misc*etc

Wordless Wednesday June 18

2008-06-18T11:41:00.004-04:00

"I see the bad moon risin’ "

Wordless Wednesday June 11

2008-06-11T12:24:00.003-04:00

A beautiful Rainbow just before it burst into color!

Wordless Wednesday May 28

2008-05-28T09:37:00.003-04:00

Namaste

Wordless Wednesday May 14

2008-05-14T08:55:00.004-04:00

Model Home...SOLD!!

Capturing Today: Wordless Wednesday

2008-05-07T17:44:00.000-04:00

Capturing Today: Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

2008-05-07T17:31:00.006-04:00

nuf said

japanese import fabrics

2008-04-18T17:40:00.004-04:00

Japanese Import fabrics! Fairy Tales and Animals with an emphasis on Little Red Riding Hood!

I love these - some are old some are new - some I have - some I haven't procured yet. But a great collection to strive for!

A menagerie from many sources - now that they are herded up into the collective pen; what to do...what to do...

For Today: Happiness

2008-04-09T09:48:00.006-04:00

"We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.: -- Kahlil Gibran
"Happiness is good health and a bad memory." -- Ingrid Bergman
"It is better to travel well than to arrive.: -- Buddha
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the Trade Winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain
"Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet." -- Roger Miller
"Fear Less, hope more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things are yours." -- Swedish Proverb
"Happiness is a warm puppy!" -- Charles Shulz
"Whoever is happy will make others happy too." -- Anne Frank

This is great!

2008-03-31T15:18:00.006-04:00

I got this in an e-mail from my sister, who still resides in the sunshine state!

You know you're a Floridian if....

..Socks are only for bowling.
..You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.
..A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.
..Your winter coat is made of denim.
.. You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
..You're younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 65.
..Anything under 70 is chilly.
..You pass on the right and honk at the elderly, but pull over for a funeral.
..You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.
..You could swim before you could read.
..You have to drive north to get to The South.
..You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.
..Every other house in your neighborhood had blue roofs in 2004-2005.
..You've gotten out of school early on Halloween to trick or treat before it got dark
..You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.
..You dread love bug season.
..You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances...but Charley , Frances , Ivan and Jeanne.
..You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave.
..You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.
..You were twelve before you ever saw snow, or you still haven't.
..'Down South' means Key West
..You think New York drivers licenses should only be valid in New York
..Flip-flops are everyday wear. ..Shoes are for business meetings and church,..but you HAVE worn flip flops to church before.
..Sweet tea can be served at any meal.
..An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.
..You smirk when a game show's 'Grand Prize' i s a trip or cruise to Florida
..You measure distance in minutes.
..You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
..You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.
..A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.
..You think everyone from a bigger city has a northern accent.
..You know the four seasons really are: hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer
..It's not soda, cola, or pop. it's coke, regardless of brand or flavor, 'What kinda coke you want?'
..Anything under 95 is just warm.
..You've hosted a hurricane party.
..You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when to get on the best rides. ( Space Mountain during the Electric Light Parade!)
..You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Ichnatucknee and Withlacoochee
..You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.
..Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include: various fish, NRA, NASCAR, Go Gators, and a confederate flag.
..You were 5 before you realized they made houses without pools.
..You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.
..You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.
..You recognize Miami-Dade as ' Northern Cuba '.
..You not only forward this but you understand it!!

Ikea, Say What?!

2008-03-17T07:45:00.020-04:00

Okay - Inaugural visit to Ikea - 12 Hours

I know it's just a big warehouse store filled with inexpensive, mostly particle board furniture and other cheap stuff. I know I've passed the point in my life to be obsessed by Ikea's low prices and sleek design. However, Ikea contains an allure that is undeniable and a pull that is irresistible. At first you feel like you have a special secret source of streamlined Scandinavian furniture which can be both classic and modern, then you discover that you too can be a part of this enigma that is called Ikea.

When we arrived, we were told by a sweet but jittery employee no carts allowed and to strictly adhere to the map provided - 25,000 people in the club store right now @ 11:45! The masses were flocked together in the cleverly compiled spaces of Iiving rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms & kitchens. Everyone was giddy with excitement, smiling and laughing with one another, conversing as if they were gathered for a lively and enchanting cocktail party. (not random groups of shoppers, badly dressed - for comfort of course-in a superstore in suburban Cincinnati) These groups moved together from space to space in a convoy, because they understood that they must move to the next room, that their time in this locale was over and that the eager onlookers had been invited to enjoy these tiny soirees as well.

We were all, for a time transformed into avant garde members of a chic, romantic underground society, moving in unison envisioning how wonderful our lives would be if we lived in this world. When suddenly, the enchantment comes abruptly to an end as the beeps of the registers jar you out of your spell. You check out, still in a daze, and then realize that the Marketplace is only steps away and there are souvenirs you can take home to remember this lovely day! You pick up a few items to share, carefully avoiding anything that looks or sounds like fish jelly, and are on your happy way.

Settling into the rhythm of the expanse of highway you face, you bite into the delectable, steaming cinnamon roll. That is when you realize that you have not wasted a day merely shopping for cheap home goods, you have taken a part in a day that encompasses some of the great simple lessons that life should hold.

1. Each of us is special and unique in your own way.
2. Play nice, even in challenging situations.
3. If you are playing and someone new comes along, go somewhere else so they don't bother you.
3. If you are playing and someone new comes along, make them feel welcome and invite them to join your game.
4. Never underestimate the power of your imagination.
5. You don't have to spend a great deal of money to have fun.
6. Those Sweeds make some some damn fine chocolate!!

Murder On The Rocks

2008-01-25T16:45:00.004-05:00

My alarm went off, I pressed snooze twice then listened as my ipod played Beethoven sharpening my mind and calming my senses. My ritual, unchanged apart from a change of songs strategically designed to awaken me gently and rouse me with vigor to face the coming day. Nothing has quite worked yet, although I remain an eternal optimist, every day a new song running the gamut from Snoop Dogg to Schubert.

But today as I pried my eyes open and pulled myself out of bed, a chill ran up my spine; something felt different, not quite right. Stealthily, I crept into the kitchen, my stomach turned and my feet felt like they were stuck in quicksand. It was too dark to see the details in the room, only the pink light of the dawn creeping in ever so slightly, viciously waiting to illuminate the scene. With every step the dread grew stronger and stronger. The lamp upturned on the table, glass and stones everywhere; blood and guts strewn upon the breakfast nook floor. A murder was committed while we soundly slept.

Decapitated; I find the body laying motionless on the floor. The smell of death (and something I couldn't quite decipher, maybe arrogance) loomed heavily in the air. All of a sudden, I caught a shadow from the corner of my eye; could it be that the debauched killer could still be here in MY HOUSE??!! Guardedly, I moved into the adjoining room so as not to be detected. After a few deep breaths, I rounded the corner at a snail's pace determined to meet the murderer eye to eye. I turned and I saw Him smugly staring right at me. What gumption, sitting there indifferent and unsympathetic; no remorse or distress, only calmness and tranquility.

Before I knew what was happening, He sprung at me, I darted to the left, but I was too slow to thwart His pace. He caught my leg and flew into me with a verve that was hard to describe. But just as suddenly as it started, the attack was over. I faced Him, unswervingly; searching for rationalization in His stare. He showed no remorse only pride as He inched His way toward the lifeless body. In one swift move, He procured the body and presented it to me at my feet; purring wildly.

I recognized then that this murder was a necessary evil. One for the greater good, committed without regret; to show His undying and steadfast love to me. As I raced to the car to acquire an impostor blue fish before the kids woke up, I discovered eternal truth within this tragedy: You can actually keep a fish alive for 2 years & Love trumps all.

miscellaneous etcetera inaugural post

2007-12-21T23:32:00.005-05:00

passage from december 17: Shopping at this time of year takes a certain kind of...attitude in order for it to not push you over the edge. Positivity and determination are absolutely necessary for survival: everything is in close quarters, keep your elbows in, look straight ahead. If you desire to move quickly through an isle or heavily populated area, just smile, (not as in show your fangs) make your body as narrow as possible and just push through, preferably not running over any feet or small children along the way. If you are the meandering type, all I can say is, "Keep to the right!"; lest you get trampled by those on a mission.

Alright, once you have spotted the illustrious item you covet (you and everyone else), behind the barbie dolls and in front of the men's cologne; do not gawk in amazement that you have found it, do not make a mad dash for the item. They will see you, they will sense you, the tactic is to remain calm, nonchalant. Walk deliberately toward the item and without looking directly at it, scoop it into your cart as if it was a box of expired Fruit Loops. At this point, you are almost to home plate- do not blow it- dash (as nonchalantly as possible) to the nearest register (even if you have more shopping to do - cause it ain't over till it's over) check out and return home as quickly as possible!

YES! SANTA RULES! (for hiding the item for only me to find!)

Okay, you haven't accomplished what you set out to do today, only one (highly coveted) item acquired, and it took you most of the day, and you spent waayy too much money on it; but do not dismay - you have not just survived, you have triumphed! Immediately, call all of your friends and brag (as nonchalantly as possible) about the fact that you, yes you, have the item that no one else you know has been able to procure! Then sit back have a latte, chai tea, espresso; whatever relaxes you, elevate those tired dogs, maybe put some cucumber slices on your eyes (or carrots if that's all you have, but not pickles - they burn!) and unwind with quiet satisfaction until your seven year old comes into the room and says excitedly, "Mommy, look what I found in the back seat of your car! If this is what you got me before Christmas, I can't wait to see what Santa gets me!"

Oh well, you still have, 8 shopping days until Christmas, $27.53 left in your budget, and with the good Lord willing and the Creeks don't rise; you have next year!