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And so the long, boring off-season begins. Wait, did I say boring? Didn't mean that at all. Got a few updates that I'm behind on posting. The Caps are doing well at Worlds. Our Russians have been lighting it up, with the three forwards all scoring a goal today in Russia's 3-2 win over Nick's Sweden team. Nick is bringing some Washington style to the Swedish team, although they aren't doing as well as I would hope as a fantasy owner. Flash is chipping in every once in a while for the Czech team. Varlamov injured his ankle, so he's not playing for Russia. Lepisto was cut from the Finland team, but added after preliminaries. Green is definitely helping out Canada, scoring the first goal and getting an assist on the game-winner in their game the other day. One of the announcers called him "one of the premiere offensive defensemen in the world". I was so proud. He's a little bit older than me, but I get proud of him like I would a little brother. Huet did very well, backstopping France. However, France didn't do so well for him and they're finished for the tournament after beating Italy in relegation.
My fantasy team is suffering. My Russian players are dropping like flies. First Medvedev gets cut, then D. Markov gets hurt, now Morozov goes down when I get Markov back. I added Andrei Markov in the supplemental draft along with Swedish forward Warg. My Latvian goalie did very well for me the other day, stopping 62 shots to put me up in the middle of the pack. But Canada's 10-1 win over Germany and the subsequent points gained by my fellow GMs dropped me back down to my home at second-to-last.
Sadder news. Olie is officially gone. Not sure where he'll go or what he'll do, but I wish him the best and respect the hell out of him. I won't say much else, because everything's been said.
Off-season is here, but have no fear. The Caps will be very busy...
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November 12, 2010
Sometimes it is good to be thankful for silly little things so today, I'm thankful for McDonald Frappe's. I don't know who thought up that idea but it was the best thing ever. I love them. They make a bad day better and a good day great! And yes, we had one as a treat tonight :-)

subset: commoncrawl


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I went on my first quilting retreat last weekend to the Amish Door in Wilmot, Ohio a group from the quilting guild I belong too and 2 other guilds were there a total of 36 women. We went on Friday and could stay 2 or 3 nights my friend & I stayed the 3 nights came home on Mon. what a great time we had, no cooking, cleaning nothin but, quilting, eating and great company fun fun fun! On Sat. there was a shop hop at 6 different shops in the area of Amish country they sold 500 passports for it so you can imagine how busy the shops were we got them stamped at each shop and turned it in at the community center we received a block and a recipe from each shop and at the end of it we all gathered at a community center in Kidron to taste the different recipes and of course they had prizes to win...well guess what my name was picked first and I won the "GRAND" prize of a 1 night stay at Mrs. Miller's log cabin in Charm let me tell you what a shock that was I'm never that lucky and I could take up to 10 people with me... yes 10 so 9 friends from guild & I are going to go in Sept. and we are adding an extra night that we will split the cost of it's a beautiful cabin, fall will be a beautiful time to go...so here are some of the pictures I took. My friend and I took the same jelly roll of "Rural Jardin" unknowingly and made the same quilt top you can see how different they came out and I made a table topper. The six quilts are from each shop of course, same blocks just different fabric each beautiful and unique well I could go on and on but, I won't so if you've never gone on a retreat do go cause you'll have the time of your life can't wait till next year same time same place!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thank you Donna!!
Look at what Donna from http://brynwoodneedleworks.blogspot.com/ sent me for guessing who her mystery woman was. I received these beautiful items yesterday and couldn't believe it, Donna is just one of the sweetest ladies you'd ever want to meet and I'm hoping one day to actually meet her. She has the biggest & most generous ♥ thank you dear friend I will cherish these and your friendship!
Posted by Vintage Sandy at 9:44 AM 3 comments: Links to this post
Thursday, March 10, 2011
"Pot of Gold" giveaway!!
http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/ is having this great "Pot of Gold" giveaway 3- $50 gift certificates to the Fat Quarter Shop hurry on over you'll be happy you did!
Posted by Vintage Sandy at 10:00 AM No comments: Links to this post
Monday, March 7, 2011
Posted by Vintage Sandy at 12:53 PM 5 comments: Links to this post
Friday, March 4, 2011
Look what I did!
Yep your right...I took the quilt I made last Sept. (I think) and I quilted it on the longarm machine at our local quilt shop where I took the class last week. Let me tell you I was a nervous wreck I thought oh this will be a cinch I remember all I learned last week "WRONG" my mind went almost completely blank...but with help I got it on the machine and started quilting away It's alot easier when someone isn't standing there watching you so it's quilted now and I'm happy with it, what could I expect for my first time "perfection" nah far from it but I will keep working at it I really did like it not enough to buy one though...pause...just thinking...nah! So now I need to get the binding made then I can say 100% made and quilted by Sandy...Have a fantastic day and keep smiling Spring is on it's way!!
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As the seasons turn from warm to cold, and in my case COLDER. I'm going to seriously heat things up here on the blog.
As many of you may or may NOT know, I haven't read the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series yet. So for the rest of 2012 I'm doing just that. Reading the whole series from start to finish. Join me as I enjoy the series and talk all things BDB from the Brothers themselves to the women they come to love. Enjoy your favorite moments all over again as I discover them for myself.
If you'd like to join me I've created a linky list for you to join in! So join me as I enter the realm of the BDB and find my own Brother to swoon over and call my own.


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How we relate to those two words will determine how we lead.
Consider two assumptions that lie at the opposite ends of the spectrum:
- Really intelligent people are a rare breed and I am one of the few really smart people. People will never be able to figure things out without me. I need to have all the answers.
- Smart people are everywhere and will figure things out and get even smarter in the process. My job is to ask the right questions.
NOTE: Liz Wiseman, best selling Wall Street Journal author of this book, has been kind enough to autograph nearly 30 copies of her book for leaders in the Information Warfare officer community. Some of our CO's have received personal letters from Liz encouraging them to take the time to read the book and assess their place on the leadership spectrum (somewhere between Multiplier and Diminisher). If you'd like a copy of Liz's book, please let me know and we'll do our best to get you a copy. RADM Andy Singer is working with Liz to evaluate whether her book might become a part of the curriculum for the IDC's Senior Leadership Seminar at the Naval Postgraduate School


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Perhaps to coincide with the opening of the Art of Ultraman exhibit at the Ibaraki Museum of Modern Art on November 3, NHK is running a fun new poll. They want to find out which Ultraman kaiju is everyone's favorite. The poll is divided into two steps:
1) Click here to go to a NHK page with a preview list of the 10 candidate monsters. They range from the cute and goofy to the scaly and menacing. Directly beneath the above image, you'll see a long burgundy colored banner with a bat on the left. Click that to go to the voting page.
Now it's time to choose your favorite kaiju, which are listed A to J. If you're not sure about the Japanese, just go back and forth from the previous page (which has the names listed under the images) to the voting page. (A to E correspond to the top row of kaiju. F to J correspond to the bottom row.) Once you've chosen a monster, click the tab beneath the list that says "投票."
Finally, in the honored tradition of double checking, just to make sure you don't vote for Baltan instead of Kanegon (come on, seriously - you wouldn't, would you???) this page requires you to click the button that says "はい."
And voila, your vote has been cast, and a thousand warts of kaiju democracy have bloomed! Just one vote is allowed per person (based on IP, I guess).
2) On November 3, NHK R1 will have an election related radio program from 4:05 PM to 5:55 PM. On that day, you'll be able to vote twice more, bringing your potential total vote count to 3. When it's all said and done, I imagine the King of Kaiju will be announced!


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Competition: 'Me and My Mate Jeffrey'
One of my highlights from 2014 was taking part in 'One Young World'; a global forum for young leaders to develop solutions to the world's most important problems. In front of delegates from over 194 countries, I took to the stage alongside Joanne O'Riordan, Adam Harris, Caroline Casey, Mark Pollock and Bressie.
Our session was called 'Disability: Move to Include' and we each spoke about our own personal challenges and how we have physically, emotionally and cognitively overcome them. It was the first time disability and difference was discussed at One Young World and it was a moment I will never forget.
If you get to watch but a few minutes of the video, you'll realise how powerful, emotional and inspiring the session was. I learned so much from each of the speakers but I was particularly taken by Bressie's speech. He spoke so candidly about his pain and feeling of isolation. He gave me a new understanding of mental health and encouraged me to be brave in speaking about my experiences of difference – particularly the most painful moments.
On September 4th, Bressie's new book, 'Me and My Mate Jeffrey' will go on sale. I am but three chapters deep and already, more than one tissue has soaked up a stream of tears. I can't thank Bressie enough for sending me an advance copy. However, he was also extremely kind to send me two additional copies to give away to you. The directions for entering are below and the competition will run until September 3rd.
In the words of Jennifer Lawrence, 'May the odds be ever in your favour'.


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|My current sampler of free motion quilting adventures.
A mixture of Leah Day assignments and my own experiments.
Note the green feather on the left hand side. I will talk
more about that later .
Tips, Thoughts and Techniques:
It is 4:04 a.m. CST as I begin typing my blog. I have been up since 3:00 a.m. by choice. This is a little early for me but only by half hour or so. I am nearly always up before 4 a.m. even on the weekends. When people learn about my early rising they are often puzzled and I am asked why. The primary reason is that this is my natural circadian rhythm. Why I don't try to break myself of the habit is because it works so well for me. Every morning I have an hour or two of uninterpreted silence. No phone calls, no e-mail chatter and no one else up and wandering about my home. I start with morning pages, treat myself to a few on-line games and do so simple work. Today I am running loads of laundry and writing my blog. Next I will exercise, have breakfast and shower. This answers the second question that artists are often asked, "how do you find the time to do your art?" By taking care of myself and my chores first I am free to spend the day in my studio. I find I am not alone. Many artists are out of synch with the 9 - 5 world either starting before dawn or working after midnight.
Here is what I accomplished while in the studio this week:
1) Finishing a bobbin's worth of thread on my FMQ on each of my three studio days with a focus on ZenBlossoms - Done! I came very close to finishing 4 bobbin's worth of thread.
2) Leah Day's weekly assignments
a) Foundation Piecing - partially done. The next assignment is the planning stage for creating pieced fabric using hexagons and the English paper piecing method. Ironically this was how I first attempted to quilt in 1974 and I found it so time consuming and difficult that I didn't try quilting again until 1988. Perhaps with 25 years of quilting under my belt I will have more patience and skills. I am also thinking that there are many "fast" ways to piece hexagons these days, perhaps I should just go that route. :)
b) Free Motion Quilting - Done!
3) Visioning Project - Continue to post on FaceBook. - Done! I also managed to add
an image, a slice of my work, Nestling Oysters, as my blog's header. Just now I figured out how to add emoticons to blogger. I'm on a roll! ;)
4) Start sketches for Tickling the Ivories, the quilt that will be my next focus. - Oops, I forgot I had committed to this.
1) Finishing a bobbin's worth of FMQ on each of my three studio days on ZenBlossoms
2) Leah Day's weekly assignments
a) Foundation Piecing - plan out the number of hexagons I will need and determine how I will piece them.
b) Free Motion Quilting
3) Visioning Project - Do the first assignment from my Photoshop Elements class.
4) Start sketches for Tickling the Ivories, the quilt that will be my next focus.


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August 24, 2010
Trans Tahan Expedition 2002 in Memory...
mana satu gue...hehhe..
(ni ehsan from google image..huhu-latest view in 2010)
Entry aku kali ni nak share ngan rakan2 blogger pasal unforgettable memory 8 tahun lepas iaitu masa zaman aku muda remaja...gagah perkasa malah zaman anggun jelita dolu-dolu...huhu..muahhahaha..(ups!!..skang dah xanggun ker!..dah sedar diri kut...keke)..well story ni actually aku buat about 2 weeks after the program, pastu aku save kat pc & disket aku..zmn tu mana wujud lagi pendrive / thumbdrive nieh..kalo disket krg phm la life dia takat mana kan, but I've have done my best decision at that time to print out to get a hardcopy and i thought that i may share it sooner or later. However the saddest part is when i lost the complete itinerary from day 1st to the last. Yg itu sebenarnya paling valuable coz lebih detail. But it's okay as i keep it neatly in my mind as much as i could. (waahh..syahdunya..:-])
Kalo korang nak taw,report aku buat nih konon2nya nak publish kat bulletin kelab masa tuh, tapi tunggu punya tunggu rupa2nya mmg xada...so kat sini suka aku abadykan memory yg xseberapa nih kat blog aku yg xseberapa hebat blog korang agar ia xterpadam begitu saja..aku pun blehla nak surf balik pengalaman berharga ni bila aku tua nanti..(ups..skang bukan ke dah tua...muaahahah..!!)
Well...secara ringkasnya mcm ni la essay aku at that time:..
Venue: Mount Tahan, Kuala Tahan, Pahang Darul Makmur
Director: Rozani bin Mahamood (Row)
Participants: 34 persons
Organized by: Adventure & Recreational Club (ARC)-kelab tersohor & termacho di IIUM!!
We first thought that the only thing that suits us well is going out of the pressure examination hall, looking for something different, new, remarkable and sweet in our life, and this club probably would do quite cool for that purpose. We have just finished our final examination for semester II 2002. So now it was the time to look the world outside of course out from this lovely and gorgeous garden of knowledge and virtue, IIUM. So for those who were unable to join that grand Conservation Project in Brunei and Sabah (of course that Kinabalu Expedition), will be given a chance to join this similar program that always done annually by ARC i.e Annual Trans Tahan Expedition 2002 that began from 23rd March until 31st March 2002-it was about 6 days in the forest.
So, the career of the first timer participant of mount climbing began here. It was about my fourth year career of climbing which began since 1997 where i was in matriculation centre at IIUM (it was in PJ). It was absolutely a wonderful experience for me as I used to only hike small mountains like Mount of Bunga Buah, Nuang, Stong-Ayam, Brinchang, Berlumut, Datuk, Angsi, Batu Putih,Ledang, etc. This one is more than 7000 feet and I had never dream before. I salute a lot to my superhero seniors who become great achievers of almost all 7000 ft mountains in Malaysia. It never be me!!
I was the one of the most PANCIT in the expedition. While hiking, my heart was just like crying...screaming.. and dying!!! Oh Tuhan...what on earth I'm doing??!! Am I crazy to leave my sweet room in Halimah College (my hostel at that time) and why I didn't just back to Machang (my kampong laa..) helping mother??!! Astaghfirullahalaziim..know what, my heart pray a lot. I hate to depend to anybody as I voluntarily join this. I really miss my superb friends in need who else..Mc Jea..Mc Tiey..Syahid and a lot of my gangs in college. (to Mc Tiey...i was not rich enough at that time to collect 1k ++ for Kinabalu..pity me..huhu..)
For this expedition, we were divided into 3 groups and each of them gives full co-operation especially to bring all those nonsense rations! Of course sisters were always excused for bringing that heavy ration, but Achik,(is always the little girl, but now is a mother!)can brought it as well. Awesome Achik. I was once looked and tried to lift her haversack...perghhhh!!! as heavy as mountain!!, she brought together plates-frying pan and etc..and me?? Just brought my nonsense stuff..haha..
The expedition was joined by 3 expert trekkers namely Abg Sabri, Abg Mat and another younger man, Sabri. Of course they could mix us very well and were proud of our friendliness, passion and commitment and co-operation in every campsite. I had heard once from one of the trekker told that those RUNNERS were just too fast running make themselves tired catching them. The runners were in our team. Most of them are those excited junior and first timer climbers. And I just impressed with them. Well..keep up the good work.
But, some of those SWEEPERS were too patient of course. They used to sweep the PANCIT people like me, and those who are injured every day. For me, the SWEEPERS are always the greatest man on earth!! Why? Because they are just really (3x) patient people..never complain you know..if they did, they never ever can be a sweeper! Let me mention those macho and great sweepers of Trans Tahan 2002: Nizam, Paeng, Kerox, Abe Yoe and Prop. Good job and congratulations!
There, deep in the jungle, not all can be explained by words. We had explored all those marvellous view. Watching the fantastic sunset and sunrise will always an unforgettable moment that should not be missed. We reached the summit around 11am on the 2nd day. I had to put myself in friend's lens. Never having own camera at that time!!.
I had my awful moment when I was not well, I had bad stomach ache and had nobody to refer to. I got to know some new awesome friends like Jijie (some people called him Boyan-not me!), and Ijan who used to be my great buddies until now! I just suffer at that time, and always hate to swallow that Chee Kit Teck Aun..uwekk..uwekk.. i kept on vomiting until my body was really2 weak. Again and again I just like dying..and dying.. Oh Tuhan, give me strength to struggle all this pain!!
Indeed we never surrender, it was almost over. And they just kept on climbing and again laughing and laughing with all those jokes. They just love climbing because climbing is always hard. And know what, they just love to play with all the mud and dirt. They just love the ordeal and hardship. They achieve a real satisfaction by hiking mountains. This makes them called a real man. And till today I don't understand why certain man never tries to climb a single mountain, or even a hill?!! We shall learn a lot from this activity. It's not just what we call co-operation, friendship, and even love (is it!!) , but i tell you, it is more and more excitement waiting, and it is always never ending "more" out there. Adios.
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text: having trouble with the menu button pop up. need to know which .pngs control that. I have tried and i just cant seem to find which ones they are. If anyone knows it would be greatly appreciated. Im just trying to fix these for my theme. Heres a screenie: see what i mean? you cant see the text. i just need to change that backgroudns to black or the text to black.


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We then had to make go through two border patrol stops. One we were waved through quickly and the second we were questioned if we had any one or thing illegal. Seriously, who answers yes? So Scott decided to let them know that we were just smuggling the kids. The patrol officer just laughed and said we could toss them over the border and they would pick up Spanish fast. Then we were on our way.
We decided to head straight to the San Diego Zoo since we had just enough time and may things we wanted to cram in the trip. The kids LOVED it! They loved the kolas and giraffes the most. Maybe it was just Harley that loved those, but that is all I have heard about and can think of now. Here are a couple pics, of the probably 100-200 the kids and I took just of the Zoo (not exaggerating either)


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Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
I have been wrestling with some big decisions lately. Well... some people might not see them as that big of decisions, but some of them most definitely are!
I am at peace today because one thing I was trying to come to peace about has finally been decided. Other decisions that Corey and I both are weighing are still up in the air, but this timely one has finally been laid to rest!
We have decided to not participate in our local Co-op next year.
I have not been able to come to peace with this for a while because I didn't want to take my children away from friends they had made and the "classroom" experiences. BUT, either homeschool is enough or it isn't!
I talked to Katie and Noah today about doing other activities instead of CHAT because we can't afford to take the time or money to do both. Of course, I didn't tell them the reasons, but I asked which they would choose if they had to choose just one.
Noah immediately said, "GYMNASTICS!" and Katie got upset because she thought she wasn't going to get to see this one particular friend anymore. After I assured her that she could still see her friend she wasn't upset in the least about quitting the Co-op.
After that, Katie said she wants to be an artist and take piano lessons. ha ha.
To make a very long story and many possibilities short, here is what we have decided:
1. We are getting the piano from my parents' house and I will teach Katie piano lessons. (I took lessons for about 11 years and feel confident I can teach her myself for the first couple of years anyway)
2. We are ordering Art curriculum from Artistic Pursuits to give them both weekly art lessons at home.
3. Noah will enroll in gymnastics.
This solved many problems I was having with getting my thoughts together for the fall. I wanted to do art but couldn't justify the cost with paying for other activities. Katie really wants to take piano lessons, but I hated to pay for just piano when I know I could do it myself. AND, Noah really enjoys gymnastics and I think would do very well with it.
It may not look fair that we are paying to send Noah to a class and not Katie, but why should we push her into doing something when what she really wants we can do ourselves for free? I won't feel guilty for that because they are both being given great opportunities, it just so happens that hers won't cost anything (well, after getting the piano tuned and buying a lesson book or two every few months). AND they BOTH get the added benefit of art lessons at home which I am super excited about teaching and doing with them. The Artistic Pursuits curriculum has enough lessons for a year and you can easily purchase a kit that will include all the supplies needed for all the projects (no excuses to not do them! :)
This also means that we will only have to leave the house once a week...meaning that we will have much more time for field trips/park days/play dates..something we didn't get to do near enough of this year because we had so many obligations! I have already been in contact with another homeschool mom who lives in the same town as us (our other co-op was in the next town over, about a 20 minute drive) who wants to get a play group going in our area for this coming school year!!!
That's my decision for the week, and I am feeling much better and so thankful that God can just get it all over with in a matter of minutes sometimes...even if you have pondered and thought, and weighed, and prayed for a while about something.
Now, those other decisions.... I won't share about those right now, but they are HUGE, so please say a prayer for us that one day soon the light will just come on and we will have an answer on those too :)
Thanks for reading!


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Year of the Lori: 9 month review
It's now September 2009 and I thought it would be a good point to review how close I am to achieving my goals in this, the Year of the Lori:
Goal 1:
Start a new career path- In September I will begin a 3 year Photography program that will, ultimately, help me become a Professional photographer
Update: I start next week! My career change is (almost!) on track!
Goal 2:
Get Healthy. Really! I mean it! Don't laugh! I WILL exercise again
Update: I am commuting to work via bicycle...which is about 5.1k each way..so I am exercising at least a few days a week...
Goal 3:
I will have a baby
Update: Well, I haven't exactly had a baby (barely enough time for that to have happened already!) but I am FINALLY 'in the family way' at 37! After 7 years of testing, surgeries, procedures, hormones, injections, waiting rooms and countless other things done in the fertility pursuit, I am pregnant (I put it out there and it worked!...well, that and the IUI...).
So, overall, I have to say that this really HAS been the Year of the Lori. I'm on track to achieving my goals (although I really do need to exercise more often (now, more than ever)... But if I look back to where I was 1 year ago...when my husband was finishing his last round of chemo, I have to say that life is heading in the right direction.
This past Wedensday my husband got his latest results...and it looks like his tumor is gone. Yesterday, September 11th, my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary and had our first echo. Jr is looking good so far! And today we celebrate the fact that 1 year ago today we brought Pebbles home. She inspired us and gave us energy at a particularly tiring time in our life and we are forever grateful for that.
What a difference a year makes!


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"What I believe about God is the most important thing about me." A.W. Tozer
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:18-20
Knowing Jesus intimately is singularly one of the greatest privileges we have as a believer. It is also one of the most crucial aspects of our eternal life. Jesus said in Matthew 7:18-23, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."
With that in mind, I want to propose an examination of the two most prevalent creation models being presented as truth considering the character of God. Only one can be true. Either the world is 4.5 billion years old or roughly 10,000 years old give or take. Either God created the world in six literal twenty-four hour days or six eras. Both uses of the word "yom" from Hebrew would be correct. But only one of these declares who God really is.
It has been my observation that the created world has caused many people to give up their faith based on a faulty understanding of the character of God. Richard Dawkins did just that. He noted the created world through the lens of science and he also read the Word of God and He saw a God he didn't know. Where was the God he knew who was easy on sin, all gentle at all times and never ever angry? Why did the created world portray something entirely different?
Instead of realizing that God was revealing something to him about Himself, Dawkins dropped the ball and attacked the Bible. Because so many people misunderstand the attributes of God and cannot reconcile these things with the created world as seen from its beginning, they conclude that the whole thing is a sham.
Further, there are folks such as Ellen White and Rob Bell who were led to conclude that hell's fire is metaphorical or a momentary experience at best. They can't reconcile the all benevolent god easy on sin with eternal torment. Yet God says that His eternal attributes are clearly seen right from the beginning. If you look closely at His judgments, you can see that He is not easy on sin. Quite the contrary in fact. So let's compare the attributes of the YEC (young earth creationist) God with the OEC (old eath creationist) God and see which one most clearly portrays the God of the Bible.
In creation one of the main attributes I would hope to see is absolute honesty. If there is one thing I know for a fact about God it is the fact that He doesn't lie ever! Now, YEC states that yes in fact the universe is immense and many objects are millions or billions of light years from earth. To the layman what that means is that we are seeing what happened to those galaxies millions of years ago. Yet, they would suggest that God only gave the universe an appearance of age to the average person. In other words, the universe appears old, but it is really very young.
There is no way to reconcile this with scientific evidence. The natural world does not coincide with this and when pressed, the knowledgeable YEC will admit this. So they fall back on something not clearly seen, which would be supernatural activity like someone waving a magic wand.
My question is does God do that typically? Does He work miraculously to bring about His will for us? Or does He work supernaturally naturally through the things He's created? It has been my experience that it is the latter 99.9% of the time. These things are still miracles, but they are happening so naturally that to the man without faith, they seem to be happening without the hand of God. That is how God operates the majority of the time. That is His character. Our faith works through that to cause these natural things to work for us.
Another point is that Psalm 19:1-3 tells us, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." What that means is that anyone on the planet regardless of mental status can look up and understand what they see.
With that in mind, a faction of YEC propose an intense mathematical formula that they believe reconciles this problem. http://www.reasons.org/unraveling-starlight-and-time-0 Very few people would be able to decipher this formula. Not to mention, it has been refuted and proven false. Yet many unsuspecting Christians loving the God of the YEC model have adopted this as proof even though it is not clearly seen by everyone on the planet regardless of language, mental capacity, or location so they they have no excuse.
Another problem is the sixth day of creation. I never considered this until I started listening to Reasons To Believe. Logistically, it would be impossible for Adam to name all the animals, realize they aren't compatible with him, have major surgery, and then wake up to meet Eve. The YEC knows this. And once again, we have to fall back on smoke screens and mirrors to explain this. What we clearly see, which is a time passing, is not what we actually see because once again, the YEC proposes that God did something supernatural like prolonging the day. Yet reality fits the God of the Bible.
He is honest and truthful. If He says we can clearly see this, you know what? I think we should be able to clearly see this and lo and behold, we do. Science has discovered that man traces back to one woman and one man. Granted, the man comes later. But that is exactly what we would expect if everything bottlenecks after the Flood with Noah.
Hurry up, God!!!
Am I the only Christian on the planet that feels that God has no problem making me wait for something as in years and years and years....? What about how He made David wait until after he was dead for Solomon to build the temple that he planned? God doesn't ever seem to be in a hurry according to my timeline. But not the YEC god. He's in a big hurry to get this universe underway. Zip, zip, zip, zip, zip, zip. It's done. In comparison to infinity, that is like a microsecond for us.
The Bibles says in Daniel 7:13, "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him."
Now, that to me sounds like a very long time. Plus, when God is presenting to us a picture of Himself through Abraham and his son Issac, we see that God has Abraham wait until he's 100 to have Issac. So as a human ancient man, Abraham has a son. Now compare that to infinity and you can see that God being a brief six days old is zero in comparison. Plus, this is a perfect picture of the Ancient of Days having a Son - Jesus.
Psalm 86:15 says this about God's character, "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth."
If you look at the creation events in reality, it is apparent that God suffers in its creation. He creates animals that are dying. We know that He is aware of each of them.
Romans 8:22 tells us, "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." Creation has been declaring God's longsuffering from the beginning. And the purpose of this is exposed in the very next verse, "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ." The longsuffering isn't just sadism but it has a purpose.
The Terror of the Lord
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:11
Where is this attribute in the YEC model? God would be completely disingenuous if He didn't include His terror in creation from the beginning. Yet in the YEC model, it doesn't exist because according to their point of view, these things are not apparent until after the fall of mankind. They believe that there is no death in the world at all except for perhaps plant life. This would mean that all animals are herbivores until man sins.
The problem with this is that many of these animals themselves are terrifying. And thank God they don't live today or we'd all live our lives in terror. If your neighbor were a family of tyrannosaurus rex, you would probably die of fear. But God in His wisdom created these things on the fifth day and then took their breath away. Then He created again and replenished the earth with carnivorous animals that would not be as difficult to abide with. Yet, it is apparent that many eras of man have discovered the remains of these animals and depicted them in art work as terrifying creatures.
The Mercy of the Lord
Now both models would support this loving attribute. The most prevalent place for this would be in babies. We see cute cuddly innocent babies and our hearts melt. See, everyone sees the benevolence of God in nature in the things that are made because they are more abundant than the things that are malevolent. Thank God for that or the world would be so destructive that we could not survive. Instead, we see fluffy bunnies and cuddly kittens all showing God's character.
God makes no apology for creating these chaotic things and in fact, says that He does in Isaiah 45:7, " I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.' " Since all creating stopped after the creation of man, we know these things were created before the fall.
The real miracle of creation is in the fine tuning and ways in which this universe and in particular, this planet is sustained. Yet, God's means to achieve that is through these events that to us seem imperfect. Is the problem the creation or our perception of who God is? Perhaps we truly need to step back and see who this God is and accept that He is stating clearly in His Word the exact same things.
He rejoices over things like the KT boundary as is seen in Psalm 104:29-32. He sees the good in the works of His hands and how the things He is creating are formed through means of suffering. This planet has been suffering since its inception.
Do you know how Jesus, who is God Almighty was made perfect? For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 Shouldn't that modus operandi be clearly seen from the creation of the world? Is it?
From the point of view of reality, it is. From the point of view of the YEC, it isn't. From their perspective, everything was pristine until man fell and then a new creation came into play unlike the one before the fall. In this new place we find suffering, but not before.
It is hard to imagine that a bug was in the thoughts of God. I find them to be disgusting. On the other hand, what is interesting to me is the way God has created these creatures that are soulless to portray parts of His character. He tells us one in Proverbs 6:6-8, "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. "
Can you see that God is saying that an ant portrays a character quality of diligence? And shouldn't that quality be clearly seen from the creation of the world?
Of all the animals that men have filmed, I think we are all fascinated by insects the most. Nevertheless, we would hate to have them in our homes. They are not friendly for the most part because they do not bond with man.
These are just a few character attributes that I believe are imperative in terms of God revealing who He is to mankind from the creation of the world. God knew we would be in a faith based universe where we couldn't know Him by our physical senses. So He left us with a creation that would help us understand who He is. We have to see that from the point of view of reality to comprehend His invisible attributes. He is telling us in Romans that it is enough so that we are without excuse.
Interestingly, the atheists see it. They see that side of God. They see that He is angry with the wicked every day. They see those attributes in creation. That's why they are without excuse.


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On Wednesday, the Mediaite writer whom MSNBC host Martin Bashir emailed after his resignation defended the former MSNBC host and chastised other liberals for not standing up for Bashir, who said on his Nov. 15 show that someone should defecate and urinate in the mouth of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Tommy Christopher, after publishing Bashir's email in which he said he "deeply" regretted his comments and tendered his resignation after meeting with MSNBC President Phil Griffin, accused liberals of throwing Bashir under the bus in a tweet:
This is why Rush rolls along, libs throw their guys under the bus. Who spoke up for #MartinBashir against the noise? http://t.co/JWTUuvtBCd
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) December 4, 2013
Outlets like Breitbart News and Truth Revolt, the media watchdog group, had relentlessly hammered MSNBC for its double standard in firing Alec Baldwin for anti-gay comments he made off the air while not disciplining Bashir for scripted comments he made on his program.
After MSNBC did not immediately punish Bashir for his remarks, Breitbart News exclusively obtained a letter that Palin's political action committee, SarahPAC, written to MSNBC President Phil Griffin and NBC News President Deborah Turness asking what action the network would take with Bashir, given the network's history of disciplining anchors for offensive comments they have made on and off the air.
"You fired Don Imus for offensive language in describing the Rutgers University Women's Basketball team, you suspended Alec Baldwin, and yet nothing has happened to Mr. Bashir," the letter read. "Are we to assume then, that disciplinary procedures at your network take place based on the target of the remarks rather than the remarks themselves?"
The letter concluded by saying, "Americans deserve to know that your network doesn't condone violent and hateful rhetoric directed at anyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or political persuasion."
Bashir's email to Christopher said:
After making an on-air apology, I asked for permission to take some additional time out around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Upon further reflection, and after meeting with the President of MSNBC, I have tendered my resignation. It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments.
I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers – who are the smartest, most compassionate and discerning of all television audiences. I would also wish to express deepest gratitude to my immediate colleagues, and our contributors, all of whom have given so much of themselves to our broadcast.


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"it's a funny thing, this life. funny strange, beautiful and truly fragile and chaotic all at the same time".
i got an email from a college friend who i haven't heard from in years. his girlfriend just killed herself. i can't stop thinking about it. he is so strong and inspiring for keeping on. my heart goes out to him. he poignantly wrote the above.
we shared a friend named paul, who killed himself our senior year. it was right around this time of year- valentine's and all. he was the one person we all thought would be the next kofi annan- take over the UN. an international studies major, fluent in portugese, handsome, outgoing, extremely smart and well spoken. needless to say we were shocked when he was missing and left a suicide note. we didn't know his whereabouts for months. we put up pictures of him all over st. paul, MN. his body was found in the missippi river.
funny, that i was just telling my friend ali about him because i was using siracha hot sauce in my pho, and was reminded of how much paul loved it. odd, that i think about him all the time. "oh, that guy looks like paul" i'll think on the BART. i miss him. more than that, it's such a loss that he never shared how he felt. i never would have guessed he was depressed. even so he's made such an impact on my life. i ran into his ex-girlfriend a couple of years ago in SF at a bar {whom he met while in brazil, they were having a long distant relationship between chicago & st. paul}. we both started shaking when we realized who each other were and went out for a smoke {and i don't smoke}. she's an investment banker now and seems happy, but so affected by the loss of paul.
depression is funny like that. i really admire people who ask for help. i like dooce because she speaks frankly about her post-partum depression after having her baby and pulling through it.
reach out people. it is okay. you are not alone. sorry for the public service message, but i need to get it off my chest. if it even makes one person feel better...
a perfect segue for illustration friday's theme of "sorrow"
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
2 comments:
- Kim Carney said...
Life is fragile and unpredictable. I can remember feeling like I could not face another day, many, many years ago. Then one day, I felt like someone had pulled thick tape from my eyes, and the world seemed brighter, literally. Everythign was clear and bright. And that moment forward, I see each day as a gift to be unwrapped. I am really sorry for you loss(es). If those in that much pain, could just look a day, a week, a month forward then they would see life is peaks and valleys, and this too shall pass!
- mati rose said...
thank you for reading & relating, kim. i know, that's the frusturating part about it- when people don't look forward & ask for help. i know it is hard to see at that point amidst the pain.
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Foie grasServes four
4 slices of Foie gras, 60 to 70 g each
2tbsp of white wine
2 cooking apples
2 medium red onions
2tsp of sugar
1tbsp of sherry vinegar
1tbsp of red currant jelly
1tsp of ginger, finely chopped
65g of butter
A bunch of mixed leaves
Salt and pepper
For the caramelized onions
Peel the red onions and slice them thinly. Melt 40g the butter in a saucepan and add the onion and vinegar. Cover the pan and cook on low heat stirring from time to time, until the onion are very soft. This will take about 45 minutes. Season to taste and keep aside. For the apples, Peel and dice the apples, Melt the rest of butter in a saucepan, add the apples, sugar, chop the ginger and cooked in a hot heat without coloring, stirring very often. This will take only few minutes. Add the white wine, stir well and set aside.
For the Foie gras
Heat a thick-base frying pan over high heat until very hot, add the seasoned slices of duck liver and seared well for about 45 second on both side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a kitchen towel. Keep warm.
For the sauce
Reduce 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and 3 cup of red wine, 1tbsp of red currant jelly until the sauce coated the back of a spoon.
To serve
Place one tbsp of apple on the middle of a warm plate and add a slice of foie gras on top. Then place a tbsp of caramelized onion on the side of the plate and a bouquet of mixed lettuce on the other side. Drizzle the sauce over the foie gras.
Recipe courtesy of Le Classique, Emirates Golf Club & Chef Francois Porte


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Hanoi (VNA) – Thai authorities on June 15 said that a suspect was arrested in connection with a bomb attack on the Phramongkutklao military hospital in central Bangkok last month.
Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan announced a 62-year-old man was caught and is now under interrogation. However, he gave no indication of the suspect's motive or affiliation to the bombing.
The bombing at the Phramongkutklao military hospital in Ratchathewi province on May 22 injured at least 24 people. The incident came on the third anniversary of the Thai army's seizure of power.
After the attack, authorities of Thailand have stepped up security measures and ordered nationwide security agencies to be on alert.
Read the full story at VietnamPlus


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Wow! I had an amazing day yesterday (today just couldn't compare) so much happened yesterday I thought it was worth a blog entry =D. One of the best things that happened yesterday was that I got my books prize from a youtube contest hosted by Danny Marks, an urban fantasy writer. The prize was a book titled Kisses from Hell (see above for the amazing cover) that features a story from my favorite author Richelle Mead. I was very happy to win the prize not only cause it was a book I hadn't read, but also because the story was a part of Vampire Academy series. I'd read some where (can't remember where exactly) that it wasn't worth buying I couldn't believe that especially since Richelle was one of the awesome authors involved. I'm glad to say whom ever said that was mistaken, since now that i finished reading it i can say it is totally worth buying. Kisses from Hell features 5 amazing authors Kristin Cast, author (with her mom P.C Cast ) of HON series. Alyson Noel, author of The Immortal Series, a series set to end this summer, Kelly Armstrong, author of The Darkest Powers series, an amazing series that has really awesome book covers =p. Francesca Lia Block, author of Pretty Dead, her books are awesome cause hello what person doesn't love a good love story? and I saved the best for last Richelle Mead who has Three amazing book series- Succubus series, Vampire Academy series, and Dark Swan series. Not only that but she's in the process of publishing the next series Bloodlines which is the spin-off from Vampire Academy series.
I really enjoyed reading Sunshine, the short story by Richelle Mead, because i think its the caramel to an other wise ordinary sundae. What I mean by that is that in reading it, it added to the already great story that Vampire Academy is. Sunshine is all about how Lissa's parents meet and fall in love and it made me change my opinion on both of them. So getting the book made me extremely happy, I'm hoping to get a picture posted of me with the book, but it'll have to wait cause i broke my camera last year =p. what's some thing that has recently happened to you that made you unbelievably happy?
yesterday was also really awesome because i got to see the movie Taken I'd wanted to see this movie for a long time, since its release in theaters back in 2008, but I had been unable to see it. I was channel surfing when i came upon the name I immediately changed the channel and was finally able to watch the movie finally taking it off my movies to watch list. That list never seems to go down as new movies come out all the time and my favorite movies list just keeps expanding the more movies i watch. The last thing that made me happy was that i was able to get started on my youtube list. since i have so many websites I'm a member of i have a difficult time keeping up with all of them and so once in a while I will neglect one or two this time is was my youtube account. I've been trying to get caught up on watching my subscriptions but i have to say I'm very behind but yesterday i was able to get started and so hopefully today I'll be finished today if not tomorrow. I'll post more on what exactly i watched tomorrow because no i have to call it a night gotta wake up early tomorrow
as always


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Monday, November 14, 2011
K Hensley
Last week I asked a trivia question on twitter, something to the effect of "in one 2006 game, one Padre tied the all-time record by walking five times in a nine inning game while a teammate struck out in all five of his plate appearances, also tying a record. Name them." That's not verbatim but I'm too lazy to go back and look it up. A few people correctly guessed that the walking man was Briles but nobody got the second guy. I said I'd reveal the answer here the next day but, yeah, you know how I am. Anyway, it was that guy who looks like a rat.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Kevin Higgins & Built To Spill (A Glimpse Inside My Useless Brain)
I don't have a lot to say about Kevin Higgins as he's pretty much just another footnote in a sad timeline. I do get some perverse kick, though, from seeing Friars immortalized on cardboard in a moment of failure, be it a fly ball going over Jerald Clark's head or this guy missing a tag; they're all apt. Instead, I'll focus on the background. Since September 10th, I've been jotting down random thoughts, quotes, sketches and notes to self in a large, green, hardbound sketchbook an acquaintance gave me for my birthday. I've had many a sketchpad and written all sorts of gibberish but never combined the two; frankly, I feel like a seven-year-old girl with a Hello Kitty diary. I do enjoy the quaintness and immediacy the medium provides. The whole thing comes off as I expect a rough draft of a Henry Rollins travelogue does- ongoing missives of anger, self-doubt, alienation and general disgust for nearly all that I see. If ever relevant, I may co-opt some entries for inclusion here or at the still-existing P 'n' E... but for now, it's just quotes in the background.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Haiku Time: Cammy
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Haiku Time: Broke
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Earthrise: My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut
Earthrise: My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut
Earthrise: my adventures as an Apollo 14 astronaut, Edgar Mitchell PhD, 2014, ISBN 9781613749012, 208 pp.
Edgar Mitchell, the author, is one of the few to become a space traveler and one of those rarefied few who have walked on the Moon. He tells his story not as much as an autobiography but as a trusted family uncle — a person family members go to searching for a particular understanding from a person who can easily explain things, or simply recall events for what they were without embellishment or convenient omissions of fact.
He tells a tale only few can tell and his first hand accounts of moon walks are enthralling as is his riveting description of reentry into Earth's atmosphere, not to mention being one of the last three astronauts quarantined upon return from the Moon. A few of the of the many subjects addressed, other than obvious ones, in his smooth but exciting manner are:
- What the food was and what is was like to eat in zero gravity
- The excitement of losing the lunar landing radar and the race to get it back on-line with the seconds counting down
- The actual hiking experience and the lugging hundreds of pounds of gear on the lunar surface
- The work transferring the lunar rock samples from the lunar ascent stage to the Apollo command module
- Reading of the Extra-Terrestrial Exposure Law [CFR* Title 14 Section 1211]
The reader will learn more than NASA acronyms, as well — words such as metanoia and noetic. Mitchell makes clear his opinion regarding the existence of ESP though he has a clear rationale for his belief and makes food for thought. He is an astronaut so he is nothing if not a clear and deliberate thinker. Mitchell also briefly describes an organization he co-founded which is the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). He does not use his book as a recruiting tool but mentions his involvement with ESP and IONS in order to make for a complete story of his Apollo 14 mission experience.
Edgar Mitchell writes in a comfortable friendly way, making this book a natural for a young adult, or advanced child, as well as an easy read for the adult looking to read beyond the cold facts (as told by NASA) of this lunar mission. He has also included a rich resource section and excellent index.
* Code of Federal Regulations
As is the publishing business custom, Chicago Review Press provided a copy of this book for an objective review.


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So you'd be wondering, now that school is finished and I should have more time available for knitting and blogging about knitting, why it is that there is so little happening on my blog? That would be because I have been a victim of my own enthusiasm… There I was, merrily knitting and pleating my way down my Same Same cardi, looking forward to finishing the hem, so I thought I had better check the directions as to length etc… Now, where was I? pleats – ah, here it is, but wait… what's that? **AT THE SAME TIME DO NOT FORGET THE WAIST SHAPING** Where was I supposed to do that? 3 inches ago???? Oh far out….
Pout. Sigh. Double check. Gaze upon my knitting. Frown. Look more closely – is that..? But the torso and the shoulders look a little different… Hold it to the sunlight… Oh dear. The second skein is lighter than the first.
Bleepity bleep bleep bleeeeeeep.
So there you have it. My Same Same is in the naughty corner until I can bring myself to re-examine it.
I'm swatching something purple instead now. That will teach it to misbehave.


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My dental hell is officially over, i had last appointment today, and doctor said that everything is just great, and i really feel way better. You know those days with all those anesthetic technologies it is really not that bad, but as i believe most people i still have a great great fear of dental procedures and of dentists. But the worst thing is later you ll have to pay for your fears with more complicated, expensive and scary procedures.
I was so lucky with the office where i was referred, everybody where was so great, and not only have done excellent job but also pay a lot of attention to my nails, so this is basically why i am having this post.
We disused with sweet lady today the nail related stuff and i mentioned the SECHE VITE top coat - as the best ever ever thing on earth. I think most of you, my readers, are familiar with this great exploration of the modern nail technologies. But if you are not, believe me, you get to try it, this thing will change your life forever, because it will dry your nail polish really quick, no meter how many layers of polish you have. And it will really save you all the time in the world, and you ll be able to do your nails as often as you want. So i told a sweet dental Lady about my blog, and just in case if she ll check it out, i wanted to post a picture and exact name of Seche Vite top coat.
And if you ll read it, again, thank you so much for everything, i am really glad it is all over, and you, guys, made it best possible experience for me.


text: Now that you know a little bit more information about diamonds, here comes the fun part. As I am sure you know, there are millions of different ring settings out there. How do you know which one is best for you? Keep in mind that there are solitaires, three stones, side stones, diamond band and pave. How sparkly do you want your finger to be? Do you want a gold, white gold or platinum band? The choices are endless!


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There was sadness in her voice, there were tears in mine.
February 11, 2010 1 Comment
The voice on the other end was cold. It had been like that for the pass few months. It's been like that since the day she left.
She mouths her words, cold and sharp and I wonder why I bother listening to what she had to say. In being polite, I break my own heart. In being polite, I create another scar over a landscape peppered with broken shards and peeling wounds.
There is a lump in my throat and I can bring myself to ask her to stop. To stop and allow me to breathe and pick my heart of off the floor. I don't have to hear this, I have heard it before.
But maybe I did need to hear it.
To clearly hear that it was really over and there was no moving forward nor back nor sideways nor upwards or downwards. Stagnant. Stuck. Paralysed.
I let her talk.
"I cannot see you again." Pause. "Not even as friends. Or anything. I want you to understand."
What is there to understand?
Then there was sadness in her voice. As if it was something she did not want to do yet she still pushed ahead.
"Go to him, and leave me by myself," I replied. "I'll be ok."
There was sadness in her voice, but she did not hear; there were tears in mine.


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Ever since going to the zoo and seeing the butterfly tent that they have, I have been infatuated with butterflies this year. One of Ella's favorite things to do in the last couple of weeks is play with water out on the deck. She will have a bucket full of water, a few cups, a few measuring spoons and just keep pouring and spooning the water from one place to the next. Sometimes she will pour it on our feet, or the dog or the grass, or the mulch under the deck....You name it.
Anyways, the other morning, we went outside and Ella told me there was a butterfly in her bucket. My stomach sort of sank because I didnt think that butterflies were supposed to get their wings wet like that and I was afraid he was dead or wouldnt be able to fly.
So we poured him out on the deck until I could decide what I was going to do with him. I felt bad for him because he was walking kinda crooked like one of his wings was heavier than the other.
Thankfully, he walked right up on my hand and I brought him off the deck into a little cherry blossom tree we have and perched him up on one of the leaves. I was hoping that he would dry his wings off enough to be able to fly again.
LAter that afternoon when Keith got home, I was telling him about it and we went back to see him. He was still there, but I must have gotten too close for his liking because then he flew away right before my eyes. I was so glad. I felt like we saved the butterfly!
That same day we had an encounter with some baby birds too. It was really kinda surreal, all these things that happen to cross our path that day. It felt like a day full of nature. That story along with some pictures is coming in my next post.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Save The Butterfly
Posted by Joanna at 4:29 PM
Labels: butterflies, ella, summer
6 comments:
Those are amazing. The colors are so vivid. I am glad the butterfly is okay.ReplyDelete
Wonderful shots and an even better story.ReplyDelete
I want to move nextdoor to you...you have so many awesome experiences with nature and wildlife! I can only remember seeing one buttefly around here all summer long. I love it that you were that butterfly's saviour - great story and awesome pictures!ReplyDelete
Wonderful shots of your butterfly! Glad you were able to save the little guy, and I'm sure Ella was glad to have a butterfly up close to look at.ReplyDelete
GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS shots!! I love the one on the deck and the sun glowing through on that last one!!ReplyDelete
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|This is the campus-wide Harvard University Green Tip of the Month.
Having trouble reading this newsletter? Click here to see it in your browser.
Eat Less Meat!
Industrial meat production, especially beef, accounts for 18% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions* (from the entire meat production cycle).
Pick up some vegetarian ingredients at a local farmer's market, including three near Harvard:
Or find a market near you: http://www.massfarmersmarkets.org
* United Nations (September 2008) "Livestock production alone contributes to 18 percent of the global warming effect - more than the emissions from every single car, train, and plane on the planet. Though livestock production only contributes 9 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, the sector is responsible for 37 percent of methane and 65 percent of nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gases." http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.htm
Setting the Record Straight
It is healthy to be vegetarian.
Studies have shown that vegetarians (who follow a well-balanced, low-fat, high-fiber diet) often have lower incidences of coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity and some forms of cancer.
Your Actions Add Up!
If every Harvard affiliate replaced one average daily diet containing meat with one vegetarian meal a week, we would
Prevent 14 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
That's like taking 1,280 cars off the road!


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About PBPS
Before and After Photos
Testimonials and References
Pacific Blue Pool Services
(916) 799-7254
Servicing the Greater Sacramento Area
Weekly Full Service
Includes removal of all debris from top and bottom of pool, emptying of all nets and baskets, balancing of water chemistry, cleaning filters as needed and inspection of equipment
Weekly Chem Service
Includes balancing of water chemistry, emptying of all baskets and nets, filter cleaning and inspection of equipment
Green Pool Cleanup
(See before and after photos)
For green pools that still have visibility to the bottom. Water chemistry is balanced, shock treatment added, pool is brushed and filters cleaned.
$100 + up
Heavy Debris &
Green Pool Cleanup
(See before and after photos)
Pool is drained, brushed and debris removed then pressure washed. Pool is then filled and start up chemicals added
$250 + up
(takes 1-2 days)
Black Algae Removal
For pools that have a black algae infestation. Pool is drained, spots removed by pressure washer and spot treated with high concentrate chlorine.
$250 + up
Equipment Repairs
All equipment repairs are available with a free quote. Costs generally include cost of parts/materials and labor
Call to get an appointment for a free estimate
Phosphate Treatment
Pools with chronic algae problems may be caused by even a low level of phosphates. Until the phosphates are removed algae will not respond to normal shock treatments or algaecides.
$60 + up
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Cavern, Dungeon, Dungeons & Dragons, Fantasy, Labyrinth Lord, Maps, RPG, Towel Day
Sometimes you realize you are ahead or behind schedule. This map I named with the intention of posting it for Towel Day. Towel Day is long past, but the map is still in my "to post" list.
Looking at it now, I also note that it is somewhat incomplete. There should be a set of natural stairs in the cave just behind the door from the hall to explain how the caves go over the hall and then suddenly connect with it, all in the space of about 30-40 feet.


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Face is the index of the mind and the mind is always preoccupied with thoughts
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Varsham - A neat movie
Saturday, December 24, 2005
BCCI selection committee a big joke!
Friday, December 23, 2005
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
Monday, December 19, 2005
Why does she still sing?
Listening to the song Tere bina zindagi se koi shikhwa from the movie Aandhi, one gets transported to an ethereal world. This song is rendered to perfection by the melody perfectionists Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. The song has that enchanting appeal and one can compare the contrast in the songs of today's cinema. I have listened to this song innumerable times, and each time, the song renders a new meaning and neatly fills my heart with solace. This album has awesome tracks sung by the duo. The track Tum aa gaye ho is another piece that can take the listener to dizzy heights. Gulzaar's lyrics makes it a perfect combination of a great musical.
Fast forward to today's cinema. Lata Mangeshkar renders her voice to some meaningless movies like Dil to pagal hai, veer zaara, mohabbatein and other terrible movies. Lata's hoarse voice makes us wonder where has she lost that wonderful voice? Obviously she can't render the same perfection in today's musical. What beats me is why should she continue singing today? She definitely has lost that charismatic appeal in that voice. In any field one should always bow out with dignity, and I certainly don't want to relive my days listening to the latest crap of music from Lata's voice.
Let's see how much more of nauseating music is in store for us from Lata Mangeshkar!!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Back to blogs!
The Apocalypse now
Basic Instinct
Ram Balaram
Teesri Manzil
City of God
The Bourne Identity
Hyderabad Blues
The Legend of Bhagat Singh
and with many more to come...
All in all, a good fortnight that I am looking forward to!!!


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We received this the other day; I don't know the exact circumstances under which it was written, but I like to think the author hit his breaking point and decided to vent by sending us an email. He says it so well, I pretty much have nothing to add (which is very rare indeed).
Subject: THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH...
Thank you for being a beacon of truth to the innocent and naive contemplating law school. If I had it to do over again I would be an engineer or architect, but alas I am too old, bitter and jaded at this point to admit my mistake and start over from scratch. I too (being the approval seeking type I am) counseled with other attorneys and lawyers (there is a difference sometimes) about my vision of being the next great legal mind. They all - to the person - told me that it was not what it's cracked up to be, that being a law student is not much better than being in the boil unit of the local medical facility, and that being a lawyer was a thankless, mind numbing, and usually unrewarding job. Instead of taking this solicited advice I was certain that I had stumbled onto directions to the mythical cities of Quivira, Cíbola, Shangri-La or El Dorado, or found the Fountain of Youth . . . I believed with all my heart they were saying these horrible things to keep me from entering the unbelievable life of enlightenment and joy that they greedily wanted to themselves. I was - with all this negativity - certain that I was headed for something so great and so wonderful, that an elaborate conspiracy had been erected to keep the weak at heart, or the cowardly, out of the "greatest profession" in history. Boy do I feel stupid now. It is closer to the "oldest profession" than the greatest. And while I have managed to distinguish myself and accumulate some degree of economic security, I am still overwhelmed every day with the feeling that I was totally screwed. More than ten years later half my graduating class that I know is out of the profession and happy or in the profession and as bitter as me. In quiet moments each and every attorney I converse with admits that they feel as I do about their chosen vocation. I know that any non-L reading this will probably feel as I did but at least I can sleep at night knowing that I told the truth about my profession. Keep up the good work guys.


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All Christians want to bless the church, witness to the world, and grow in assurance of faith. But did you know that there's one thing you can do that accomplishes all three of these aims at once?Read the rest.
Love other Christians.
Yes, loving other Christians produces the triple benefit of encouraging believers, evangelizing unbelievers (Jn. 13:35), and assuring ourselves that we are believers (1 Jn. 3:14, 19).
But how do we do this? Yesterday I gave my congregation 10 Love Challenges that translate the sometimes nebulous idea of love into very practical, do-able actions. In some ways each action might not seem very much; each challenge has only one fairly quick and easy action per month. However, when multiplied by 100 or 200 Christians, the cumulative effect on your whole congregation could be huge.
Monday, November 04, 2013
10 Love Challenges
David Murray:
Labels: Ecclesiology, Love, Relationships
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Here's why:
Although I pay attention to the miles that much of my family's food travels to get to our table and I buy a lot of local food, there are certain things that I can never get local. Bananas are one of them. I still buy them.
I have two growing boys who want to eat them. I also buy them grapes and apples out of season because quite frankly I'm afraid of having to take them to the doctors one day and finding out they have scurvy because it isn't local fruit season.
Apples and imported grapes (most of the grapes I can get in winter are from Chile) are two fruits that should be bought organically because the conventional ones are heavily contaminated with pesticides. They are #2 and #9 respectively on the Environmental Working Groups Dirty Dozen Foods.
Bananas fall way down at #37 on their list.
continue reading here


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Wingers really hate that Larry Craig was outed, because they hate the gay blogger who helped out Craig.
Because, you know, politics is just so unfair:
In the twisted, gutter mind of Rogers, if you oppose "gay rights" (whatever that is) and you are a closet homosexual, "all bets are off."
To say that this is perhaps the most nauseating example of how the left can justify using double standards to advance their political agenda is to state the obvious. But where Roger's transgressions against decency and humanity really sink to levels unseen before in American politics is his towering conceit about what constitutes "hypocrisy" and how that self defined character flaw in someone else should lead to either ruining their political careers or their lives.
Someone like Larry Craig who is "outed" by his own behavior is something different entirely. The people who Rogers has deemed unworthy of being allowed to maintain their privacy regarding their sexual preference have not broken any law nor have they transgressed against any rules in Congress that would make their homosexuality an issue in any way, shape or form. Instead, Rogers applies an extraordinary narrow, close minded, indeed ignorant yardstick to determine whether someone "deserves" to be "outed.
In short, if you oppose his own definition of "gay rights" and refuse to "out" yourself, Rogers will do it for you.
Sad. So sad.
First, Mike Rogers at BlogActive doesn't out staffers with no decision-making powers. He outs proven hypocrites who vote against their own self interests while still clandestinely living their 'nurtured, not natural' lifestyles. So get your facts straight, idiot.
Second, this:
I may be very angry with the Republican party at the moment, despise parts of its agenda, and have nothing but contempt for a broad swath of its leaders. But the GOP has nothing comparable to the Rogers operation.
Oh, they have their oppo researchers and underhanded tactics. But that's politics boys and girls, get used to it or get out. What Rogers does has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with personal aggrandizement and the accumulation of power. And the fact that the Democratic left latches on to this lickspittle of a man and gives him encouragement puts them beyond the pale in my book.
Where to begin: "The GOP has nothing to compare..."
Dude, how about these:
Fox News
Swift Boat Vets for Truth
Richard Mellon Scaife
And "lickspittle of a man". So you can criticize, but no one else? It was your party that ran him out of Dodge. The Republicans own both the front end, and the (no pun intended) back end of this story.
Look: your beloved party has tried to own "moral values", which is exactly whatever Fallwell/Dobson et al have dictated. You've closed the doors of the "Big Tent" to anyone who doesn't quite fit the ideal.
Yet somehow people who are loathed by the Republican Party still queue up at the door and beg to be let in. And you let them in, only to cast them out when they are found to be "other".
Don't blame me, pal.
And last:
"...have not broken any law..."
Check again. He pled guilty to disorderly conduct. I'm pretty sure that's against even Republican Laws. After all, you use it time and again to jail people who protest against GWBush.


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Wednesday, October 3
Wait, Who Was A Founding Father? (Revolution Ep 3)
I appreciate that the writers have differentiated between individuals who resist Monroe for their own reasons/profit (like Miles) and those belonging to an actual rebellion (like current-day Nora). In dystopian lit, it's easy to divide people into two groups: those for and those against the regime. Revolution colors in that gray area in between. (Ally Condie's Matched Trilogy does the same).
Speaking of the rebellion, they are losing. Badly, and their position is vulnerable. This does not inspire hope.
Oh, look it's Aaron and Lady Doc. We get that Aaron would love to go back to his computers (and his money), but isn't the bigger question: What happened to Grace? Shouldn't we be trying to find her instead of rebuilding . . . whatever?
Did you see how Miles grabbed Charlie and shielded her with his body? I like this guy. Have I said that before?
Nora's fighting Monroe until she dies or takes him down because she lost her baby in a stupid militia fight that never should've been? I believe it. I'm close to adding her to my "care about and need good things for" list. I need to be sure for the long haul, or she'd already be on it.
I'm cringing for Danny and want it to stop. But in the back of my head, a little voice whispers, "You knew his mouth was going to get him in trouble. Consequences, consequences."
Okay, Charlie just solidified her top ranking on my "characters I dislike" list. She suggests fighting the militia with little-to-no ammo? And she called her father a coward for not fighting the militia when they came? A COWARD? His protection is worth nothing to her? Didn't take much for Little Miss Don't Kill Anyone to change her tune, huh? (Inconsistent characterization and unlikable. Double marks against her.)
Miles was a founding father, second in command to Monroe?! How? What happened to make him desert? Because he did desert, that much has been clear in the last three episodes. Spare me Charlie's ridiculously slow, betrayed expression.
Oooh, the initiation of the power grab came from Miles? Who just wanted to help and restore order? And not Monroe? Interesting.
Why did the locket turn on by itself? That cannot be a good sign. Why aren't we more concerned about that?
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2 comments:
- Halee said...
Oh, Miles. What a mess. But I'm with you--the first time he put himself between the bad guy and Charlie, I was like "aww! He has a heart!" Thank goodness. And I like the way the writers worked it so he would join Charlie but not exactly of his own free will. (It wasn't until his location was compromised that he agreed. So he's not entirely self-sacrificing.)
I so like Nora. When she mentioned her fight was about a guy, I was like "her son!" (which was my only out-loud slip-up for episode 3, although my husband did fake-glare at me a little when I was right.) She's smart, but practical. And obviously she's going to end up with Miles. I'm kinda hoping they won't be that typical, but I'm afraid it's going to be a Jack-and-Kate type of thing where they play with the possibility forever.
I'm not quite as anti-Charlie as you are, but she is a bit annoying (which I attribute more to her age and lack of experience). And she's far too pretty for not having skincare products, which makes me dislike her. And she's a bit hot-headed, which makes for an interesting story.
I'm thinking J.J. Abrams really enjoys writing conflicted bad boy characters. Miles remind you of anyone? Sawyer, perhaps?
- October 3, 2012 at 10:43 PM
- Charity said...
@Halee, I love that the writers are letting Miles be a little raw and shady. They could make him appear to be the bad boy with a heart of gold, but instead they leave us feeling conflicted about some of his actions. He hasn't "cleaned up" his act since joining Charlie and the gang, and that's a definite plus for me.
The only thing that may get in the way of Miles and Nora (which I'm on the fence about) is her need for revenge. She may not be able to put it aside and get herself killed. I'm on the fence about how I feel about this too. :)
As for the Sawyer/Miles connection, I'm on of the few who didn't get into Lost, so I won't catch all those connections that I am sure you will. You'll have to let me know if the similarities continue!
- October 10, 2012 at 8:10 PM


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Recently I wrote a post expressing doubt that the tax treaties signed by Stephen Harper at the urging of big business will not in any way be amended by Justin Trudeau. Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs), as manipulated by Harper, allow for the legalized theft of countless billions of corporate tax dollars from the public treasury, thereby limiting what government can do to alleviate social and economic woes here at home.
Judging by some letters in today's Star, I see I am not alone in my suspicion that relief will not be forthcoming from our 'new' government:
Re: Why not outlaw use of tax havens? Letter June 22
Re: Loopholes costing Canada billions in lost revenue page, June 17
Sadly, Robert Bahlieda is a prophet crying in the wilderness. The criminalization of corporate tax avoidance is next to impossible when, as he rightly argues, it is ingrained in our culture and politicians routinely coddle business interests.
While it took great courage for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reject austerity and embrace infrastructure spending, it will take even more political chutzpah to entertain radical tax reform when Canadians are unwilling to pay even for the programs and services they need.
In the end it is we the citizens who must object to the privatization of our democracy. We need to care enough about it to insist that our representatives uphold the importance of taxation in a civilized society – the principled starting point of any true reform.
Salvatore (Sal) Amenta, Stouffville
This article should leave no doubt in anyone's mind about who Western governments, and in particular the Canadian government, represent. It sure as hell isn't the average voter in Canada.
I resent my hard earned tax dollars being spent on giveaways to multinational corporations like Bombardier, GM, and many others to ostensibly "create" new jobs, or "preserve" current employment, when these wealthy corporations pay next to no Canadian taxes. They then use their profits to buy back shares to better reward their executives, while at the same time cutting employees.
As the article points out, Canadian government policy has been to encourage the offshoring of profits.
The most effective way to stop this corporate gravy train is to eliminate income taxes on profits and replace them with a turnover tax of 1 to 3 per cent on all sales in Canada. Taxes on profits are easily subverted as we have seen with the shifting of taxes between Ireland and other jurisdictions.
A tax on corporate sales for the privilege of selling in Canada would at one fell swoop eliminate all the fancy accounting practices and legal manoeuvres to avoid taxes. Sales are the easiest thing to monitor and the most difficult to obscure.
Don Buchanan, Etobicoke
When discussing corporate tax avoidance the argument is made that Canadian multinationals need these "tools" to give them the "best ability to compete on international and global scale." We've heard this kind of argument in another sphere – doping and steroid use in professional and amateur athletics.
Perhaps it's time the multinationals were also barred from competition and stripped of their hardware so that the ethical ones can thrive.
Sid Potma, Toronto
The integrity of Canada's tax system, as it's currently written, looks disproportionately to its citizens for the tax base to maintain our country. I would appreciate it if some one would publish a list of the Canadian companies/corporations blatently avoiding billions in corporate taxes, thus placing an unfair burden on all of us to maintain the basic lifestyle we have become accustomed to.
Richard Kadziewicz, Scarborough


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Today I am having one of those days where I second guess things. My middle child's school, that he left when we moved, is having their graduation tonight. He should be a part of that class, had we not moved. He misses them and school more than I expected. If I offered to send him to the private school that they will all be going to next year, he would be thrilled. The only way we could ever do that is if I went back to work full time. Which would mean, less time for the chickens, less time for the garden, less time for other work around here and my youngest would have to go to school... and that would be a nightmare.
I sometimes wish I knew nothing, that I had kept my head in the sand. If I knew nothing and just did things like the "Normal" people, I could force him to go to school, even if that meant medication. I could make him go to a place he is miserable at, so we could have more money. I could work that 40 hour work week with that 35 minute commute, order take out on the way home, and sit with kids doing 3 hours of homework. I would never see them, I would never be home, I would never enjoy our land and what it can offer us. I would be back in the rat race.
Pinching pennies, saving scraps, shopping used, having chickens, growing my own food, and not being able to buy what I want when I want is the trade off for being home with my boys and helping my youngest figure this world out without him feeling beaten up and less than.
Times have changed. One salary, even a good one, is hard to live on. It is not 1960 anymore. Food prices and the cost of living are on the rise but wages are not. Good jobs are few and far between but there are a million jobs making minimum wages. People are struggling so it makes it easy to make that other choice, the choice of leaving the home and being "normal". We feel forced (like I do now) to make a choice we do not want to.
What has brought us here? We are slaves. Enslaved by the rat race. We moved out here to escape that, why do I feel like it has followed us out here, where things are supposed to be simple.


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for my son's fourth birthday he had a lot of ideas about what he wanted for his party. after discussing who he wanted (and did not want) to invite, we talked about food and games. He listed off some games like musical statues and then said he also wanted to play a game called 'Night Time the Day'. Do you play that at preschool? i asked. 'No i made it up. You have to turn off the lights, pretend we are sleeping and you have to have glowing things so we can see. Then we turn back on the lights and jump and pretend we are camels. then we lie down and be sleeping again. So the girls dress up as princesses [i didn't know he even knew that word?] and the boys dress up as dragons [currently very taken with the book Mr Tickle and the Dragon] and i'm going to have a Dinosaur party and a Rocket cake'. 'What's the dinosaur bit?' i ask. 'That's just the party so we have to hang up dinosaur balloons. and actually the camel game might be rabbits or kangaroos because they can both jump but camels can't. Please can you turn of the lights and i'll show you how it works. and can you get some glowing things?'
i got he and i and Little Miss M torches and we lay in the dark with the torches on and Little Mr Z sang a long song to us and then we woke up, lights on and jumped around the room - repeat...
we didn't end up playing the kangaroo game at his party but we did have a lot of fun and everyone dressed up as dragons and princesses and the rocket ship cake was a hit.
i find it very hard to get my cakes to rise nicely. my mum gave me some advice about beating the wet ingredients really well and then not stirring the cake mixture too much after adding the dry ingredients. it worked a treat with this great easy cake recipe:
- 100g/3½oz unsalted butter
- 250g/9oz caster or brown sugar
- 50ml/2fl oz sunflower oil
- 25g/1oz cocoa powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract4 eggs80ml/2½fl oz milk100ml/3½fl oz double cream300g/10½oz plain flour3 tsp baking powder
1. grease the cake tins and preheat the oven to180C/350F
2. Melt the butter over a low heat in a small pan, pour it into a bowl with the sugar, oil, cocoa powder and vanilla. Beat well until smooth, then whisk in the eggs followed by the milk and cream.
3. Sift the flour and baking powder into the butter mixture and beat until smooth, then spoon into the prepared tin and cover the top of the tin with aluminium foil.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for a further 20 minutes, or the top is springy and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
i made one cake in a round tin with a hole in the middle and one round cake. two round cakes could also work fine for this.
i cut the shape out below and filled in the middle
i used a set of round cookie cutters to make this cake tower
and then covered it in butter icing (beat unsalted butter and lots of icing sugar - to taste). i added blue food colouring for the rocket legs.
i then used candy to decorate
happy dinosaur with his new train set


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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Shoe Shopping
Or tonight I could write about Shoe Shopping.
Apparently shoe shopping is an activity all humans with money in their pocket share no matter what culture, mindset, or outlook they may have. Everyone wears shoes. They're kinda like assholes - everyone has them, only with shoes most of us have two. I am sure there are some small indigenous percentage who wear no shoes, but I would guess most of humanity is shod in one form or another.
Scribbit is over in India at the moment. So she is doing a travel blog for a couple of weeks. One post was about shopping Indian style. A really great post that imparted just how different shopping there is than here. From the attitudes of the clerks, sexual politics of shopping there, and the commonality of shopping that exists everywhere. She pointed out a couple of ladies in Burkas gently lifting their head to toe coverings to peak at the gaudy rhinestone shoes they were trying on.
Generally if I take the time to read a blog post, I take the time to comment. If nothing else to let the blogger know that yeah, someone does read their take on occasion. I commented about how shoe shopping was probably pretty universal, but it was broken down by gender. That men and women approached it differently. A man is more likely to try on a pair of shoes and close his eyes or walk around to get a feel for the fit. Women on the other hand more often than not look for the first mirror available to see how they look. From the huge numbers of monstrously non sensible shoes they will gladly put on their feet, fit is not the women's first concern. Figured I had covered it with my comment, I left.
I made the mistake of thinking about my comment later. I decided my comment only told a small part of the reasoning that went into purchasing new footwear. Men of course do care how shoes look. And most women, unless buying shoes for those fancy smancy Brou-hahas, will often buy for fit as well as looks. The difference in the male/female approach though is - a guy will decide the shoe looks good or bad before he even puts it on his feet. A gal will try anything on and hope it fits.
I won't get into the aesthetic parameters of shoe fashion. As far as I am concerned, feet are not the most handsome appendages we have, so why worry about how a shoe looks. They are all pretty damn foolish lookin in my opinion. Considering how foolish feet look and it's no wonder.
Now would be a good time to inject some education into this worthless post about shoes. But why spoil it now. Shoes have been around long enough that knowing when we started wearing them would do little to elevate the worthiness of this post.
I do remember as a kid hating shoes with a passion. I even used to toss them away occasionally and tell my mom, I lost them. Teachers take a dim view of students who show up shoeless in America. Parents take a dimmer view. Mine sure did.
But once I was in charge of my own clothing destiny in college, I did attempt to not wear shoes for a year while going to Towson State in the Bawlamer area. I was maybe 75% successful. Going to class barefoot was no problem. If someone whined, I stopped going to class. After all, I couldn't give in and toss my vows of shoelessness. One of them had to go. And it was damn sight easier to not go to class than to stuff my feet into a pair of Chuck Taylors.
You haven't lived until you can walk down snowy streets in bare feet. At the time I was sure I was just so cool. Now 38 years later, I realize I was a pretty stupid college student. Insisting on going barefoot was but the tip of the iceberg.
Onto another tangent..........................
9 comments:
- BBC said...
Speaking of videos, I hiked into the hot springs today and posted about it.
- Tuesday, March 30, 2010 10:13:00 PM
- susana said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:30:00 PM
- susana said...
speaking of videos and speaking of shoes and speaking of too many viewers (BCC)
- Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:32:00 PM
- susan said...
I followed your link to her post about India and found as interesting as you'd described and, yes, I left a comment. I don't travel around blogtopia much because of the time involved so thanks for a good tip.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the countryside and eschewed shoes most of every summer. My father often said my feet were like little paddles and come fall I might just have to wear the boxes rather than the shoes. He was wrong but the picture of wearing shoe boxes still makes me smile.
- Tuesday, March 30, 2010 11:53:00 PM
- The Blog Fodder said...
I am now wearing European shoes - long pointy turned up toes and butt ugly.
The gals here wear the classiest high heeled stilettos ever summer shoes and winter boots. How they walk on these streets in a mystery.
Whenever a cute new pair of shoes leave her feet in blisters, Tanya says Shoes good, feet bad. Sigh! women!
- Wednesday, March 31, 2010 1:50:00 AM
- Beach Bum said...
I do my best to stick with what a little termit of a redneck described one time as my "hippy sandals".
Damn army boots messed up my feet and nothing really feels comfortable. In fact dress shoes are a torture. So that really makes shoe shopping for me quick and easy.
- Wednesday, March 31, 2010 3:31:00 AM
- Randal Graves said...
I think us dudes do care, but we've got it easier if one follows fashion convention. As long as the shoes match the single-color suit, we're done and it's back to the couch.
My favorite is when it's 20° and snowing, and these college kids have on their winter coats, gloves, a hat, all while wearing their sandals. Yokels.
- Wednesday, March 31, 2010 1:42:00 PM
- sunshine said...
Now Mike, you've seen my feet. You KNOW mine are cute, cute, cute! :P
I do like shoes. I don't own a lot of them and I don't think that I have a "passion" for them. I used to just wear sandals but now I'm totally into high heels... :P
- Wednesday, March 31, 2010 5:55:00 PM
- Scribbit said...
Thanks for the mention! We're finally back now and getting past jet lag. What an amazing trip. What an amazing pair of shoes!
- Friday, April 02, 2010 10:31:00 AM


text:
My World War II novel – or I should call it more accurately a fictional biography – is out in advance copies now, and I've asked quite a number of friends and acquaintances to read and review the book. All seem more than willing, but some half are wringing their hands over writing a review. So what's in a review?
Reviews can be as long as a magazine article or as short as a book cover blurb, but reviewers will want to accomplish roughly the same things in them regardless of length. For my book, and for those I review here, I'd say the length should be from one long paragraph to three moderately long ones. In these, there are certain things to be accomplished:
- The first sentence should "hook" the reader's interest. Something intriguing that comes to mind about the book, or possibly something that sums up the book in an interesting way. Not just "I like this book…" but something that gets to the core of the book from some an unusual perspective. Let's say the book is about traveling by train. You might begin with "I grew up in a small town, a town that wouldn't have existed had a railroad not run there. I would listen to the train whistle at night, wondering what the train was carrying, who was aboard…"
- Don't go off on a tangent with 1. above; instead segue as quickly as possible into your review of the book. This is most often written in present tense. The most common advice here is don't write the book you wish the author had written; review the book before you, as it is. Be concise but sum up the story without giving away the key to the story. Something brief about the main characters, in the context of the story.
- Are you familiar with the author and his/her work? The author's past history of books/stories published – basically the writer's authority on the subject of this book.
- Finally, summarize the book from your perspective. Did you like it? Why?
This may sound daunting, but you'll likely find that you have a handle on all of this from your reading. It's just a question of putting it together. You can do it!
Visit my website here, where you'll find more information on my books. There's also a Facebook fan page if you can find it. On both you'll find more on ideas and events that matter to me — and possibly to you.