Oh dear, is it finally over? Resolutions for the one in diapers.......

As I listen to my DD play her fiddle, I'm happier.

I also changed the *#%$ font that will never show a comma or an exclamation mark!  But I digress....

I'm glad that 2013 is over, for me, my kids, and for the rest of the world.

Tiny list of resolutions, some of which are returning.. Gah!

1) I resolve to keep becoming what I'm becoming.

2) I also resolve to finish the three sweaters and make more socks, especially some for DD1 who needs socks made from cashmere or silk.  I know just the pattern, which I printed it out years ago.  I can't find it on the web anymore or I'd share it.  It's a  pretty pink sock with a lacy top.  Do you know it?

3) I will keep getting rid of things I don't need anymore.  I'll always be a crafter, but there are things I don't have to keep anymore so I'll sell them OFF!

4) Get the rest of my emotional threadlets under control to use them properly.

That's probably enough for a recovering biped's upper limbs to handle.  Yay!

These Sun Flare Roses popped up last weekend, absolutely the last Roses for 2013.  The roses (2-big deal) have been pruned.

If anything gets you down, anything at all, just think of the Sky, the Stars, and our beautiful moon.  The Moon that makes the tides work, and influences the rhythms of life, making all things work here on earth.  And remember that the Earth re-balances itself no matter what- because it's proven that it will.  Woe to he who stands in it's way.  Peace to Everyone else.

Wishing you a peaceful and abundant 2014.  A sufficiency of all good things is wished for you all.

Tuesday Tails. though Honey Bees don't actually have them...

The mighty, and presumptively, godless Bayer is suing the European Union for having the audacity to ban Bayer's bee killing pesticide in Europe.  If you would like to join the affray - and fight for the bees- check out the side bar. 

The picture over and down yonder in the side bar links the so called "Debate".  There really is no debate.  The haggling will assure that there is no food, though.  It's not just honey bees going down, though they have died in their tiny billions.  

I have added the link to another group down where the rest of the bee info is in the side bar - under the Save the Bees Button.  That link takes you to a site that is gearing up to go head to head with big ass Bayer, who should absolutely know better than to do such a trashy thing,  when the suit comes to trial.

This is not political.  This is our entire Food Chain being defended here. In this fight, both the tiny bee, it's friends the "other" pollinators, and human beings are in it together.  No bees, no food.  Easy choice, ya think?

Saturday nine-late and Music Monday-early

 Firstly, I will do Saturday Nine.  I missed it for every odd reason you can imagine.  Company mostly. Lots and lots of hectic behavior.

And Monday Music is earlier than Monday, my apologies.  ahem...  We are having fun eating, yacking and trading craft books!  They are also hiking all over the half acre with their Dad and the doggie.

Saturday 9: Baby, It's Cold Outside

1) How cold is it where you are? 

 We stay above 50 most of the time but our 50 is not like Chicago's, which probably seems like summer to them, or at least late spring.

2) This familiar song was introduced in a 1949 film called Neptune's Daughter. (watch a clip here). Name another movie song.  

You really have to go back a ways to find a song that was specifically composed for a movie.  "White Christmas", though not written for a movie soundtrack, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in the stage play, "Holiday Inn".  The later movie, which was a movie I just can't stand, featured Bing Crosby singing it again.  It doesn't shock me that he'd say that a jackdaw -with a cleft palate- could sing that song.

3) Who was the last person to call you "baby?"   

My DH.  I don't call anyone Baby. Well, the Lemur babies that are my computer wallpaper. I could stare at them all day!

4) This time of year is important to college football fans. Have you watched/will you watch any bowl games? 

We don't watch football until we are forced to at Thanksgiving, which, I want to say, is just a crime that was promulgated by the big money boys to spoil a perfectly good holiday with bloodshed.  Well, let's just say more bloodshed than is normal for a "family" holiday which I'm told can get pretty brutal at times!

5)  Are you sad to see the holiday decorations begin to slowly disappear? Or do you think they should all come down right away?

I would like to see them stay up until the 12 days are over.  Mine sometimes stay up through February, the dreariest month.  They cheer me up a lot.

6) Did you tell the truth about your weight on your driver's license, or did you shave off a pound or two?

I leave well enough alone. I've been the same weight on my driver's license since I renewed one year and weighed more than the initial weight on my beginners license at 15. You could get a license at 15 when I was young. So, I didn't change that weight after that though it goes up and down.

7) Crazy Sam swears that the Echinacea she takes every morning keeps her healthy. Her boyfriend tells her she's wasting her money. Do you take any herbal supplements? 

I don't find that Echinacea helps me at all, though I do take other supplements that do.  After all, many herbs have been stolen by big Pharma and used in medicines that end up being used for the same ailments.  Odd, isn't it?
 

8) The average restaurant in the US tip is 18%. Are you a generous tipper? 

 I am.  We always tip more than that, unless it's very bad service, indeed!  After all, everything isn't the server's fault.

9) This is the last Saturday 9 of 2013. Do you know the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne?"

To be honest, the only reason I know how to spell that song is because it's in the crossword today.

Now for Music Monday:

This is very beautiful..there may be a little glitch right at the end but it could just be my Ancient Video Card, too.  Anyway, this is like nothing you've ever heard before.  This must be like the singing of the Heavenly Hosts!




Enjoy the Moment!  Live in it. 

Going "Naked" into the Fray.....

I've done my best with this.  It's quite personal, and, like many, I have a problem being too transparent.


Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection Meme
Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.



Let's go!!!

Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection Meme

From the archives!

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
DH's mother is going to be ok.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Coming to terms with how short life is.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Opening up my mind and heart to the true reality.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Health findings and hands wearing out!

5. Pick three words to describe 2013.
 This year for me was Spiritual, Evolutionary, and Calming. 

6. What were the best books you read this year? 
Probably Donna Leon's two new books as well as most of the others that I finished this year.  I don't have much time to read, so I really pick books with great care.

7. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My DH and my daughters, my sister, and my many friends all over the place.   I'm much blessed by friends and family members.

8. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
I've accepted things about the way my mind works that I cannot wish away or change.

9. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I have control over my emotional state. 

10. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I've accepted my path in life and now rejoice in it.

11. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I've grown stronger thanks to the help of  PTs

12. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
See 9 and10.

13. What was the most enjoyable part of your work?
Results!

14. What was the most challenging part of your work?
Staying focused.

15. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
I'd say the time waster(s) were anxiety and needless worrying.

16. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
The best use of my time came in working out, getting rid of unneeded possessions, loving DH and our daughters, loving our extended family, wonderful friends, Wolfie, as well as taking time for writing, and reading.

17. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
I just might have a shot at being a Real Human Being.  We'll see.

18. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2013 for you.
Enlightenment sometimes comes before you are ready to receive it.

How to win every argument....String Theory and Saturday Komeekz

My very next book, so that I can read (and listen to windbags on TV should ever I do such a thing) with a little more discernment.  

I wonder if  the techniques expounding  includes the winning arguments about Quantum Mechanics, or even String Theory?

Have physicist given that one up yet?  And, when was the last time anyone ever needed a Quantum Mechanic?  What do they fix??

Books! How I love them...Jambo Mama review

I like books.  It's hard to let one go but for the greater good, sometimes I will do that!  I'll let one go visit at least.  Some of my P.D. James' are going  North with the full proviso that they do not get re-cycled but returned. 

I've plugged in a scan of the cover of what I'm reading now.  The photo below is what I just finished reading:

The story telling is very good, and this is a wonderful story.   It is about the author's 6 years in Kenya.

I just have a small gripe about the editing, or proof reading or both.  Perhaps it was even the typesetting, if such a thing even exists anymore.   Leaving out words, however small, or misspelling them, is not good.  But the story telling is SO good that this is worth the small irritation that perfection deems correct "effrontery" when a reader encounters such mistakes in a book.  And, I can understand this fault, after all, I'm not the best blogger in the world for actually including all the tiny words that race through the mind to the fingers on the keyboard. 

All that aside, I love books about Africa and hadn't read one in such a long time.  I'm so glad this one found it's way into the Book Sale and DH found it for me.* The author, Melinda Atwood, tells of her life in a very personal and touching way.   I grew to like (love comes closer, in truth) this woman very much in the end.  She withstood that colonial "European Way of Doing Things" so well that I wanted to jump up and cheer her on.  

*I can't go to these sales because I'm crazy.  I don't even cook anymore, and I buy cookbooks -  that kind of crazy!

Tails of the Wild... Cirque de la Neige... LOL!

Thank you Elle!

A Holly Jolly Christmas...

....To all of You!

Merry Merry!

Thank you all for reading my blog all these years!

May you all have a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year in 2014.
  Isn't it amazing that we are now 14 years into the new Century?

Tuesday Tails - a cattail - Laplander film, Resolutions, yes/no?

 Just in time for the holiday, Yule that is, from Pina: The Legend of the Yule Cat   Iceland!  And, there are other links to follow more Yule stories.  Thank you, Pina. I love legends, especially when reading them for the first time.

For the last two years we have been watching a Lapland (Finnish) Santa legend called,  "A Christmas Story", on netflix.  It's really for kids but we love it ,too.  The fact that it was filmed in Lapland, and they used real reindeer, adds to it's charm.   We watched the extra bits, too, and those were fascinating.  This film starts out a little differently, but ends up making you feel good about how everything turns out.

Read about it HERE

I've also found another movie that I like to see at Christmas time.  It's a feel good chick flick.  I watch it with DH. Watch is what I do; what he gets to do is sleep through most of it which is OK with me because it's a cozy time, DH me and Wolfie dozing with DH.  I'm happy; he's Happy.

It's called, "The 12 Dates of Christmas", and though it seems to be a ripoff of the classic live-forever-stuck-in-one-day movie, "Groundhog Day", it's really not.  "12 Dates of Christmas" is a sweet, warm and upbeat rendition of that theme- meaning no Caustic Bill Murray character who has to learn to  grow UP already and be HUMAN for Jiminy Crimeny's sake!

Resolution making:

A quote from Musings of a Bookmammal's blog .... “When was the last thing time you did something for the first time?”  


I thought this year I wouldn't make any New Year's Resolutions.  This decision was based on the knowledge that  I've had a hard time keeping any resolutions I've made in past 8 years or so.   But maybe I'll do a few, especially if they challenge me to grow a little, like that quoted question does.

So, I will be posting a few closer to Year's end, but putting more thought into them.  Anything I plan to do, I must respect my arms and hands.  They cannot be ignored anymore.   They are the most important tools with which I make things, and making things is my perfect path to happiness and joy.  I mean I can't do anything like get my children  the respect they deserved from certain elders of the tribe.  There are so many of these "I can nots" that it gets thick around me, sort of  like fast setting cement while I'm sinking into a quagmire of grief and regret, or wishes that I'd been some sort of killer who really could kill with a look, like the woman in the song.  Pant Pant!

So, I'm making resolutions.  But after Christmas.  Tra La! 

Merry Christmas, Godfrey, and to all a good night!

Hallelujah Chorus Christmas flash mob.

I love this thing!



  Merry Christmas! 

Sunday Stealing, with a side of Politics.

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. 

Let's go!!!

A Christmas Meme

From the archives!

1.The Christmas song I can listen to even in June is...
"The  First Noel"  There's just something about it that stays with me all year. 

2. Hot Chocolate, Egg Nog or Mulled wine?
My drink of choice is hot chocolate.  I can't drink Egg Nog anymore and Mulled wine isn't something I've ever liked.

3. When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving is the beginning of decorating for me but this year, I'm keeping some out and up all year.  This way it will motivate me to MAKE things, and create new decorations.  I want  to turn 2014 into  a Santa's Workshop sort of year.

4. What are you having for Christmas dinner?
We are having a vegan roast - which has an amazingly delicious flavor- sage gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans,and apple pie.

5. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
You've got me there.  I don't really have a favorite thing.  I like it all- the music, making gifts, the decorating, the baking, I think I'd even like midnight mass if I were a Catholic. 

6. Have you ever gone Carol singing?
When I was in  school, our choir did have an ensemble that went caroling.  I miss that.

7. When did you learn the truth about Santa?
What is the truth about Santa?  That he's really too fat to get down a chimney?  That the reindeer can't really fly?  "Santa Clause" explained all that for all the world. 

8. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
We decorate with hand made ornaments made by ourselves and our daughters,  old ornaments  some of which are treasures from childhood trees on both sides of the family, and even some from my grandmother's Christmas tree that  mother saved.  We also have glass icicles that were made by a friend from my craft show days.  Around all these ornaments go a wrapping of the tree with curled ribbon, and then we put the angel on top. 

9. What's the best thing about Christmas?
People smile more and are even more friendly than the rest of the year.  San Diego is a friendlier place to be in - this occured gradually each year but this friendliness happens with more intensity during the Holidays.  You really do notice it.

10.  All I want for Christmas is...
Safe travels for everyone who is going somewhere, and happiness and Peace for all of God's creation.  Someday, I'm hoping this will really be a World of Peace and Compassion.   For me, there is nothing more important than these things to wish for.


And now the "Side of Politics":

Sorry if that last bit above sounds very preachy but I had just finished watching a documentary about the take over of all the good intentions of the Tea Party by very wealthy, vested interests.

Since I am a Quaker and also a Progressive, I come from a different place in this dialog, but many of my core issues are about Constitutional degradation and the invasive reach that several out of control quasi governmental/industrial entities have had regarding our civil rights.  This is over and above their money stuffing up the shirts/skirts of politicians.   You, being smart and aware, know that I'm talking about Revolving Doors here, which is only slightly off topic.

I'm old and not only that, I've been politically active since my teens.  I'm old enough to remember that human rights were involved in the South, not only for Political equality, but for wage equality, too.  I remember that Industries banded together to use the RACE card, and keep it in everyone's face when the real issue had since become  WAGES.  They played white workers off against the black workers.

Divide and conquer was the watchword for Industry (textiles for one) in the South.   Now, it's the same thing.  If Industry or Big Business can keep half the country at the throat of the other half, then who is going to be watching "The Man (Men) Behind The Curtain"?  Americans who care about rights are on both sides of a political divide the elites have created, which has caused so much ill will that it's scary.  Trying to remember that elites will stop at nothing to keep us divided might be a good starting place to end this dichotomy.

The documentary is called The Billionaire's Tea Party.  In reading the reviews, I'm not the only one who has recognized the age old tactic of "divide and conquer" used by the Koch Brothers (and others of their ilk) who are so deeply invested in Libertarianism that they would do this without a thought to the hurt it causes the people they are using.

I just watched another movie, German, called "Barbara"
We don't ever want our children this powerless. 

Saturday Nine, Saturday Komeekz, Funstuff

It's Saturday Nine, Duh!

I missed this question:

9. What will you remember most about 2013?
I will miss my mind.  Apparently I've started losing it!

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday Nine.  Happy Holidays!
 
1. As you can see, when Sam Winters was a little girl, she loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. If you could ask Santa for anything at all, right now, what would it be?
Dear Santa, I want 20 2000 acres of forested land in Central Coast for an animal refuge, the wild Wing­éd ones.  Thank you so much!

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there? 
I'm probably on the naughty list this year.  I'm trying, mightily, to forgive all things unforgivable, and I'm not sure Santa likes that I have such grave thoughts.  'Tis the season, and all that.
 
3. Are you traveling this Christmas? If so, are you going by car, plane or train?
No Travels for me at this time.  We stay home for the Holidays every year. But we do decorate a little and go look at all the neighborhoods that are all lit up beautifully.  That's always fun.
 
4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? 
No, I usually don't, either.  That is, unless I want to brave the crowds on the 26th which I don't.
 
5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie or TV special? Have you seen it yet this year?
My favorite movie for the hols is Prancer - though I do love "The Bishop's Wife" and "It's a Beautiful Life"  And, no, I haven't seen any of them yet.  

6. Which do you prefer: candy canes or gingerbread?
To be honest, I prefer decorated sugar cookies
7. Close your eyes and tell us the first carol that comes to mind.
"O Holy Night" 
8. What's your favorite winter beverage?
I used to like Egg Nog, a LOT, but I can't have that anymore.  So, I guess that's it for me, I'm stuck with Tea!

FunStuff: I am so bloddy boring!  But Here's something fun!  Remember, for your own sanity, you have to go looking for Funstuff that isn't just a media attempt at burying bad news.  Funstuff  will give your heart a rest from it's daily overdosing on angst, dread and the resultant anguish and anxiety.

Good Grief.  I can't count! And I double posted my link!  Sheesh!

Saturday Komeekz!  The Other Coast's possible take on  "Digging the Weans".  This new link goes to a PDF of what I think is the original tract by some Anthropologists who had a sense of humor.  I learned of them in college Anthro, and it was a total gas when the prof read a little bit of it to the class. 

Miley's Rescue and Wolfie's first day home, 2009 October

She has the most beautiful eyes, doesn't she?  Like a Wolf's...


This is what Wolfie looked like the day we brought him home from the Pound.  He had everything Miley had, except for mange.  The wonderful people at the shelter had been treating him and caring for him for about a month before we saw him.  

Oh my, such a wonderful thing to do for the heart. 

Thankful Thursday. It's raining. And Christmas is rolling closer!

I hope the rain today helps put out the Big Sur Fire.  If you've ever seen that part of Big Sur, it is ruggedly handsome and full of big, old growth trees.  This is so bad.

Thankful Thursday goes back at least as far as 2001.
I don't know where to join up to a linky anymore.

However,  I was on Blogger today to say how very thankful I am.  Indeed I'm very thankful and grateful today.   DH's  mom is out of the hospital and staying at a place that she really likes.   My sister is feeling better after having a procedure that lessened her back pain.  We visited them both yesterday.   At my sister's complex there are at least five mature Magnolia trees, all of which are dropping their seed pods.  Sis and I collected a bunch of them, and mine are to make something similar to this...

Pic c/o of Joann.com site

First I'll have to construct the star frame.  So it's a next year project.  The cones in the picture above are not ones available to me here but Magnolia seedpods will be good substitutes, and they ARE available!


Christmas is going slowly.  One tree is up, though not decorated.   On Wednesday I went to JoAnn's armed with 50% off coupons and that dazzling coupon for 25% off both sale and regular priced things, and scored one of the Red Carriage lanterns I've been yearning for at 95% off!!  I grabbed that thing as soon as it got close enough to my outstretched arms.    heehee  It looks so nice with just a candle in it but of course, it's going to get some embellishment.

This angel was available-they still have some at the site- on Line.  She's flying all the way here from Michigan!  I bet her wings will be tired!

Pic is c/o of Joann.com

 I'm trying hard to get myself up for this holiday.  Can you tell?  I hope to make two refrigerator cookie doughs tomorrow.  And then two more on Saturday.  Then I'll have a bake fest on Sunday and Monday.   That will give me Tuesday to rest a little!  We have company over Christmas and New Year's.   More Cooks! 

I have so many things to be thankful for.    I'd better start digging out recipes!  Laters! 

Monday's Sky. Last Wed Sky. Wordless Wednesday. Mr. Z's phone cam

Moonshot - Mine

substitue teacher...I think it's time I got to bed! Too many YouTubes!

This is sooo insane.  Kwizgiver had it in her Sunday Stealing...

Thieving on Sunday: We all like to steal things, right? Especially ideas!

LucyB is exactly whom?  I think that this blogesphere is full of would be writers, looking for grist.  Just joking, sort of.    We are having a little medical drama involving the matriarch, so I got behind.  Sorry I can't find the picture of the twins folding their diapers that was posted a long time ago on the blog. 

The Blerp Meme

from Lucy B.'s Surveys

When you get a headache do you take painkillers right away or try to wait it out?
My headaches do not respond to painkillers, mostly. When it's been going on for three days, I just take some generic headache stuff and sleep it off.

Is there a really funny YouTube video you’d like to recommend to me?
Yes, it's called Orange Menace SEE IT HERE  This kitten makes me want another cat.

Did you watch Sesame Street when you were little? 
No, but my youngest kids did.  They used to fold their own diapers while watching.  It was so interesting to watch them, so concentrated on both tasks. They WANTED to be big girls and did it for this reason.

What’s the last thing you touched, other than your computer?

The mouse. 

From Wiki

I love real mice.

When was the last time you talked to your best friend?

Female?  Last week.  All time BFF?  About five minutes ago.
How often do you listen to music?

Every single day.  Music is one of the things in life that make it worth living. 

What color is your cell phone? 
Black and silver.  I know... Borrrrringgggg!

What is the last non-alcoholic beverage you drank?
Lemon ginger tea, with honey

Do you like to wear sweatpants? 

Not really.  I have some on right now for the first time in a couple of years.  They rub on my knees and irritate the scar.  And, they aren't all that warm.  I prefer fleece.


What song are you currently listening to? Who sings it?
I'm giving my ears a rest.
 
Have you ever gotten a black eye?
Yes, and it was admirably "received".  I lost a battle but won a war.  When and IF I write memoirs, I'll tell all.

What caused it?
The hammy fist of a high school bully.  My friend, Bill G., asked me if I gave as good as I got.  I said that I'd done better than that!

How many times have you checked up on your ex?
I don't have an ex.  But, I do know some people who should have checked up on their spouses.  I will not say who.  Let's just say, I'm glad for community property, for their sakes, as they were all men.

If you had to get a tattoo what would it be?
It would be a tiny rose or maybe a heart.

How many tabs are open right now?
Two, but let me say, this is a rather odd question.  I have one for you.  Have you ever had so many tabs open that your computer crashed?

Are you scared of needles?
Not any more.  At my age, a person has been stuck so many times that it doesn't faze them.  However, when I was five, I climbed under (can you imagine) a rolling table to escape a diphtheria shot.  My poor mother and gran probably wanted to disown me, but the doctor was HIGHLY amused, and he also realized I could not get away from him anymore!

Do you believe love can last forever?
Yes.  I believe this beyond any shadow of any doubt.

Are good-byes easy or hard for you?
Hard, extremely hard.  I have gotten more grown up about them as they have come so often in the last 10 years.
Would you rather sing or dance?
To be honest, I would rather sing AND dance.  I'm a born stage performer.  The odd thing is that I'm shy, otherwise.

Friday bits and pieces + Environmental Action takes on Smuckers and their GMO jammies. First White Crowned Sparrow

That would have sounded more Modern Media-like if I could have said, "IN" their GMO jammies, but alas, the formatting bits to do cross outs don't go as far up as the titles.

Read About it HERE

Environmental Action organized the first Earth Day.  That is Long term activism, eh?  I intend to put some bucks in their pockets.

Today we went to the Gym, I did pliés in all foot positions, three sets with ball rolling and, lord help me, some flies or something for the abs.  Everything is screaming but I got an A**kicking work out when all was done.  I think I'm keeping my trainer because she has shown me how to regain some of my grace in motion.  Don't get me wrong, I loved being a Marine, but now I want to be a Ballerina again!

We dug out some more Christmas doodads and hopefully will get things up and running tomorrow and the next day.  We watched two movies tonight.  "Into the White".  It's a Norwegian movie about when England and Germany were fighting over the resources in Norway.  If you watch this, remember it is a guy film but don't let that stop you.  I can't tell you very much about it or I'd give it away.  But if you feel dread it's justified, not from the five people who find themselves together in a hunter's cabin out in the middle of nowhere but from another source.  It is based on real events.  Bittersweet.

We also watched a Christmas movie that (now at the top of my "A" list) is sort of a thriller.  It is called "The Perfect Day".   It is the story about a man who writes a very personal first novel that shoots up from the floor to the top of the best seller lists and what happens to himself and his sweet family.   I love a good story with a little bit of seemingly magical things that happen as the days go on.  It's a bit scary for kids, or old ladies with heart conditions who nod their heads sagely at the dialog.

Bird report:  We now have a juvenile white crown in the Cape Honeysuckle tree.  I was thrilled!  The rest of the flock can't be very far behind.

Well, that's the day!  I've got some coupons lined up for the weekend!  You betcha!  Have a good weekend!  

Thankful Thursday.

I'm always thankful for the last rose of the year, no matter that it got frizzled and puny because the weather turned against it.  It's beautiful and loved.

I'm so grateful and thankful to be loved and to be able to love.  My poor paternal unit could not, though he had a very gentile, loving mother, it just didn't get down to him.  So, I'm grateful that his problems did not carry down the generations to his child, me.

I'm thankful to live in a place where words are still protected from tyranny, and I hope that someday soon, that same place, collectively, will decide that this Human Right is one that it will not continue to violate under any guise, and that the elite actually will become promoters of Peace and Freedom for all people.

We the people believe in these values.  But the tail doesn't wag the dog.  We need those who seek power, and mostly money, to someday soon realize the shallow victory of being able to plaster up the noses with dollar bills does not compare to actually helping a poor family find food, shelter and decent schools for their children, too.

Night night!  Love you!

Wordless Wednesday - Today's Weather: Skywatcher Post

Tuesday Tails... Travelling with pets, misc, stuff amongst the detritus of my old brain...

Be Aware...

There are dogs of a different nature....
Wolfie especially doesn't like men.  I think his ribs and tail are permanent reminders of something very bad that men have done to him when he was "out there".  He looks Angelic and Innocent when begging for treats, however.

I got up early, at the crack of dawn, almost.   Almost.  It was 42 degrees outside with the sun fully shining on the Jeep, that usually means that the Jeep will be 79 degrees inside.  It was no where near that this morning.

The RV had to be smogged, old lady that it is, so I drove the "chase" car.   The Bounder is practically an antique;  if people collected such things, it classifies as "of collectable age."   It's a '90 Half Bounder, so called because it was built in '89 but was the new flat faced design, the smallest Bounder that Fleetwood ever made.  Anyway, it's perfect for us and one little dog who loves to race from the front and FLY onto the bed in the back.  Jazzie loved riding in it, and so does Wolfie.  Wolfie loves to go ANYWHERE in a motor vehicle.  Jaz was the same.  He didn't understand where his "home" went when we were on the road, but he LIKED being in the RV!  New smells, new people, the sisters, you name it, both he and Wolfie love it.

Anyway, as I was saying, we dropped the Beasty off at the station, for it's test, drove home, and we ate some breakfast and relaxed, or I did.   Some hours later, when the test was done, I drove the Jeep home again, and saw something entirely sweet and totally awesome! 

Several cars were lined up to turn left, in two lanes, and the light hadn't changed yet.  I was sitting two cars back in the inside lane.  A person with a red tipped white cane was crossing this six lane intersection, with the light, but lost her way halfway across.  She turned and spread her hands out on the hood of a car in front of the outside turning lane.  Then she put her cane straight up in the air.   I thought it was to indicate that she needed help and was about to get out and do so.

The man in front of me got out of his very tall truck, crossed in front of it to the woman, and he lead her the rest of the way across intersection.  Only a few drivers were inconsiderate enough to move in that whole wide intersection, regardless of the lights changing. 

So, for them I am posting the rules for white canes. HERE is, state by state, a listing of Laws pertaining to the right of way regarding persons using white canes, or with guide dogs, in America. 

What a wonderful man.  

Music Monday, Johnny Mathis, "Lost in the Stars"

Johnny Mathis sings this song on key throughout, and with perfect timing.  Not an easy thing to do!  Wonderful singer,and such a powerful performance!



Enjoy

Sunday Stealing

I Amuse Myself

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.
Let's go!!!

The I Amuse Myself Meme from FoxyDanish
01. What is something that you have lost recently?: I lost the use of my left arm and hand but it's making a comeback. yay!

02. Do you own any self-help books?: Not for myelf but I'm reading a book about keeping Big Banks from helping themselves to public money again. 

03. Do you live near the sea or ocean?:  I live as close as I can get without having to own a three million dollar house.


04. Have you ever spent ages making/writing something on your computer when it suddenly crashed and you lost it all?:  No,not my computer. Until they fixed the problem, Ravelry's web site used to make you lose everything you typed out and then accidentally navigated away from.  Man, was about as much fun ripping back a sweater in the round.  Lots of blue language I'm sure, with family members running in from all parts to find out what was wrong.  Because Knitter's are a chatty bunch, we would lose an half hour PM from time to time.

05. Do you enjoy food shopping?: When I was cooking for a big family that sometimes included a couple extra teens, I loved to shop.  Nowadays, I just want to go to the craft or sewing stores.  Nothing else.  I did get inside of a Von's last year and stood in awe of the colors in that place. 

06. What are you having for lunch?: I usually just eat a piece of fruit for lunch.  It's plenty for me.


07. Are you one of those people who can sleep through anything?:  I have slept through an eighteen engine fire before.  It was at an apartment complex near our house at the time.  That was when the twins were little, and, baby, I was really tired!

08. Do you like love letters?: Of course.  Who wouldn't want nice letters like that?

09. Have you ever received or written one?: Of course I have. 

10. How far does your nearest relative live?:  My own family?  7 miles. 

 11. Do you like velvet?:  I like it only if  the garment made with it is sewn by someone who knows what they were doing.


12. What kind of art do you like?:  rant alert

 I like nearly all Schools of Art - save Minimalist.
I recognize and appreciate studio arts artists as a general rule, but not ones like Jack the Dripper. or Banksy.
I hate that "Art as commodity" now rules the scene, and that It decides just who gets to make a decent living with their art.  Even if good artists rebel against this tyranny, they can't be held out of the trash market after they die.  The vultures will get the deceased artist's body of work for next to nothing, and set themselves up to make a killing.  
This has happened a lot, and to my knowledge it happened most recently to a critically acclaimed upstate artist from New York.   It was a very sad story, with the artist carrying his paintings to gallery after gallery only to be told that he was out of favor with investors, and galleries couldn't take his new works.  His work was groundbreaking, gorgeous and fresh looking in a semi traditional, figurative way.I wish I could remember the name of the Documentary.  The art world sucks.

13. If you went to London, where would you go first?:  I wouldn't go to London.  It's a nice city but I'd rather go see Wales and have a meet-up with  my friend Sandra.  I also want to go to Ireland and Scotland and see the countries my ancestors  were driven from.


14. If you had to pick one friend who is the most interesting, who would you pick?:  No favorite playings for me.

15. Can you think of the meanest thing you have ever done/said to someone?: Yes, I can but I'm sure not going to tell the world about it!


16. What magazines do you read?: I read the ones in the dentist's office, Sunset Magazine if I can lay hands on it, All Animals, and The San Diego Reader.


17. What/who has been on your mind today?:  My friends who are sick or are unhappy.


18. Would you be interested in ghost-hunting?:  Ghosts can come to me if they like but I'm not going to go looking for them, so "no".

To tell the truth, this meme isn't particularly Amusing to fill in but maybe it's just me who doesn't get the title. 

Saturday Komeekz, Good Reads, skywatcher, tiny tribute to Nelson Mandela

Teacher of Righteousness, one of the few Truly Human Beings,  Goodbye to you, Nelson.  God Bless you, and thank you for teaching us how to Be truly Human, too.  Thank you for teaching us how to forgive and move forward without rancor.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

Nelson Mandela


This is the cartoon I mentioned awhile back.  I finally excavated found it in one of my Swartz piles. 

I love Pickles!

Today's Saturday skies were grey and not as interesting as the week before, when the clouds spit out some drops, here and there, to tease.  See the tiny drops captured by the speeding vehicle's windscreen?

 
So, after teasing us for several days, the clouds bunched up and emitted some moisture!  It rained!  Wolfie got wet, which he hates!  DH got wet too, but he doesn't seem to mind it as much as W.  I think it's because DH doesn't have as much hair- not quite as much. hehe

Yesterday, after a shorter muscle grinding exercise session at fitness, we went to Michaels and scooped up some garlands.  The house is going to be very decorated, for the first time in years.   Today was the monthly book sale and look what DH found for me!  A massive Tome from Elizabeth George that puts me in mind of the size of A Suitable Boy by Vicram Seth, or And Ladies of the Club , by Helen Hooven Santnyer, both of which are real wrist breakers if ever there were wrist breakers.  Believing the Lie, I am hoping, is just as good a read as the two mentioned.  I always liked Elizabeth George novels until I realized that they had a horrid affect on my mood.  Sufficient time has passed that it may be this one will not make me feel like the world is chock full of psychos- ones not much different than  my paternal unit.

And there was this book, which is memoirs of  Ms. Atwood's time in Kenya.

Being a life long Californian, I seem to have a great affinity for stories, or films, about Africa.  I've read just about every book that can be found about that Continent, especially the more southern countries.  I think it must be the sun and the light that fills my imagination when I think of Africa.   Well, even the bad and terrible, to be honest, I've read it.

Last week, when Mr. Z and I were traveling back from a Christmas Do for a club we are in, I told him that if I had to be born again, which I hope doesn't actually happen, I would ask to come back to California.  That night, while eating salad in December, I said that it would be the foods that made me come back here, to California.  But, like an arrow, I would head for the Central Coast.    I'm not strong enough to live in Africa, I don't think, though I love the continent and the people very much.

Thankful Thursday- Brigands and Angels

Today, with the sudden realization that - for physical, emotional and spiritual reasons - I can no longer read or watch things that PISS ME OFF, I'm free to be an undercover agent of change while outwardly appearing to be a Pollyanna. For all this I'm thankful.

One of the bloggers who writes Sunday Stealing posts, said that if She were Emperor of the world, one rule would be, "Everybody eats!"  What a wonderful world that would be!  Since arms traders are responsible for a lot of crop disruption... just check the records, they need to go.

And, since the estimate for yearly death toll from starvation Worldwide is 30,000,000 humans - mostly little kids, this would be a very good rule (see first paragraph) indeed.  Also, I feel this horrid toll is reason enough to say grace daily.  It is a privilege to to eat everyday.

I'm thankful that my kids get to eat everyday, and that they have a roof over their heads.  It's a very big deal.

I can't overtly engage the enemy but I can covertly oppose them.  Oxfam Hurrah!  Doctor's without Borders!  Women for Women!

I plan to be UP all day!

Come Fly with me?

Jingle Bells... oh yay!

Joined Google + for Heaven only knows what reason.  Why did they ever CAN their own best invention called Google Friends connect?   The google + blog page reminds me of that night mare called facebook.  I'll say more later....

Sunday Stealing, wherein we discover that this blogger is totally boring!

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.
Let's go!!!

What would you totally eat right now?:  Nothing.  I'm sick so have to watch it

Do you always wear a certain piece of jewelry?:  Yes, I wear a band made from interlocking hearts.  It's pretty special.  And I wear a ring with it that was my mother's engagement band.  I also wear a ring from Pawprints.

What kind of jeans do you like?:  I still like Levi's.

What's something on your want list?:  I want for nothing but I'd like to see my daughters get good things out of life.

Is animal print tacky?: No, why on earth would it be taacky?  Did some Fashionista declare it so? 

Give me a good quote that you like.:  Missed this the first posting:

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

A stanza from his poem, "Music"

'T is not in the high stars alone,

 Nor in the cup of budding flowers, 

Nor in the redbreast's mellow tone,

 Nor in the bow that smiles in showers, 

But in the mud and scum of things 

There always, always something sings.

Do you bite your nails?: No, and I never did.  I was too busy staying out of the way of Psycho Dad to have time to bite my nails.  

What kind of smells do you like?:  I like the smell of the ocean, pine trees, the reeds in a river; I like the way horses smell -  human Babies, too.  Oh, yes, well, cooking food,and bread baking, bacon on a campfire, cookies, and a thousand other things.

Do you wear perfume or cologne?:  I love the smell of flowers and plants but the artificial scents make me sneeze.

What do you think is overrated?:  The money grubbing, sycophantic American news media.

Next movie you want to see?: "The Bishop's Wife"

Would you change your eye color if you could?:  No

And what are your goals for the remainder of this year?:  I have a goal to make it through the Christmas Holiday without freaking out by spending a lot of time shopping.  Thank you, Reverend Billy!

When is the last time you were at the hospital?  February

Who introduced you to your current significant other? Neighbors invited me to their party because I was their baby sitter.  It was Kismet!