Stu is taking them all tubing up at HooDoo (local ski hill) today, and I will shampoo the carpets and get the laundry done while they are all up there freezing off their wee buttocks.
Stu is taking them all tubing up at HooDoo (local ski hill) today, and I will shampoo the carpets and get the laundry done while they are all up there freezing off their wee buttocks.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
One year gone
Well James,
It's been a whole year.
It has been the worst year in a lot of ways.
I have known a couple of people in my life who have passed, but none of them were as good a friend as you have been to me.
I guess it all boils down to this:
I suppose God can wait to see the rest of us, but He just couldn't wait to have you right there with Him.
The Kirkpatrick Twins miss you in Canker Shores.
They were in the office earlier today working on a write up covering your one year remembrance celebration. I found it sitting on their desk, still waiting to go to print. After blotting away the numerous mocha-soy-decaf-latte stains I decided to print an excerpt of it here. I am sure they won't mind...
January 24th, 2007
Canker Shores Remembers Field Correspondant:
The town of Canker Shores is marking the passing of one of their own:
Jim "Zimmy" Zimmerman, who passed away on January 24th, 2006.
"Zimmy" as he was called by the locals, was a long time contributor and field correspondant for the Canker Shores Newspaper "The Shore Throat."
Local business owner, Marv Gillespie recalls, "He was a stout hearted lad who always had a ready hand out stretched to the needy or down-trodden."
January 24th has been set aside by town officials as a local holiday hereby known as "Zimmy Day."
The first celebration of remembrance was marked by an early AM Mass said at Our Lady of Absolute Absolution Catholic Church, with the pealing of the Bells set to commence at noon.
The event was well attended, with the crowd of worshippers filling the church and spilling out into the adjacent parking lot.
Father DuPuis was unable to get the electrical system which activates the bells to function properly, due to damage received during a storm last September so he opted instead to climb into his Chevy Impala and blow the horn 45 times, while the congregation prayed. The battery in his Impala began to wear down after a while, sounding more weak and anemic as it went. He decided to cut the service short at about 37 honks, secretly hoping that nobody was counting.
A community pot-luck was held in the evening at the One Way Baptist Church after which time an impromptu dance broke out in the narthex despite the protests of Elders Wives.
All in all, the day was well spent remembering the young man who touched so many lives.
Zimmy was one of our top correspondants, most noted for his coverage of local crimes and atrocities. His numerous personal writing credits include "Whale Dies", "Poor Santa", and "Sam the Ugly Dog." An archive of his personal works can be found here.
Anyway James,
you are still dreadfully missed - which I know was not your plan for any of us.
It's ok.
I look forward to seeing you again someday.
I suppose by then you be able to find time to tell me whatever happened with that "Mysterious Post."
;o)
Anyway, you are missed.
Thanks for being a big brother.
See ya around, ya goofball.
It's been a whole year.
It has been the worst year in a lot of ways.
I have known a couple of people in my life who have passed, but none of them were as good a friend as you have been to me.
I guess it all boils down to this:
I suppose God can wait to see the rest of us, but He just couldn't wait to have you right there with Him.
The Kirkpatrick Twins miss you in Canker Shores.
They were in the office earlier today working on a write up covering your one year remembrance celebration. I found it sitting on their desk, still waiting to go to print. After blotting away the numerous mocha-soy-decaf-latte stains I decided to print an excerpt of it here. I am sure they won't mind...
January 24th, 2007
Canker Shores Remembers Field Correspondant:
The town of Canker Shores is marking the passing of one of their own:
Jim "Zimmy" Zimmerman, who passed away on January 24th, 2006.
"Zimmy" as he was called by the locals, was a long time contributor and field correspondant for the Canker Shores Newspaper "The Shore Throat."
Local business owner, Marv Gillespie recalls, "He was a stout hearted lad who always had a ready hand out stretched to the needy or down-trodden."
January 24th has been set aside by town officials as a local holiday hereby known as "Zimmy Day."
The first celebration of remembrance was marked by an early AM Mass said at Our Lady of Absolute Absolution Catholic Church, with the pealing of the Bells set to commence at noon.
The event was well attended, with the crowd of worshippers filling the church and spilling out into the adjacent parking lot.
Father DuPuis was unable to get the electrical system which activates the bells to function properly, due to damage received during a storm last September so he opted instead to climb into his Chevy Impala and blow the horn 45 times, while the congregation prayed. The battery in his Impala began to wear down after a while, sounding more weak and anemic as it went. He decided to cut the service short at about 37 honks, secretly hoping that nobody was counting.
A community pot-luck was held in the evening at the One Way Baptist Church after which time an impromptu dance broke out in the narthex despite the protests of Elders Wives.
All in all, the day was well spent remembering the young man who touched so many lives.
Zimmy was one of our top correspondants, most noted for his coverage of local crimes and atrocities. His numerous personal writing credits include "Whale Dies", "Poor Santa", and "Sam the Ugly Dog." An archive of his personal works can be found here.
Anyway James,
you are still dreadfully missed - which I know was not your plan for any of us.
It's ok.
I look forward to seeing you again someday.
I suppose by then you be able to find time to tell me whatever happened with that "Mysterious Post."
;o)
Anyway, you are missed.
Thanks for being a big brother.
See ya around, ya goofball.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
What a day
Well to those who sent them, thanks for the Birthday cards and wishes.
:O)
The last 24 hours have been fraught with tears as we anxiously awaited and then transmited word on our friends involved in the terrible car crash last night.
It is funny how sometimes God seems to keep you on your toes with regard to the need to pray for someone.
That is pretty much all I did last night.
This morning the church service was put on hold, while the entire church (500+) people prayed, members of the congregation praying aloud by turns. Grant (2nd grade) was not expected to be released from ICU until tomorrow or Tuesday night. He healed up well this morning and gained strength and was removed from ICU late the morning and placed in his own room.
(!!!!)
While Tim remainds in ICU, recent updates indicate that he is stabilizing.
Blake (6th grader) was the only one conscious when the rescue vehicles arrived.
All fo the windows of the van were blown out, but he is talking to rescue personnel:
"I'm ok! Jesus is here. He's right here with me so its good. Please take care of my brother and sister and dad first. I am ok. I know that Jesus is with me."
He said the same to the abulance driver and to the hospital staff upon arrival.
This little guy has amazing faith, and when the crap hits the fan, what comes out of us is what is true. If we freak out and crumble in fear, or if we profess truth and take comfort from it.
Anyway, little dude said it all.
So it was a subdued (as much as possible) birthday. None of us were in much of a celabratory mood. Really, it was best just hanging at home with family, watching Farenheit 451 and having lasagna for dinner.
Not such a bad day when you consider the whole earth and the multitude of possibilities.
:o)
:O)
The last 24 hours have been fraught with tears as we anxiously awaited and then transmited word on our friends involved in the terrible car crash last night.
It is funny how sometimes God seems to keep you on your toes with regard to the need to pray for someone.
That is pretty much all I did last night.
This morning the church service was put on hold, while the entire church (500+) people prayed, members of the congregation praying aloud by turns. Grant (2nd grade) was not expected to be released from ICU until tomorrow or Tuesday night. He healed up well this morning and gained strength and was removed from ICU late the morning and placed in his own room.
(!!!!)
While Tim remainds in ICU, recent updates indicate that he is stabilizing.
Blake (6th grader) was the only one conscious when the rescue vehicles arrived.
All fo the windows of the van were blown out, but he is talking to rescue personnel:
"I'm ok! Jesus is here. He's right here with me so its good. Please take care of my brother and sister and dad first. I am ok. I know that Jesus is with me."
He said the same to the abulance driver and to the hospital staff upon arrival.
This little guy has amazing faith, and when the crap hits the fan, what comes out of us is what is true. If we freak out and crumble in fear, or if we profess truth and take comfort from it.
Anyway, little dude said it all.
So it was a subdued (as much as possible) birthday. None of us were in much of a celabratory mood. Really, it was best just hanging at home with family, watching Farenheit 451 and having lasagna for dinner.
Not such a bad day when you consider the whole earth and the multitude of possibilities.
:o)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
My freinds in car accident
The principal of our school is a very good freind of mine.
We have kown their whoel family, through think and thin for many years.
Tim and 3 of their 4 children were just in a terrible car wreck.
The children have minor injuries and Tim was take by helicopter to the nearest hospital.
These are such good good people. Their kids are firendly and polite.
Tiem and Peggy have been through the ringer with Peggy's internal ailments during the past few years and now for this to happen.
It is horribly tragic.
These are people who do not love God merely in name only.
They truly live out their faith in ways that I would aspire to.
They treat everyone equally, and with love and respect.
If you are a praying person, please pray for Tim.
Please pray for their family.
I will update as the days go on.
Thank you.
We have kown their whoel family, through think and thin for many years.
Tim and 3 of their 4 children were just in a terrible car wreck.
The children have minor injuries and Tim was take by helicopter to the nearest hospital.
These are such good good people. Their kids are firendly and polite.
Tiem and Peggy have been through the ringer with Peggy's internal ailments during the past few years and now for this to happen.
It is horribly tragic.
These are people who do not love God merely in name only.
They truly live out their faith in ways that I would aspire to.
They treat everyone equally, and with love and respect.
If you are a praying person, please pray for Tim.
Please pray for their family.
I will update as the days go on.
Thank you.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Thanks for voting!
Thanks you guys, for helping me out here.
I really am pathetic I guess.
For one, I probably wouldn't have picked any of the things you guys did - (hence my need to query those who are smarted than I) and in the end, the organizers allowed me to have three entries, so along with the Joe -vs- the Java painting, I ended up going with what you guys chose as fotos:
The first one was Farmstead, and the second was Hooded Mermaid.
So I had them printed out at a buh-zillion dpi today, matted and framed and delivered into the hands of the organizers..
The next question is:
apparently they are having an "Artists Reception" friday night...
Is it "bad form" if I do not attend?
I detest forced social events, but I also do not want to piss anybody off.
Since it is the first time I am in this partiular show, I probably should attend out of respect, shouldn't I?
Crap!
You're probably right.
Ok.
Well, thanks for answering that.
;o)
I really am pathetic I guess.
For one, I probably wouldn't have picked any of the things you guys did - (hence my need to query those who are smarted than I) and in the end, the organizers allowed me to have three entries, so along with the Joe -vs- the Java painting, I ended up going with what you guys chose as fotos:
The first one was Farmstead, and the second was Hooded Mermaid.
So I had them printed out at a buh-zillion dpi today, matted and framed and delivered into the hands of the organizers..
The next question is:
apparently they are having an "Artists Reception" friday night...
Is it "bad form" if I do not attend?
I detest forced social events, but I also do not want to piss anybody off.
Since it is the first time I am in this partiular show, I probably should attend out of respect, shouldn't I?
Crap!
You're probably right.
Ok.
Well, thanks for answering that.
;o)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Please Vote Here
I need your help!
I have been invited to submit one photo as well as a canvas to a local art show. I
already know which canvas I am putting up this time around (Joe -vs- The Java) but I don't know which photo to submit. My deadline is tomorrow.
I have posted the entries here:
Warren Burial Ground
I have been invited to submit one photo as well as a canvas to a local art show. I
already know which canvas I am putting up this time around (Joe -vs- The Java) but I don't know which photo to submit. My deadline is tomorrow.
I have posted the entries here:
Warren Burial Ground
Hooded Mermaid
Towel Butterfly
Shadow Puppets
Farmstead
Madras House
Can you please vote using the comment section below, either that or email me privately if you prefer?
I really haven't ever submitted any photos to a show yet and am torn as to which I shoud pick.
I only want to submit one.
Thanks for your help!
mih-
Monday, January 15, 2007
Keeping Priorities Straight
What a guy - that Walt!
So after my recent exodus from Admin-dom at the Lysts.com (A recent death in the family and the need to begin looking after my 80 yr old Da has left me litle time) Walt and I were chit chatting about some residual lyst business, and in an email, he touches on said business, but then gets right to the "meat" in that he says, "now lets talk about these technical problems that are keeping you from getting into the cavern."
Man!
Gotta love his dedication to serving others!
And to persevering to maintain community - that sense of "let no one be left behind."
Dude is a man after my own heart!
Gooooo Walt!
mih-
So after my recent exodus from Admin-dom at the Lysts.com (A recent death in the family and the need to begin looking after my 80 yr old Da has left me litle time) Walt and I were chit chatting about some residual lyst business, and in an email, he touches on said business, but then gets right to the "meat" in that he says, "now lets talk about these technical problems that are keeping you from getting into the cavern."
Man!
Gotta love his dedication to serving others!
And to persevering to maintain community - that sense of "let no one be left behind."
Dude is a man after my own heart!
Gooooo Walt!
mih-
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Deschutes County Sherriff, Sisters Oregon Office: Swaggering Small Town Cops Swoop Down on Innocent Youths
Dang am I pissed!
Who the heck ever heard of a 10:pm curfew outside of a bloody war zone?
So it is Saturday night, January 13th.
I live in a small town.
Population less than 1200.
The most news worthy crimes here tend to be infractions commited when deer wander into the wrong yard, or when some kids prank the local busy body by lighting a sack of dog poop on fire and leaving it on her porch.
Imagine my ire, when my son comes home after I have dropped him off at 11pm for a simple game of Capture the Flag with his mates, and he comes home to regale me with tales of policemen chasing down others in his party and actually accosting him - asking him "what he had been drinking and where is the spray paint?"
I swear!
What is this town coming to, when kids can't even go out and play a game together without being accused of soemthing just because they're there?
Yeah I could see maybe in a city. but people!
This is freakin' Sisters!
Norman Rockwell-ville. (Or almost)
It must have been a slow night at the donut shop to bring these guys down into Sisters for a "Raid" on two capture-the-flag teams.
Who the heck ever heard of a 10pm curfew?
The whole state of Oregon has a midnight curfew....who do the Sisters Law Enforcement Officials think they are, instituting something other than what the state mandates with no good and visible reason??
Well, when the officer approached my son, my son stood there and answered the man and gave him his name and phone number and address and all that, and all I can say is "Bring it on John-Law!"
You better call me asap!
Otherwise I willc ome down there and ask you these questions face to face.
(Don't make come down there!) ;O)
I require some answers and they better be dang good ones!
Moral of the story?
Don't care who you are: don't mess with my kids, unless you have a good reason and even then, you are gonna do some explaining!
Who the heck ever heard of a 10:pm curfew outside of a bloody war zone?
So it is Saturday night, January 13th.
I live in a small town.
Population less than 1200.
The most news worthy crimes here tend to be infractions commited when deer wander into the wrong yard, or when some kids prank the local busy body by lighting a sack of dog poop on fire and leaving it on her porch.
Imagine my ire, when my son comes home after I have dropped him off at 11pm for a simple game of Capture the Flag with his mates, and he comes home to regale me with tales of policemen chasing down others in his party and actually accosting him - asking him "what he had been drinking and where is the spray paint?"
I swear!
What is this town coming to, when kids can't even go out and play a game together without being accused of soemthing just because they're there?
Yeah I could see maybe in a city. but people!
This is freakin' Sisters!
Norman Rockwell-ville. (Or almost)
It must have been a slow night at the donut shop to bring these guys down into Sisters for a "Raid" on two capture-the-flag teams.
Who the heck ever heard of a 10pm curfew?
The whole state of Oregon has a midnight curfew....who do the Sisters Law Enforcement Officials think they are, instituting something other than what the state mandates with no good and visible reason??
Well, when the officer approached my son, my son stood there and answered the man and gave him his name and phone number and address and all that, and all I can say is "Bring it on John-Law!"
You better call me asap!
Otherwise I willc ome down there and ask you these questions face to face.
(Don't make come down there!) ;O)
I require some answers and they better be dang good ones!
Moral of the story?
Don't care who you are: don't mess with my kids, unless you have a good reason and even then, you are gonna do some explaining!
Monday, January 8, 2007
Little Bagdad
That is what the inside of my car looks like.
I gotta clean it out today before I hit the road in it.
I go back to RI today and return late late Wednesday night.
I have begun working on the LA Mysterium Mega Map, and I plan to work on it while sitting in the airports, waiting for my delayed flights to arrive.
Anyway, the potential for fun and exciting things to do in LA is amazing!
JPL, Griffith Observatory, Getty museum, Venice/Muscle Beach, sand, sun(burn) and fun galore - not to mention that family attractions like Disney and sKnott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios etc. There is also a big computer convention in July happening - not fun, game stuff though - just a bunch of "egg-head" stuff.
;o)
(hee hee hee!!!)
Anyway, hopefully I can get a good start on the mega map!
See ya when I get back.
IF I get back...
how I HATE to fly!!!!
I hope I don't die!
Good thing LA is within driving distance!
This will also give me a chance to visit with some good friends in Venice.
Yay to whoever voted for LA!
For me it was a toss up between Boston and LA.
WEll there it is.
Have a good 2nd week of JAnuary.
I gotta clean it out today before I hit the road in it.
I go back to RI today and return late late Wednesday night.
I have begun working on the LA Mysterium Mega Map, and I plan to work on it while sitting in the airports, waiting for my delayed flights to arrive.
Anyway, the potential for fun and exciting things to do in LA is amazing!
JPL, Griffith Observatory, Getty museum, Venice/Muscle Beach, sand, sun(burn) and fun galore - not to mention that family attractions like Disney and sKnott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios etc. There is also a big computer convention in July happening - not fun, game stuff though - just a bunch of "egg-head" stuff.
;o)
(hee hee hee!!!)
Anyway, hopefully I can get a good start on the mega map!
See ya when I get back.
IF I get back...
how I HATE to fly!!!!
I hope I don't die!
Good thing LA is within driving distance!
This will also give me a chance to visit with some good friends in Venice.
Yay to whoever voted for LA!
For me it was a toss up between Boston and LA.
WEll there it is.
Have a good 2nd week of JAnuary.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Less than nothing
Yes.
It is true.
Saddam Hussein is dead.
Personally, I don't believe he warrants much more of a mention than that.
He was less than human in life, and he is less than dirt now.
Let us move on and do not honour him with another thought.
That is my take on it.
My daughters is different however.
She considers it sad that any man, no matter how vile, end up eternally separated from God...in Hell.
I guess that is the black and white of it.
Even so, he had his opportunities to make a U-turn in his life.
We all do.
We do not need to be knowledgeable with Saddam's life to know this.
We need to be knowledgeable about the Creator, who is always desiring that even the most vile can be redeemed.
It is true.
Saddam Hussein is dead.
Personally, I don't believe he warrants much more of a mention than that.
He was less than human in life, and he is less than dirt now.
Let us move on and do not honour him with another thought.
That is my take on it.
My daughters is different however.
She considers it sad that any man, no matter how vile, end up eternally separated from God...in Hell.
I guess that is the black and white of it.
Even so, he had his opportunities to make a U-turn in his life.
We all do.
We do not need to be knowledgeable with Saddam's life to know this.
We need to be knowledgeable about the Creator, who is always desiring that even the most vile can be redeemed.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Pacific Northwest According To Jeff Foxworthy
The sad thing about it is, the following statements might actually seem like jokes to some, but in reality...uh...this is indeed how things work here.
If you are from the Pacific Northwest:
1. You know the state flower (Mildew).
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk"
Signal.
8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is
not a real mountain.
9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and
Veneto's.
10. You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye Salmon.
11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima,
and Willamette.
12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark-while
only working eight-hour days.
15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and
"Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through
the cloud cover.
20. You notice, "The mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can
actually see it.
21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still
wear your hiking boots and parka.
22. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks
on.
23. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
25. You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones
after such a long time.
26. You measure distance in hours.
27. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.
28. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
29. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still
Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).
30. You actually understood these jokes.
If you are from the Pacific Northwest:
1. You know the state flower (Mildew).
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5. You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk"
Signal.
8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is
not a real mountain.
9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and
Veneto's.
10. You know the difference between Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye Salmon.
11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima,
and Willamette.
12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark-while
only working eight-hour days.
15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain," and
"Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
17. You have no concept of humidity without precipitation.
18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot see through
the cloud cover.
20. You notice, "The mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can
actually see it.
21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but still
wear your hiking boots and parka.
22. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the socks
on.
23. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
25. You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones
after such a long time.
26. You measure distance in hours.
27. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.
28. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
29. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still
Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer & Elk Season (Fall).
30. You actually understood these jokes.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
MaKenzies First Book Covers...
MacKenzie did her first shoot for a book cover late last summer and apparently the publisher (and hopefully the author) selected her for the entire 3 book set. The first is nearly ready for release, "The Trouble with Max," (Kenz portrays title character.)
Monday, December 11, 2006
Christmas Tune Cavalcade
I cannot compete with Tim Coulter.
Therefore I humbly bow and give you this link to Tim's
Christmas Tune Advent Cavalcade
Therefore I humbly bow and give you this link to Tim's
Christmas Tune Advent Cavalcade
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Simple Quiz
Can you answer the following trivia questions?
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate
the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific is
named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box
in a commercial airplane?
The Answers are here.
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate
the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific is
named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box
in a commercial airplane?
The Answers are here.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Potpourri December 6 2006
Well so many things today:
First there was the discovery of the body of James Kim. For those who are unfamiliar with him, he was the Senior Editor of CNet. (See previous post.)
Very Sad.
Every one in our state (Oregon) has been watching this drama unfold and it is desperately sad. Our prayers go out to Katie and their daughters.
Next,
we rented Narnia again tonight.
I forgot how hopeless I am.
Why?
Because I cannot (NOT~) watch this movie without becoming tearful. These books had such an ENORMOUS impact on me as a highschool freshman, when I read them all. Despite the fact that Disney produced this recent incarnation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, it still managed to come out with the majority of its original sentiments and deep impact.
No small task.
Anyway, there was I this evening:
Watching Edmond make the same fatal mistakes we all make on any given day, and watching the Lion save him and all the rest...well....it is too perfect a story.
Too true on a deep level.
I cannot watch this movie without blubbering.
I keep forgetting.
Then I rent it, and am reminded.
:o/
Third:
I suffered a freak injury today that has become my bane.
Dang it!
I have things TO DO!
I cannot be sitting around here with my leg on ice all the bloody live-long day! These crutches are in my way too! Screw them! How did this happen anyway? What offense did I commit? Was it merely the act of walking?
And Lo, there in my calf/lower leg regions there did occur a cramp of muscle pull which I can defineth not. But yea verily does it pull and ache and all of the Ibuprofen which walks the face of the earth is unable to quench its grip.
Yea though
I partake of the banana and, the vitamin B, and even though I imbibe the nectar of Gatorade, still this cramp/muscle pull deminisheth not!
Anyway, it hurts like 12 yards of you-know-where!
The final blessing?
Today with my kids, while debriefing in the car after school about their school day, I recieved enlightenment; "Now that my kids are all witty/funny, and can hold their own (humour-wise) in the world at large, well my job here on earth is likely done."
It was with great pleasure (and much mirth) that I recieved this revelation.
:o)
So...there is the news (that is not news) for today.
Merry Christmas to you all!
First there was the discovery of the body of James Kim. For those who are unfamiliar with him, he was the Senior Editor of CNet. (See previous post.)
Very Sad.
Every one in our state (Oregon) has been watching this drama unfold and it is desperately sad. Our prayers go out to Katie and their daughters.
Next,
we rented Narnia again tonight.
I forgot how hopeless I am.
Why?
Because I cannot (NOT~) watch this movie without becoming tearful. These books had such an ENORMOUS impact on me as a highschool freshman, when I read them all. Despite the fact that Disney produced this recent incarnation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, it still managed to come out with the majority of its original sentiments and deep impact.
No small task.
Anyway, there was I this evening:
Watching Edmond make the same fatal mistakes we all make on any given day, and watching the Lion save him and all the rest...well....it is too perfect a story.
Too true on a deep level.
I cannot watch this movie without blubbering.
I keep forgetting.
Then I rent it, and am reminded.
:o/
Third:
I suffered a freak injury today that has become my bane.
Dang it!
I have things TO DO!
I cannot be sitting around here with my leg on ice all the bloody live-long day! These crutches are in my way too! Screw them! How did this happen anyway? What offense did I commit? Was it merely the act of walking?
And Lo, there in my calf/lower leg regions there did occur a cramp of muscle pull which I can defineth not. But yea verily does it pull and ache and all of the Ibuprofen which walks the face of the earth is unable to quench its grip.
Yea though
I partake of the banana and, the vitamin B, and even though I imbibe the nectar of Gatorade, still this cramp/muscle pull deminisheth not!
Anyway, it hurts like 12 yards of you-know-where!
The final blessing?
Today with my kids, while debriefing in the car after school about their school day, I recieved enlightenment; "Now that my kids are all witty/funny, and can hold their own (humour-wise) in the world at large, well my job here on earth is likely done."
It was with great pleasure (and much mirth) that I recieved this revelation.
:o)
So...there is the news (that is not news) for today.
Merry Christmas to you all!
James Kim
It was during a very tearful sheriff's report today that the public was notified that the body of James Kim was located at 12:03pm, today, December 6th, 2006.
Details will be updating at the following site: KATU Television
It is undergoing updates almost minute by minute.
Details will be updating at the following site: KATU Television
It is undergoing updates almost minute by minute.
Monday, December 4, 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006
A chapter in life passes
Well, it had to come to pass eventually.
When we take inventory of our lives and our priorities, it is inevitable that somethings must take a backseat to others.
And so it has come to pass with my time serving in an administrative capacity at TheLysts.com.
With the passing of my stepmom and my dad's plans to move out here with us, as well as the fact that all my kids are now entering teen-dom, well...retaining ones focus is always key to remaining successful.
One cannot spread ones attentions too far and wide and maintain high standards.
The current admins are more than capable of "running the show" there.
I feel VERY good about this decision.
:o)
When we take inventory of our lives and our priorities, it is inevitable that somethings must take a backseat to others.
And so it has come to pass with my time serving in an administrative capacity at TheLysts.com.
With the passing of my stepmom and my dad's plans to move out here with us, as well as the fact that all my kids are now entering teen-dom, well...retaining ones focus is always key to remaining successful.
One cannot spread ones attentions too far and wide and maintain high standards.
The current admins are more than capable of "running the show" there.
I feel VERY good about this decision.
:o)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Two new Blogroll Additions
First I would like to introduce you to a new blog which I have been graciously invited to participate in called "Eating Plebian." This is basically a food blog dedicated to simple, homespun fare that one need not be wealthy of a seasoned gourmet to enjoy.
Simple Fare for simple folk.
Old ways are best.
The second link I would direct you to is a gallery dedicated to my late Step Mother.
She collected Salt and Pepper shakers most of her long life and ammassed a sizable collection, a fragment of which can be viewed at "Salty Towers." Currently there is only about half of the collection uploaded. I am still working on it, but enough is there to enjoy already.
Simple Fare for simple folk.
Old ways are best.
The second link I would direct you to is a gallery dedicated to my late Step Mother.
She collected Salt and Pepper shakers most of her long life and ammassed a sizable collection, a fragment of which can be viewed at "Salty Towers." Currently there is only about half of the collection uploaded. I am still working on it, but enough is there to enjoy already.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Stu appears in PSA
hey I almpst forgot - and was reminded because I just saw it air on the local ABS affiliate -
Stu was in a Red Cross blood drive commercial.
Our two rival football teams have had a "civil war" for the last 10 years, on the day after thanksgiving.
The Oregon Ducks( U of O) -vs- the Oregon State Beavers (OSU).
Stu is the entirely ( completely!!!!!!!!!!!) bald guy in the orange shirt, and he also has the final line, "Are you ready for some football?" at the close of the PSA.
You can access the commercial here.
Scroll down and click on the link for "Civil War Blood Drive Public Service Announcement."
Stu was in a Red Cross blood drive commercial.
Our two rival football teams have had a "civil war" for the last 10 years, on the day after thanksgiving.
The Oregon Ducks( U of O) -vs- the Oregon State Beavers (OSU).
Stu is the entirely ( completely!!!!!!!!!!!) bald guy in the orange shirt, and he also has the final line, "Are you ready for some football?" at the close of the PSA.
You can access the commercial here.
Scroll down and click on the link for "Civil War Blood Drive Public Service Announcement."
Tuff Day
I have two best friends.
Today marks the 46th birthday of one of them.
It is a tuff day becasue this friend passed away in January and he is still VERY much misses by all who had the honour of calling him "friend."
Today marks the 46th birthday of one of them.
It is a tuff day becasue this friend passed away in January and he is still VERY much misses by all who had the honour of calling him "friend."
Friday, November 17, 2006
Ok so Eleri found this, and shared it with the Millers Wohba site.
Yay Eleri!
This is crazy!
And Top Men's commentary on it is fairly amusing as well.
Yay Eleri!
This is crazy!
And Top Men's commentary on it is fairly amusing as well.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Missing friends
Oh the tyranny of duty!
Oh the demands of a busy life!
They foist themselves upon me.
They foist themselves upon you.
I do miss my friends.
Whether as a result of my own "Tyranny of the Urgent", or theirs.
I miss Barb, and James.
I miss Judy, Ran and Blue.
I miss Laurie and Sheryl and Carla Calhoun.
There are too many...FAR too many to name.
Oh the demands of a busy life!
They foist themselves upon me.
They foist themselves upon you.
I do miss my friends.
Whether as a result of my own "Tyranny of the Urgent", or theirs.
I miss Barb, and James.
I miss Judy, Ran and Blue.
I miss Laurie and Sheryl and Carla Calhoun.
There are too many...FAR too many to name.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Waiting for paint to dry.
So today I am painting and while I am waiting for the paint to dry I ended up playing with elements of it in PS.
The fish were salt shakers, and the Background is for something else entirely.
The fish were salt shakers, and the Background is for something else entirely.
Monday, November 6, 2006
Well, for starters
Yes I am back from New England.
What a wacky place.
Rhode Island.
Land of more political mudslinging on a minute-by-minute basis than you are likely to imagine possible - unless you are Bryan - in which case its all old news.
Case in point?
The current Poo Tossing fest between Lincoln Chaffee and Sheldon Whitehouse.
Good Lord!
I had to laff and laff.
These men appear to be of mature ages and yet their infantile bickering over the TV is more indicative of Jr High sensibilities.
And people wonder what is wrong in the government.
Just look at the men who are "approving their ads."
The answer is in the question.
As far as the view of the "other side" goes:
Some day, when I leave this world, I will want my passing to be just like that of my step-mom:
Knowing God, knowing beyond doubt the Home you are bound for, and with each new morning ,cursing the fact that you woke up in this same old frikkin body again! To spend your last day in a pain free mixture of slumber, and waking to the faces of smiling loved ones. To depart in the prayerful, loving arms of your daughter, who understands where you are right now, and where you are going, and she vocalizes your freedom to go and that the day's partings are only temporary.
And you select your last 2 breaths, and then you stand in awe before Him who loved you before you even knew who He was. Surrounded by friends and family who have arrived in advance to
welcome you to His magnificent feast.
Yes.
They came to visit you before you left.
They met you...in that hospital room to remind you that they were waiting for you, and a mighty feast was prepared...they were waiting for you though.
You speak these things to your family in the corporeal world but they think you are dreaming - but you know who is standing in the room with you - angels encircle you all
about. You point them out to those in the hospital room.
"Ma, who are they, what do they look like?"
"I don't know, " you answer. "Everytime I try to see their faces they turn around with their backs to me."
But you know they are there.
And you know where you will eventually wake up, and you are now earnestly desiring to awaken there.
And so...you sleep.
Fervently, and with a mighty will and drive you force yourself in to sleep, hoping that when you awaken, you will have finally Arrived.
And now you have.
Happy birthday on Saturday Ma.
It is your true and final birthday!
Would that I could make my Crossing in such a fashion.
And now, in an effort to soften the intensity of my emotion right now, I will share with you all a song which I have been listening to. A song which has nothing to do with such somber or glorious thots.
A silly song.
A song entitled, "These are not my Pants".
Beware. It is 6MBs
What a wacky place.
Rhode Island.
Land of more political mudslinging on a minute-by-minute basis than you are likely to imagine possible - unless you are Bryan - in which case its all old news.
Case in point?
The current Poo Tossing fest between Lincoln Chaffee and Sheldon Whitehouse.
Good Lord!
I had to laff and laff.
These men appear to be of mature ages and yet their infantile bickering over the TV is more indicative of Jr High sensibilities.
And people wonder what is wrong in the government.
Just look at the men who are "approving their ads."
The answer is in the question.
As far as the view of the "other side" goes:
Some day, when I leave this world, I will want my passing to be just like that of my step-mom:
Knowing God, knowing beyond doubt the Home you are bound for, and with each new morning ,cursing the fact that you woke up in this same old frikkin body again! To spend your last day in a pain free mixture of slumber, and waking to the faces of smiling loved ones. To depart in the prayerful, loving arms of your daughter, who understands where you are right now, and where you are going, and she vocalizes your freedom to go and that the day's partings are only temporary.
And you select your last 2 breaths, and then you stand in awe before Him who loved you before you even knew who He was. Surrounded by friends and family who have arrived in advance to
welcome you to His magnificent feast.
Yes.
They came to visit you before you left.
They met you...in that hospital room to remind you that they were waiting for you, and a mighty feast was prepared...they were waiting for you though.
You speak these things to your family in the corporeal world but they think you are dreaming - but you know who is standing in the room with you - angels encircle you all
about. You point them out to those in the hospital room.
"Ma, who are they, what do they look like?"
"I don't know, " you answer. "Everytime I try to see their faces they turn around with their backs to me."
But you know they are there.
And you know where you will eventually wake up, and you are now earnestly desiring to awaken there.
And so...you sleep.
Fervently, and with a mighty will and drive you force yourself in to sleep, hoping that when you awaken, you will have finally Arrived.
And now you have.
Happy birthday on Saturday Ma.
It is your true and final birthday!
Would that I could make my Crossing in such a fashion.
And now, in an effort to soften the intensity of my emotion right now, I will share with you all a song which I have been listening to. A song which has nothing to do with such somber or glorious thots.
A silly song.
A song entitled, "These are not my Pants".
Beware. It is 6MBs
Thursday, November 2, 2006
My Boarding Passes are printed and I'm ready to go!
Got my passes printed just now and by this time tomorrow I will be airborne and on my way for my connecting in Cincy, and onward to Portland!Yay! Only 30 minutes to get the the next flight, but hey...shouldn't be too bad? Can't wait to get home! There are some new images at the mettle works Gallery, here and here. Ok that's it for now.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
UPDATED (AGAIN): Recipe of the Wee... Er, Month
OK, It's been far too long since I did one, so I beg your forgiveness and submit for your approval something that will make your teenagers visibly blanche, but my Teutonic heritage simply loves.
Braised Cabbage
Yes, yes, I know, it's not not a main dish, particularly, but we're on a health kick here at the Mettleworks Ohio branch office. Very often we'll get into a rut with vegetables and side dishes as we do with the main courses, so shake things up a bit. An even better advantage is this dish tastes wholly different from what you'd expect: it in no way resembles "steamed cabbage", which is a tribute to institutional blandness. It's really tasty, sporting a sweet & sour quality, and it's almost bulletproof to prepare.
One-quarter head of red/purple cabbage, thinly sliced (I use the purple ones- I also find it economical that grocery stores now are selling partial heads of cabbage lately, so waste is at a minimum)
One medium white or spanish onion, cut into thin rings
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tblsp brown sugar
1/2 cup good red wine
4-6 strips of cooked bacon, chopped (if it's raw, you can saute the bacon with the onion. On weekends I'll make more bacon than we need for breakfast and store the rest in a ziplock baggie in the fridge for recipes)
Freshly ground Pepper
Kosher salt to taste
Start off with a large skillet or deep pot and saute the onions with the olive oil until translucent (you can saute the bacon up with the onion if you don't already have some cooked. If this is the case, you can eliminate the olive oil as the bacon will have plenty of grease on it's own). Deglaze the pot by adding the balsamic vinegar, the pepper, chicken stock and wine. Bring to a boil and add the brown sugar.
After the sugar has dissolved, add the cabbage and cover tightly for 25 minutes on a medium-heat simmer, stirring occasionally.
Drink a glass of the wine.
After the cabbage is tender, drain any excess liquid from the pot and return to the stove for a few minutes under medium-high heat so the bottom layer of cabbage and onions carmelize nicely. Salt to taste.
That's it!
I really like this with pork chops, knockwurst with brown mustard or kielbasa. I recommend a Pinot Noir (Trinity Oaks PN is a really nice wine- and laughably cheap! Use it for the recipe, too) or a fruity Cabernet and a marinated green bean & beet salad (recipe for this provided upon request).
Mih Writes:
Well this sounds like a winner! Especially now that our Indian Summer is finally giving way to Autumn's chill. Can you send me the salad recipe too, when you get a minute - or post it here - which ever is easiest!
:o)
Thanks!
And while we are speaking of culinary things, I can say that I have experienced my first ever oven fire, last night. I dunno what my dad cooked in there before, or how long ago, but I about wet myself when I saw flames inside the oven.
How exciting. :o/
UPDATE from Bryan: Okay the marinated green bean & beet salad. Quite possible the easiest marinated salad on the face of the earth.
Marinated Green Bean & Beet Salad
Two cans cut green beans, drained
One can sliced beets, drained
1/2 an onion, thinly sliced.
OPTIONAL: one 8-ounce can mushrooms, drained
3/4 cup "Zesty" or "Bold" style Italian dressing (Seven Seas, Kraft, Wishbone, whatever)
Combine in a large tupperware container with a lid, shake it all around to mix it, and leave it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. It's that simple.
Braised Cabbage
Yes, yes, I know, it's not not a main dish, particularly, but we're on a health kick here at the Mettleworks Ohio branch office. Very often we'll get into a rut with vegetables and side dishes as we do with the main courses, so shake things up a bit. An even better advantage is this dish tastes wholly different from what you'd expect: it in no way resembles "steamed cabbage", which is a tribute to institutional blandness. It's really tasty, sporting a sweet & sour quality, and it's almost bulletproof to prepare.
One-quarter head of red/purple cabbage, thinly sliced (I use the purple ones- I also find it economical that grocery stores now are selling partial heads of cabbage lately, so waste is at a minimum)
One medium white or spanish onion, cut into thin rings
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tblsp brown sugar
1/2 cup good red wine
4-6 strips of cooked bacon, chopped (if it's raw, you can saute the bacon with the onion. On weekends I'll make more bacon than we need for breakfast and store the rest in a ziplock baggie in the fridge for recipes)
Freshly ground Pepper
Kosher salt to taste
Start off with a large skillet or deep pot and saute the onions with the olive oil until translucent (you can saute the bacon up with the onion if you don't already have some cooked. If this is the case, you can eliminate the olive oil as the bacon will have plenty of grease on it's own). Deglaze the pot by adding the balsamic vinegar, the pepper, chicken stock and wine. Bring to a boil and add the brown sugar.
After the sugar has dissolved, add the cabbage and cover tightly for 25 minutes on a medium-heat simmer, stirring occasionally.
Drink a glass of the wine.
After the cabbage is tender, drain any excess liquid from the pot and return to the stove for a few minutes under medium-high heat so the bottom layer of cabbage and onions carmelize nicely. Salt to taste.
That's it!I really like this with pork chops, knockwurst with brown mustard or kielbasa. I recommend a Pinot Noir (Trinity Oaks PN is a really nice wine- and laughably cheap! Use it for the recipe, too) or a fruity Cabernet and a marinated green bean & beet salad (recipe for this provided upon request).
Mih Writes:
Well this sounds like a winner! Especially now that our Indian Summer is finally giving way to Autumn's chill. Can you send me the salad recipe too, when you get a minute - or post it here - which ever is easiest!
:o)
Thanks!
And while we are speaking of culinary things, I can say that I have experienced my first ever oven fire, last night. I dunno what my dad cooked in there before, or how long ago, but I about wet myself when I saw flames inside the oven.
How exciting. :o/
UPDATE from Bryan: Okay the marinated green bean & beet salad. Quite possible the easiest marinated salad on the face of the earth.
Marinated Green Bean & Beet Salad
Two cans cut green beans, drained
One can sliced beets, drained
1/2 an onion, thinly sliced.
OPTIONAL: one 8-ounce can mushrooms, drained
3/4 cup "Zesty" or "Bold" style Italian dressing (Seven Seas, Kraft, Wishbone, whatever)
Combine in a large tupperware container with a lid, shake it all around to mix it, and leave it in the fridge for several hours or overnight. It's that simple.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
New to the Sidebar
A new link is available today in the sidebar:
News You Won't Believe
And I also added the link to my MySpace.
I have a very obvious moniker there.
It declares all of my intentions - miraculously and to their credit, my kids even acknowledged my existence by adding me to their friend list.
Anyway...there that is.
:o)
Now I am prepared to board my plane and if it crashes (which I am always sure that it will) then so be it.
I hate to fly.
Pray for me.
News You Won't Believe
And I also added the link to my MySpace.
I have a very obvious moniker there.
It declares all of my intentions - miraculously and to their credit, my kids even acknowledged my existence by adding me to their friend list.
Anyway...there that is.
:o)
Now I am prepared to board my plane and if it crashes (which I am always sure that it will) then so be it.
I hate to fly.
Pray for me.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Did Someone Say There Weren't Going to Be Posts Here For Awhile?
Heh, I think there'll be a comment or two here and there in the interim...
-Blue (Ground Control)
-Blue (Ground Control)
Monday, October 16, 2006
Gone for a while
I will be making another trip to Rhode Island this Saturday. My step mom is passing away and I will be leaving at the end of this week. I am hoping to visit my step mom again while she can recieve visitors, and I would like to be a help to Judy (my step sister) and to my dad.
Even so, it is with a dreadfully heavy heart that I leave my kids behind for so long a time. Its not like Stu can't handle it, he can, I mean he is a dad and what not, of course he's got it 'dialed-in.'
It's just that...well he isn't "The Mom."
Will he really worry about who gets what lunch on what day, and that it will have the main food groups represented in it? (protein? starch? vegetable/fruit groups?) Will he actually make/cook proper food - no matter how simple - or will he blow the nest-egg on chinese take-out and pizza and donuts?
I don't know. The answers to these and other puzzling questions elude me and therefore unnerve me.
I am going to miss each of my kids desperately. Horribly. I haven't even left yet, and I am already missing them.
Fortunately God is here, and He is in Rhode Island too. He watches over us all.
That is my only comfort.
So all things cyber such as blogposts, art uploads etc will be delayed until after I return, however, email will still remain a reliable way to contact me during this time.
Mih-
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Inspirations
Well I was preparing to dismantle my studio today and I came across some post cards of images that I had collected last summer. Postcards that I had been given by an artist who's work I encountered and which stole the breath out of my lungs the minute I saw it hanging on a back wall in a small gallery. The artists name was Peter H Peterson. You can find his work here at the Uffelman Gallery, and if you click ENTER, and then click the link to his name and select the "Lyrical" gallery, it will give you a basic feel for his style. Anyway, as luck would have it, during the course of the week, I ended up meeting the Mr Peterson as he was finishing a piece in the back of the gallery.
His energy has fueled a full year of my work. Though there is no comparison at all between what he does and what I do, still, I remember him often and his dedication and vibrant works are a guiding light to me to pursue and persevere.
Another fabulous artist I have found at DeviantART (of all places, I know!) The first of which is known as:
Numb-Synapse please please take just a few moments and surf through her gallery. It is WELL worth it!
The other is my new favorite, a sculptor from southern France named Remy Tassou.
Please, check out his galleries, both at DevART as well as his own personal site.
I think his work belongs in Seattle first, and for obvious reasons.
There is not trash in this "Cyber-Trash" Gallery!
Anyway, that is what I am feeding on these days.
:o)
His energy has fueled a full year of my work. Though there is no comparison at all between what he does and what I do, still, I remember him often and his dedication and vibrant works are a guiding light to me to pursue and persevere.
Another fabulous artist I have found at DeviantART (of all places, I know!) The first of which is known as:
Numb-Synapse please please take just a few moments and surf through her gallery. It is WELL worth it!
The other is my new favorite, a sculptor from southern France named Remy Tassou.
Please, check out his galleries, both at DevART as well as his own personal site.
I think his work belongs in Seattle first, and for obvious reasons.
There is not trash in this "Cyber-Trash" Gallery!
Anyway, that is what I am feeding on these days.
:o)
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wedding Announcement:
Ok so this is NOT an image of my devising.
It was sent to me by my good friend Bill Harris (Computer Sherpa/Horizon's Dad) and he got it from some one else.
If the artist be known, then let him stand and declare himself.
In the mean time I say, lets all enjoy his handiwork!
Sorry for the non posts for the last month and a half.
Extra work has come my way...that and my step mom has taken a turn for the worse.
Kids come first and work.
And when I do get a block of time, I will be busy querrying Mr. Max about the next steps to be taken in the Lysts upgrades.
He and Walt, Peter and Lehsa have been stalwart "fort-holder-downers."
So there that is.
That and I have been working on my kids computer since it has something and apparently the Norton cacked on it. Fine! Screw Norton anyway, it was starting to suck. So I am putting PC-cillin on theirs and Zone Alarm on my own. Sorry Symantec. Your were the king for many years.
What the heck happened.
And Blue, Studio Ghibli - - - I did not forget your question. Lehsa or Og can answer.
In the mean time, Myasaki is the "King of Anime." His studio is called Studio Ghibli. Produced Spirited Away, Howlings Castle, Kiki's Delivery service, Castle in the Sky etc. At first, I thot it was not all that special and couldn't figure out the fascination, but MacKenzie kept wanting to watch mor eof them and as I became familiar with his work, his art really began to impress me.
Anyway, there that is.
See yall later. Gotta run.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Well the trip was originally planned for a number of reasons:
1-so that the girls could see their grandparents who are in their late 70's.
2-I was hoping to do a little more research into early French history in the area for a historical fiction project.
3-Shoot alot of photos to process this winter.
About a week before leaving, I rec'd a phone call here at home stating that my step mom had gone into the hospital. She has been on dialysis for 9+ years and was having a few serious issues suddenly. It was good that we were able to go at this time as it gave the girls a chance to visit gramm in the hospital and see my dad, plus it gave me a chance to "survey the elder parent scene" and it really is not a pretty site.
Pride is a huge hinderance in all walks of life.
Pride is not a thing to boast about.
People (espeially older ones) will say, "Well I've got my pride you know!"
Well that is more of an ugly confession than something to be admired.
Anyway...it gets in the way of acomplishing important goals.
This is a place I have been before in life: Parent Care.
When my mother contracted Altzheimers Disease in her 50's I moved back home and my dad and I were her primary care givers until incontinence set in with a vengeance,at which time we sent her to fostercare set up to deal with Altzheimers specifically.
So a large part of this trip was spent cleaning my dads house.
They refuse to hire a housekeeper even once or twice a month.
They are both nearly blind, and so cannot see the dirt. (filth is a better word)
So after the girls went to bed each night, and dad settled in front of the TV, I went quietly into the kitchen/bathroom/laundry room and committed janitorial acts upon each room until about 2am.
"I'll run out to Coggeshall Farm with the girls tomorrow and take a bunch of photos" I would tell myself.
"Maybe we'll take a run up the Cape and see my cousin Janet tomorrow afternoon?"
These things never happened.
So the trip that was, wasn't - - - BUT - - - More importantly, familial things DID get done.
There will be years to take photos elsewhere, but not many more when I can serve gramma or grandpa despite themselves.
;o)
The Poops!
So it was a good trip.
It was just altered to meet the needs of the day.
We did get to go to Mystic Conn. (No we did not eat pizza.) And we did the obligatory trip to Plymouth.
Many of these photos are up now and can be seen at this Gallery.
1-so that the girls could see their grandparents who are in their late 70's.
2-I was hoping to do a little more research into early French history in the area for a historical fiction project.
3-Shoot alot of photos to process this winter.
About a week before leaving, I rec'd a phone call here at home stating that my step mom had gone into the hospital. She has been on dialysis for 9+ years and was having a few serious issues suddenly. It was good that we were able to go at this time as it gave the girls a chance to visit gramm in the hospital and see my dad, plus it gave me a chance to "survey the elder parent scene" and it really is not a pretty site.
Pride is a huge hinderance in all walks of life.
Pride is not a thing to boast about.
People (espeially older ones) will say, "Well I've got my pride you know!"
Well that is more of an ugly confession than something to be admired.
Anyway...it gets in the way of acomplishing important goals.
This is a place I have been before in life: Parent Care.
When my mother contracted Altzheimers Disease in her 50's I moved back home and my dad and I were her primary care givers until incontinence set in with a vengeance,at which time we sent her to fostercare set up to deal with Altzheimers specifically.
So a large part of this trip was spent cleaning my dads house.
They refuse to hire a housekeeper even once or twice a month.
They are both nearly blind, and so cannot see the dirt. (filth is a better word)
So after the girls went to bed each night, and dad settled in front of the TV, I went quietly into the kitchen/bathroom/laundry room and committed janitorial acts upon each room until about 2am.
"I'll run out to Coggeshall Farm with the girls tomorrow and take a bunch of photos" I would tell myself.
"Maybe we'll take a run up the Cape and see my cousin Janet tomorrow afternoon?"
These things never happened.
So the trip that was, wasn't - - - BUT - - - More importantly, familial things DID get done.
There will be years to take photos elsewhere, but not many more when I can serve gramma or grandpa despite themselves.
;o)
The Poops!
So it was a good trip.
It was just altered to meet the needs of the day.
We did get to go to Mystic Conn. (No we did not eat pizza.) And we did the obligatory trip to Plymouth.
Many of these photos are up now and can be seen at this Gallery.
Monday, September 18, 2006
From East to West
Well we JUST got home tonight and it was a crazy trip.
Updates to follow.
Of course the foto above, graphically illustrates the gaping hole that exists on the west coast:
We no longer have ANY Dunkin' Donuts stores in Oregon.
We made a point of going to Dunkin Donuts every day we were in RI, Mass and Conn.
More to come...
Monday, September 11, 2006
Connections
Well the connection is back up but I am still hitting the road. To see my dad and to shoot some images for projects this fall.
We watched Totoro this weekend, and SPirited away, again. (Howlings CAstle was still on the New Release shelf so we skipped it.)
What can one say about the Masters at Studio Ghibli? (spelling?)
Breathtaking work.
Gotta love it.
Kenz seems to have foudn her niche.
She has married her love of drawing and her love of Anime.
She wants to be an animator when she grows up.
these kids better get screamin' grades so that they can get kickin' scholarships.
Or they are gonna bury me.
;o)
We watched Totoro this weekend, and SPirited away, again. (Howlings CAstle was still on the New Release shelf so we skipped it.)
What can one say about the Masters at Studio Ghibli? (spelling?)
Breathtaking work.
Gotta love it.
Kenz seems to have foudn her niche.
She has married her love of drawing and her love of Anime.
She wants to be an animator when she grows up.
these kids better get screamin' grades so that they can get kickin' scholarships.
Or they are gonna bury me.
;o)
Friday, September 8, 2006
No Internet and On the Road
We have no internet access and I am checking from the library today.
May not be back online till early next week, and then I go back on the road from the 12th through the 19th of September.
See ya in a few weeks!
mih-
May not be back online till early next week, and then I go back on the road from the 12th through the 19th of September.
See ya in a few weeks!
mih-
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
People in the General Sense...
Some peoples only goal is to stir up strife and contention.
To create a sense of drama and urgent matters where non exist.
I don't know what is going on.
What might God be trying to show me?
Back story:
I do not answer the phone.
I screen all calls.
Pain comes via the phone. Why? Because it brings people.
I have become a bit lax in my phone answering lately.
I have even been caught answering the phone before the machine picks up.
I opted to do this two days ago.
Bad. baaaaaaaad choice.
The neighbor lady, (we will call her debbie) who does not live here but this is her vacation home and she lives 3 hours north, has become flustered that my next door neighbors (we'll call her Suzie) her pine trees are dying. Debbie called me to express her concern and divulge the results of the *research,* concluding that I (yes me) needed to approach Suzie, and convince her to take samples of her tree tree branches/needles in to the extension office to make sure they were not a product of beetle infestation. "Heaven forbid we should have to cut our trees all down and lose our pine trees!"
I pointed out to Debbie that the death of the trees in question more more likely to the septic system being dug up and replaced, including the drain field in the vicinity of said trees. I also pointed out that there has been a lack of water recently and that like New Mexico - home to acres of Pinion Pines once-upon-a-time has lost most of their trees due to developement and careless waste of water. I pointed out that this was very similar to what is occurring in our nneigborhood. Debbie took this opportunity to launch. I had inadvertantly given her another ill-percieved cause to chase after. She became very excited, stating that there was going to be aneighborhood meeting to decide how to handle our water provider. ( a family that inherited th land and now runs the Community well.)
"They need to be given the ol ' what-for!" was Debbies opinion.
Selfish, brutish, citi-fied nitwit! Have you never done without water, woman?
Back story:
we have frequent water outages. sometimes aounting to once a month for 24 hours.
it is a drop in the bucket. Where I used to live, the power woudl go out and we woudl be without pwer and water for a week at a time in the dead of winters ice storms. You get used to it.
Anyway, we have had water outages here. small ones. mostly due to vandalism on the well pumps. The water providers put up a fence and that took care of it. Well, our neighborhood has increased developement. 8-12 houses have gone up within a 1/4 mile this summer. Contractors (with no bonds) have been breaking the lines with heavy equipment.
So there is flaw #1 in the neighbors attack onthe water provider : it is the developers fault partly. And the home owners who are hiring the builders with no bond required.
Flaw #2: The local electric company has been payed in excess of $230,000.00 to complete power updates to the system, allowing the providers sufficient power to pump the water that they already have. The power company has not done the upgrades.
So what we have here is a self-centered batch of well-to-do americans who think they are entitled to certain luxury's (as though they were a given!) and get bent out of shape when their desires are not met.
I am frustrated with humanity.
I guess the old Christian addage really applies to what I think:
"Does each one of us, by the fact of our imperfection, deserve death and Hell?
Yes!
Does each one of us, through nothing we have done to merit it, have better?
Yes, almost to a man, globally speaking.
The shut up and be happy with what you do have!
Have you got a shirt and pants?
Did you eat this week?
More than once?
Do you have something to get in under, to avoid being rained or snowed on?
Then you are already richer than the majority of the world.
So shut your stupid, gloating, efete face American Majority!
Shut your face, Sisters Oregon.
people!
They are the reason I no longer want to answer the phone.
They are the reason I would like to be able to shut my doors and lock then and never lay eyes on the majority of them.
With a few exceptions.
- - - - Conversely - - -
God says in His own words, that He Loves all people, and that He has made all of them in His own image.
God says "Love your neighbor as your self." ( Oh please got, not Debbie!)
God says " Love your enemies.) (Wha....? What? Crap! I'm screwed now!)
Never the less, God IS God.
So where does that leave me?
My only hope is to trust that He will educate me as time goes on about such things.
Fortunately, He is reliable to do that, as long as I force my heart to hear Him and not the world around me.
Even so...
I am NOT answering the phone.
Ever again.
If you get my message machine, its not because I don't love you, its because I will call you back.
No more 'cold-calls' taken by me.
:o)
To create a sense of drama and urgent matters where non exist.
I don't know what is going on.
What might God be trying to show me?
Back story:
I do not answer the phone.
I screen all calls.
Pain comes via the phone. Why? Because it brings people.
I have become a bit lax in my phone answering lately.
I have even been caught answering the phone before the machine picks up.
I opted to do this two days ago.
Bad. baaaaaaaad choice.
The neighbor lady, (we will call her debbie) who does not live here but this is her vacation home and she lives 3 hours north, has become flustered that my next door neighbors (we'll call her Suzie) her pine trees are dying. Debbie called me to express her concern and divulge the results of the *research,* concluding that I (yes me) needed to approach Suzie, and convince her to take samples of her tree tree branches/needles in to the extension office to make sure they were not a product of beetle infestation. "Heaven forbid we should have to cut our trees all down and lose our pine trees!"
I pointed out to Debbie that the death of the trees in question more more likely to the septic system being dug up and replaced, including the drain field in the vicinity of said trees. I also pointed out that there has been a lack of water recently and that like New Mexico - home to acres of Pinion Pines once-upon-a-time has lost most of their trees due to developement and careless waste of water. I pointed out that this was very similar to what is occurring in our nneigborhood. Debbie took this opportunity to launch. I had inadvertantly given her another ill-percieved cause to chase after. She became very excited, stating that there was going to be aneighborhood meeting to decide how to handle our water provider. ( a family that inherited th land and now runs the Community well.)
"They need to be given the ol ' what-for!" was Debbies opinion.
Selfish, brutish, citi-fied nitwit! Have you never done without water, woman?
Back story:
we have frequent water outages. sometimes aounting to once a month for 24 hours.
it is a drop in the bucket. Where I used to live, the power woudl go out and we woudl be without pwer and water for a week at a time in the dead of winters ice storms. You get used to it.
Anyway, we have had water outages here. small ones. mostly due to vandalism on the well pumps. The water providers put up a fence and that took care of it. Well, our neighborhood has increased developement. 8-12 houses have gone up within a 1/4 mile this summer. Contractors (with no bonds) have been breaking the lines with heavy equipment.
So there is flaw #1 in the neighbors attack onthe water provider : it is the developers fault partly. And the home owners who are hiring the builders with no bond required.
Flaw #2: The local electric company has been payed in excess of $230,000.00 to complete power updates to the system, allowing the providers sufficient power to pump the water that they already have. The power company has not done the upgrades.
So what we have here is a self-centered batch of well-to-do americans who think they are entitled to certain luxury's (as though they were a given!) and get bent out of shape when their desires are not met.
I am frustrated with humanity.
I guess the old Christian addage really applies to what I think:
"Does each one of us, by the fact of our imperfection, deserve death and Hell?
Yes!
Does each one of us, through nothing we have done to merit it, have better?
Yes, almost to a man, globally speaking.
The shut up and be happy with what you do have!
Have you got a shirt and pants?
Did you eat this week?
More than once?
Do you have something to get in under, to avoid being rained or snowed on?
Then you are already richer than the majority of the world.
So shut your stupid, gloating, efete face American Majority!
Shut your face, Sisters Oregon.
people!
They are the reason I no longer want to answer the phone.
They are the reason I would like to be able to shut my doors and lock then and never lay eyes on the majority of them.
With a few exceptions.
- - - - Conversely - - -
God says in His own words, that He Loves all people, and that He has made all of them in His own image.
God says "Love your neighbor as your self." ( Oh please got, not Debbie!)
God says " Love your enemies.) (Wha....? What? Crap! I'm screwed now!)
Never the less, God IS God.
So where does that leave me?
My only hope is to trust that He will educate me as time goes on about such things.
Fortunately, He is reliable to do that, as long as I force my heart to hear Him and not the world around me.
Even so...
I am NOT answering the phone.
Ever again.
If you get my message machine, its not because I don't love you, its because I will call you back.
No more 'cold-calls' taken by me.
:o)
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Your Face? - - Evening Update Updated
Remember that beautifully done animation from the late 80's by Bill Plympton called "Your Face?"
Yeah.
Well...
Blake is coming home from camp a week early.
He's had some sort of accident.
He has 5 stitches beneath his nose and his face is pretty bashed up and swollen, from what I hear.
I don't really know for sure, since I only got the phone call from the camp yesterday, and Stu is up there right now, gathering his belongings to bring him back home now.
I don't know if I will be confronted with his normal, pretty boy face which is a bit scratched up or if it is still very bruised and swollen and I will be facing "My Son, The Elephant Man."
Apparently the hospital did not send him home with any pain meds, because neither parent was on hand, but it was the camp staff with the medical release that brought him in.
(Stupid Mt Hood Medical Center! That place has been nit-wit-haven since the early 80's)
Anyway, the camp called and asked me if they could give him a Vicoden and I said, "Good heavens yes!"
Poor kid.
My first thought was, "Dear God, thank you that he didn't lose an eye!"
In retrospect I suppose I can say, "What Teen-Boy's summer would be complete without a trip to the E.R. for some stitches?"
UPDATE:
Well the lad is home now.
The Results are in and they are not pretty:
He tells me that, after he got his stitches, they went to Shari's to get a milok shake. He said that the people who walked past his table would look at him with these really freaked out looks on their faces. He said that he finally just stood up and in a very loud voice, addressed the patrons by saying, "I am not an animal, I am a human being!"
And then there is always this.
That is my son:
He suffers major facial trauma, and within 24 hours what does he do?
He turns it into a Photo Shoot.
This is a great poster for some slasher movie.
I am proud of you son...sorta...now take your medicine!
He is begging me to take him back out to this location (remember the film "The Postman" with Kevin Costner? Yeah. They shot part of it here. Same location) so that he can shoot some more images with his face all beat up and a rifle clenched between his fists.
He begs me, that he must do it before his face heals too much.
Strangely...I understand that logic.
I will probably take him there and help him shoot both stills and video.
Am I a bad mother?
:o/
Thursday, August 17, 2006
The Fire Yo-Yo
George Lake Fire at Sunset, Monday Aug 13, 2006
Thursday Aug 17th 2006 The Column is Back!
So this morning, (10am) I am driving into town and the sky is bright blue and there is only a hint of smoke in the air.
Breathe deep.
Out, nestled among the Mt. Washington foothills is a low lying trail of smoke.
This looks good.
It looks like "our boys" are getting the upper hand on this recent fire.
Two hours later, I drive up the hill and look in my rear view mirror.
The column is back.
The winds must have picked up or shifted.
A fire fighter friend of ours says that the greater the column rising up into the atmosphere, then the hotter the fire burning at the base. (Bliss Girl or her dad can probably elaborate.) With the previous fire (Black Crater, a HUGE column arose one morning and the bull dozers 1/4 mile away had to back up even further because the paint on the bull dozers whas beginning to melt and peel, and even the garb of the firefighters was not going to hold up long in that kind of heat.
Well, so the column was back by midday.
Monday, August 14, 2006
UPDATED: Photos I took last night of the blaze
This would be the "NEW" blaze we have come to know as the George Lake Fire.
There is also another photo here.
Sunset as seen through the column rising from the George Lake Fire in the Mt Washington Wilderness of Oregon State.
At last check it has grown to 5000 acres, although we had intense winds yesterday so it may be larger now.
It is about 6 miles outside of town at this time.
There is also another photo here.
Sunset as seen through the column rising from the George Lake Fire in the Mt Washington Wilderness of Oregon State.
At last check it has grown to 5000 acres, although we had intense winds yesterday so it may be larger now.
It is about 6 miles outside of town at this time.
Boy does MY face hurt!
Yes and please feel free to commence with the typical "Face Hurting" jokes.
Now that we have that out of our systems, man! We are all coughing, sneezing, wheezing around here, with a side order of the occasional bloody nose.
So the Lake George fire has now grown to about 2,000 acres.
Lessee, Blakc Crater was aout 9,000 acres by the time they got it under control.
Still the wind is blowing the smoke from Lake George stright into town today and it is nasty stuff.
Although they say that , as far as smoke inhalation / 2nd hand smoke notions are concerened, the Fire Fighter standard is this : "Wood SMoke is good Smoke." I guess as far as smoke inhalation goes. And even then, I see these guys comin' off thelines with bleary-red/black eyes. Wanting Saline and and Visine. So smoke in a fair quantity, even "Good Wood Smoke" still equates to being bad smoke.
ANyway, the winds are picking up and starting to blow more to the East so it may push the fire closer toward Balck Butte Ranch again - dang - here...read it for yourself.
Silly me!
Anyway, there it is.
Now that we have that out of our systems, man! We are all coughing, sneezing, wheezing around here, with a side order of the occasional bloody nose.
So the Lake George fire has now grown to about 2,000 acres.
Lessee, Blakc Crater was aout 9,000 acres by the time they got it under control.
Still the wind is blowing the smoke from Lake George stright into town today and it is nasty stuff.
Although they say that , as far as smoke inhalation / 2nd hand smoke notions are concerened, the Fire Fighter standard is this : "Wood SMoke is good Smoke." I guess as far as smoke inhalation goes. And even then, I see these guys comin' off thelines with bleary-red/black eyes. Wanting Saline and and Visine. So smoke in a fair quantity, even "Good Wood Smoke" still equates to being bad smoke.
ANyway, the winds are picking up and starting to blow more to the East so it may push the fire closer toward Balck Butte Ranch again - dang - here...read it for yourself.
Silly me!
Anyway, there it is.
For those who have been following along via the Nuggetnews.com, you can also get a nfty updated image from Google Earth showing the recent fire activity around here.
The nearest town is Sisters,
The locations where the fires are buring nearby are:
-Mt
-Black Crater
Have fun googling.
(did I ever mention how much I hate Google?)
;O)
heheheheh
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Life is like Wild fire
The fire at Black Crater began early on a Monday morn.
The wind was blowing away from us.
We took note of the fire, but it appeared small, and the smoke column looked alright, so we turned our heads back to our own lives and ways, and went about our business.
The winds blew.
The fire grew.
As long as the wind was blowing the other direction, it “looked” ok to us and that was all that mattered to us.
It was only when the wind changed, and began to blow in our direction, that we saw the conflagration it had truly become.
By that time, we were unable to take sufficient action on our own behalf.
Isn’t it funny that we approach every day life and relationships in a similar manner?
No matter what our background, or what faith, we all keep our eyes focused on ourselves, and what we “want” to deal with at the time.
We ignore and justify, until the wind finally blows our direction and we are shocked and amazed and “cry foul.”
Even though our lack of diligence is what brought about the final debacle.
We can say this about many things.
We can say this about private areas of our own personal lives.
We can say this about the political messes we blame on our governments.
We can say this about our neighbors.
We can say this about the state of our youth in this town.
We can say, “Oh sure we have good schools, so therefore we have good kids.”
Yeah, wait till the wind changes, to reveal what is truly smouldering underneath.
Another new Fire
It started at about 2pm today, details here.
I was at a baby shower and we had a few nice sprinkles from the clouds o'er head, and then some one saw a flash.
We all said, "no no, it was Carla's camera. Open the next gift."
Well, lo and behold, it was lightning in the distance.
So right now there is a pretty fair column.
When the fire smoke rises straight up in a great column, it means that the fire is burning hot at the base - not a good thing - and the smoke rises up and up until it gets caught in the air currents higher up and carried what-ever-direction is is going to go.
If the smoke is at ground level, fouling every ones eyesight and lungs, then it means the fire is not necessarily burning so hot and that is a good thing - unless you are a pair of lungs or eyeballs. Then it is somewhat annoying.
Many people in town are now suffereing from what the Fire Crews are : "Camp Crud." It is a virus that comes along behind immune systems which have been over taxed by smoke inhalation and close quarters among humans. Scout came down with it this morning. I hope she is well enough by Satruday so that she can go to the High Desert Highland Games on Saturday.
Gotta keep our priorities straight, after all.
:o)
So onward to the next fire.
Our church hosted a Community event on Monday night to thank all of the firefighters.
There was pie and ice cream and gifts and hearty thank yous for all fire fighters in attendance, served by community members.
It was a good night.
I have a feeling there will be many more before the season is through.
I was at a baby shower and we had a few nice sprinkles from the clouds o'er head, and then some one saw a flash.
We all said, "no no, it was Carla's camera. Open the next gift."
Well, lo and behold, it was lightning in the distance.
So right now there is a pretty fair column.
When the fire smoke rises straight up in a great column, it means that the fire is burning hot at the base - not a good thing - and the smoke rises up and up until it gets caught in the air currents higher up and carried what-ever-direction is is going to go.
If the smoke is at ground level, fouling every ones eyesight and lungs, then it means the fire is not necessarily burning so hot and that is a good thing - unless you are a pair of lungs or eyeballs. Then it is somewhat annoying.
Many people in town are now suffereing from what the Fire Crews are : "Camp Crud." It is a virus that comes along behind immune systems which have been over taxed by smoke inhalation and close quarters among humans. Scout came down with it this morning. I hope she is well enough by Satruday so that she can go to the High Desert Highland Games on Saturday.
Gotta keep our priorities straight, after all.
:o)
So onward to the next fire.
Our church hosted a Community event on Monday night to thank all of the firefighters.
There was pie and ice cream and gifts and hearty thank yous for all fire fighters in attendance, served by community members.
It was a good night.
I have a feeling there will be many more before the season is through.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Favorite Author
Stephen R Lawhead is my favorite author.
I just love his style.
Whether he is writing fantasy, Celtic Mythology, historical fiction or Sci-Fi.
He has this amazing ability to draw me into the story from the first paragraph.
I stumbled upon a book of his that I was previously unaware of...it was written back in the 80's entitled Dream Thief.
I thought I had read everything he had ever written and as I opened to the first page, that old spark of enjoyment was rekindled in me.
Dang! Dude writes well!!!
ANyway, I got sucked right in to Dream Thief and cannot wait for a free minute when I can pick it back up again.
Ah....the joys of reading "new" Lawhead works.
It is like peeling away ten years of my life.
I got a flat tire today after visiting the library - so what better thing to do while waiting, than to read my newly found treasure.
Anyway, it was a good day!
:o)
OLD Lawhead work:
Sci-Fi:
The Empyrion Saga-
Search for Fiera
Seige of Dome
Dream Thief
Fantasy:
The Dragon King Trilogy-
In The Hall of The Dragon King
Warlords of Nin
The Sword and The Flame
With each series his writing style evolved.
Celtic Lore:
The Pendragon Cycle-
Taliesin
Merlin
Arthur
Grail
Avalon
*****The Song of Albion-
The Paradise Wars
The Silver Hand
The Endless Knot
*****If you are going to start with any Lawhead, I would suggest you start with the Song of Albion series.
Historical Fiction:
Byzantium
Patrick
Celtic Crusades-
The Iron Lance
The Black Rood
The Mystic Rose
Childrens Lit:
Riverbank Stories-
The Tale of Jeremy Vole
The Tale of Anna Hedgehog
The Tale of Timothy Mallard
My own personal favorite reading list, in order?
The Song of Albion Series
The Pendragon Cycle
Grail
Avalon
Byzantium
Patrick
Celtice Crusades Trilogy
And then I would finish up with Early Lawhead:
The Empyrion Saga
Dream Thief
The Dragon King Trilogy
and the childrens stories.
I just love his style.
Whether he is writing fantasy, Celtic Mythology, historical fiction or Sci-Fi.
He has this amazing ability to draw me into the story from the first paragraph.
I stumbled upon a book of his that I was previously unaware of...it was written back in the 80's entitled Dream Thief.
I thought I had read everything he had ever written and as I opened to the first page, that old spark of enjoyment was rekindled in me.
Dang! Dude writes well!!!
ANyway, I got sucked right in to Dream Thief and cannot wait for a free minute when I can pick it back up again.
Ah....the joys of reading "new" Lawhead works.
It is like peeling away ten years of my life.
I got a flat tire today after visiting the library - so what better thing to do while waiting, than to read my newly found treasure.
Anyway, it was a good day!
:o)
OLD Lawhead work:
Sci-Fi:
The Empyrion Saga-
Search for Fiera
Seige of Dome
Dream Thief
Fantasy:
The Dragon King Trilogy-
In The Hall of The Dragon King
Warlords of Nin
The Sword and The Flame
With each series his writing style evolved.
Celtic Lore:
The Pendragon Cycle-
Taliesin
Merlin
Arthur
Grail
Avalon
*****The Song of Albion-
The Paradise Wars
The Silver Hand
The Endless Knot
*****If you are going to start with any Lawhead, I would suggest you start with the Song of Albion series.
Historical Fiction:
Byzantium
Patrick
Celtic Crusades-
The Iron Lance
The Black Rood
The Mystic Rose
Childrens Lit:
Riverbank Stories-
The Tale of Jeremy Vole
The Tale of Anna Hedgehog
The Tale of Timothy Mallard
My own personal favorite reading list, in order?
The Song of Albion Series
The Pendragon Cycle
Grail
Avalon
Byzantium
Patrick
Celtice Crusades Trilogy
And then I would finish up with Early Lawhead:
The Empyrion Saga
Dream Thief
The Dragon King Trilogy
and the childrens stories.
Monday, August 7, 2006
have you given of yourself?
Now I will be the first to say, I am NOT a saint!
Imperfect Moron is my middle name,
Self centered and recalcitrant are my maiden names.
Even so...
I must exalt in the joys that come from saying to ones own self, "screw you, self!" and opting instead to choose to do somethign that benefits another human being.
What if?...
what if, instead of "looking out for #1" we all just put the needs of others before our own. This is not to say totally neglect our own needs either. I guess...as God would say in the bible, "do not look merely (merely being the operative word) to your own needs but also to the needs of others."
What if I looked out for your needs before my own, and what if you looked out for my needs before your own? Would that not be some sort of joyous reciprocal thing?
And what if you did such for your neighbor, who did it for me, and I did it for his neighbor, and you as well, knowing that you both were also concerned for my best...well...isn't that a humanly physical representaion of what God might want of us, in the name of His only son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ?
I think that the phrases:
"I deserve it," or "I deserve better" are counter to this concept and yet they are both are a part of contemporary American/Western Cultural thot.
The idea that "I cannot love another, unless I first love myslf" is so prevalent and yet, from God's perspective is utter crap.
He says "love others,"
He says "Deny Self."
When we diss our governments as being war-mongers and yet we will not reach out to our neighbor and count our own safety and needs as less, well then, we are selfish and sin centered and are vile, and have no ground to accuse our governments.
A man once said to me (and I like his perspective)
"I am 3rd."
He went on to elaborate:
-God is first.
-then the needs of every one else around me.
-finally afterwards, come my own needs. I do not deny them. They just come last.
I think this is a very good perspective and I think it is what is wrong with our modern Western Culture.
If you disagree, well fine.
It will not change my stance.
But every opinion is valuable.
:o)
hehehe
Imperfect Moron is my middle name,
Self centered and recalcitrant are my maiden names.
Even so...
I must exalt in the joys that come from saying to ones own self, "screw you, self!" and opting instead to choose to do somethign that benefits another human being.
What if?...
what if, instead of "looking out for #1" we all just put the needs of others before our own. This is not to say totally neglect our own needs either. I guess...as God would say in the bible, "do not look merely (merely being the operative word) to your own needs but also to the needs of others."
What if I looked out for your needs before my own, and what if you looked out for my needs before your own? Would that not be some sort of joyous reciprocal thing?
And what if you did such for your neighbor, who did it for me, and I did it for his neighbor, and you as well, knowing that you both were also concerned for my best...well...isn't that a humanly physical representaion of what God might want of us, in the name of His only son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ?
I think that the phrases:
"I deserve it," or "I deserve better" are counter to this concept and yet they are both are a part of contemporary American/Western Cultural thot.
The idea that "I cannot love another, unless I first love myslf" is so prevalent and yet, from God's perspective is utter crap.
He says "love others,"
He says "Deny Self."
When we diss our governments as being war-mongers and yet we will not reach out to our neighbor and count our own safety and needs as less, well then, we are selfish and sin centered and are vile, and have no ground to accuse our governments.
A man once said to me (and I like his perspective)
"I am 3rd."
He went on to elaborate:
-God is first.
-then the needs of every one else around me.
-finally afterwards, come my own needs. I do not deny them. They just come last.
I think this is a very good perspective and I think it is what is wrong with our modern Western Culture.
If you disagree, well fine.
It will not change my stance.
But every opinion is valuable.
:o)
hehehe
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Black Crater is Contained.
Well after a full week, the Black Crater Fire is now officially fully contained.
YAY!
I saw the sky clear a bit yesterday and there was a large portion of the day that was smole free!
It was back this morning, but not as strong as it was the day before.
For now it appears that we can all breathe a collecive sigh of relief and take a moment to be thankful.
Wildland fire fighters come in all sizes and ages and from all walks of life.
There are retirees, there are immigrants from Mexico, and in some extreme cases there are low security prison inmates that come out on a seperate bus and with their onw officers.
No matter who they are, or where they have come from, they are alwasy held in high esteem in our town, for every year there is threat of forest fire. Every year the Highschool and Middle school campuses become a tent city, housing wildland firefighters.
We honour them, and respect them.
The moms and kids bake them cookies.
The kids draw picures and make thank you cards.
Families take their kids to the tent city when the buses roll in with firefighters straight from the lines, so that the children can hand each firefighter a popsicle when he or she gets off the bus.
Sometimes the lady with her portable massage chair shows up to give them a free 10 minute massage and many gladly skip a meal to line up and sit in her chair for 10 rare and glorious minutes.
Towns people bring boxers and visine and socks and toothbrushes and bandanas to the donation table for the fire fighters to recieve new gear.
Wildland fighters walk through town to visit the grocery store, and people honk and wave and applaud them in the grocery aisles.
We love firefighters.
Whether they be structural or wildland fighters.
We hold you all in the highest esteem.
And it is right.
And on a side note:
Blue Max asked the question:
"Sheesh Gal, whaddya do, leave the iron on before leaving for Spokane?"
Good heavens!
Iron?
Who "irons" any more!
No, it was all of those illegal fireworks we had left over from July 4th that we shot off at the big bonfire we had here the night before leaving for Spokane. After the fireworks we all went to bed. I wonder if anybody ever got round to throwing water on the fire?
Hmmmm,,, oh well.
;o)
YAY!
I saw the sky clear a bit yesterday and there was a large portion of the day that was smole free!
It was back this morning, but not as strong as it was the day before.
For now it appears that we can all breathe a collecive sigh of relief and take a moment to be thankful.
Wildland fire fighters come in all sizes and ages and from all walks of life.
There are retirees, there are immigrants from Mexico, and in some extreme cases there are low security prison inmates that come out on a seperate bus and with their onw officers.
No matter who they are, or where they have come from, they are alwasy held in high esteem in our town, for every year there is threat of forest fire. Every year the Highschool and Middle school campuses become a tent city, housing wildland firefighters.
We honour them, and respect them.
The moms and kids bake them cookies.
The kids draw picures and make thank you cards.
Families take their kids to the tent city when the buses roll in with firefighters straight from the lines, so that the children can hand each firefighter a popsicle when he or she gets off the bus.
Sometimes the lady with her portable massage chair shows up to give them a free 10 minute massage and many gladly skip a meal to line up and sit in her chair for 10 rare and glorious minutes.
Towns people bring boxers and visine and socks and toothbrushes and bandanas to the donation table for the fire fighters to recieve new gear.
Wildland fighters walk through town to visit the grocery store, and people honk and wave and applaud them in the grocery aisles.
We love firefighters.
Whether they be structural or wildland fighters.
We hold you all in the highest esteem.
And it is right.
And on a side note:
Blue Max asked the question:
"Sheesh Gal, whaddya do, leave the iron on before leaving for Spokane?"
Good heavens!
Iron?
Who "irons" any more!
No, it was all of those illegal fireworks we had left over from July 4th that we shot off at the big bonfire we had here the night before leaving for Spokane. After the fireworks we all went to bed. I wonder if anybody ever got round to throwing water on the fire?
Hmmmm,,, oh well.
;o)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Early Mysterium Photos
Well I only got a few from Thursday, so it was just me and Leh And Ran.
Ran has more fotos uploaded here.
We managed to amuse ourselves by goofing around in dowtown Spokane at the usual spot where I was introduced to Tropical Sno.
The
Infamous
Clock
Tower
My personal Favorite:
Now there is a story here:
Lehsa is amazing.
I had forgotten.
When Lehsa is out and about walking, for some reason she watches where she is going.
(Novel idea? Maybe I should try it!) ;o)
So she tends to alwasy find things on the ground that other people over look.
In Toronto she was alwasy finding the most random and interesting things on the ground almost every place we went.
So of course, she finds a Tiara inscribed with the wearer's title.
Ran being the uninhibited lad that he is, dons the crown immediately.
;o)
And I love this picture which is one that Ran took, because, when we first walked in I really loved the colours on the walls and the mattes The green is a very rich, buttery kind of green and the copper frames really made the colours pop. It was cool.
Add about this picture? Hey! What the heck happened here? I look like a hobbit! I am not that short! If I look like this then I am getting platform shoes and going on a diet! This looks like the old movies where you had to put the scope on the projector at the cinema - excpet that you forgot to put on the scope. Everybody was ...welll...gah! Do I REALLY look this squat?
Ciminitely!
And I appreciate Ran taking this photo.
I only regret that I won't get to share Disks with Zadok at the edge course on Sunday. :o(
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