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A Busy Labor day Weekend
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Sep. 1st, 2008 @ 03:22 pm
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It was a 3 day weekend for me, Yippie!!!
However, I have been so busy that Monday was really my only day off.
Friday afternoon I picked up Ana at Church and we went to my house for dinner.
I made the stuffed Zucchini recipe mentioned in the previous post. It was goooooood. I cleaned the house a bit & took the trash to the dumpster. It was Attack of the Fruit Flies in my kitchen and it was coming from the basement. For those of you suffering from Fruit Flies this year a great remedy is the following:
In a small shallow dish pour apple cider vinegar, Add a few drops of dish washing liquid. I like to add a small slice of fruit like a tomato or banana or something as long as it is mostly covered. The flies will be attracted to the Apple Cider Vinegar & Fruit and when they land - the dish washing liquid poisons them and they die. Muwaahaahaahaa!
Now, this only works if they take the bait. For those that don't, nothing else works better than a good old fashioned fly strip. I hang it above the dish for those that fly around but wont land down. And if you are in a hurry to get rid of them and can't wait the 12 hrs or so it might take for the flies to commit suicide, there is always the vacuum hose. Chase down those buggers and suck them into oblivion!
So that was Friday night - Saturday was clean out the car day, and drive Ana to Portland. Deb came with me & it was a smooth ride down. We ran some errands here in town 1st and got on the road around 3. It was just after 5 when we dropped Ana off and headed for the Mall. Now it is no secret that I am directionally challenged but it doesn't help when they HIDE THE MALL!!! For those of you who know Portland you will know why the next bit is so funny. Ok I pull out at the light from the airport heading towards the mall and turn Left. So far so good right. Deb & I are talking about where we should eat. We stop at another light & I point out Eggspectations & tell her its a good restaurant but we decide that we aren't hungry just yet and when the light turns - We Don't! No not us, we keep driving until at some point we end up in Scarborough and realize that we have gone way too far. An hour & 1/2 later we finally find our way to the Mall. We didn't even actually go to the Mall itself but we did some shopping in stores near by. The last place we go before dinner (at 9pm) is BOB's Furniture Store.
Since I have been a major slacker in the blogging arena, those of you who don't talk to me regularly might not be aware that I am in the process of closing on a home so that I can start (or at least pick up where I left off) the process to become Foster Parent. Currently I reside in a 1 bedroom apartment and my furniture is sufficient for my current residence but in no way am I currently able to furnish 2 additional bedrooms with what I have on hand so I have been keeping my eye out for good deals. Well, I found this Awesome hide-a-bed chair for one of the kids rooms. It's red and cool looking & inside is a twin bed that pulls out. Considering the kids bedrooms are kind of small the convertibility of this chair would be perfect. Not to mention the coolness of the chair/bed itself would be Awesome to a kid. Or at least when I was a kid it was. It looks like this:
but it was red not orange. The problem with purchasing it that night was because it was in their "Pit" which is the discounted area of the store and they require you to pick up the item within 24 hrs & there is no delivery. Which would have been fine but they only allow pick ups until 8pm. I was an hour late. So after I sign the dotted line on the house in 2 weeks, I'm going to call & see if it is still there. Portland is just over 2 hrs away so if you are going there you should have a purpose. If it is still there I will go down & pick it up. I was told by the salesman that they have some sort of thing with DHS so he suggested I go through my caseworker 1st and see about getting them to take care of it - he wasn't sure the specifics of discounts or what have you but hey every little bit helps ya know. I have waited too many years to become a foster mom. I want to start right away. That means furnishing the kids bedrooms. We had dinner at Friendlys after debating where to eat for hours. I am glad we did. I had an AWESOME tasting burger and a yummy .99 cent sundae after. The drive home was an exhaustive one with a pitstop. We had to go grocery shopping in Augusta on the way back because it was the only place with a supermarket still open. Thank You God for inventing Super Walmart!!!! Once the shopping was done we headed home. It was about 2 when we got home & I still had to prepare a few things for the party the next day. I had about 7 dips to prepare - Bacon Bacon, Spinach & Herb, Onion Onion, Garlic Garlic, Crazy Cucumber, Tempting Taco Cheese ball & Warm the Oven Savory Cheese Dip. All before I went to bed. It was easy and took me just a few minutes. All I had to do was add Cream Cheese to the cheese dips and For the others... 1/2 Sour Cream & 1/2 Mayo & the a table spoon of the seasoning & mix them together. Wicked easy & soooooo tasty!!!! I ended up getting online shortly after and surfed the web a bit & didn't get to bed until about 4:30. Then the cat 4 hrs later started Meowing & bugging me to get up. Uuugggghhh!!! I was so tired but since I had a house full of people coming in just a few hours & still had bread to make & an almond pound cake to prepare I decided to get up. I also had a murder mystery to set up.
 
I've hosted a few of these events & they are always tons of fun. The afternoon was fun, and chaotic and it went by too fast. After everyone left I cleaned up a bit and took Bailey to the dog park. Then I swung by work to drop a few things off so that one of our coworkers who's been off on her honeymoon would come back to her office punked out. When I was done with that, I stopped to visit with Kari & Mike. We watched a little comedy central & I tried Hard Cider for the 1st time. Not bad stuff. At around 10:30 it was time for me to head home. I was really wishin that I was living down the road because I was TIRED!!!! By 11:00 I was not only home but out cold. I got to sleep in until 8am that was awesome! And today (Monday) has been pretty relaxing. I am supposed to be using this day to pack and I will but later. It's been such a whirlwind of events this weekend I just want to chill.
I hope everyone else had a great Labor Day weekend too! |
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It's Veggie Time
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Sep. 1st, 2008 @ 10:19 am
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My neighbor had an over abundance of Cucumbers from her garden & needed some Recipes. I found these...
Cucumber Granita: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/granita.html
Crunchy Cucumber Spread: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/spread.html
Chicken in Cucumber & Lemon Sauce: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/lemon_chicken.html
Chilled Cucumber Soup: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/chilled_soup.html
Cucumber Avocado Soup: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/avocado_soup.html
Fish Soup with Cucumber: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Ebcohen/cucumbers/recipes/avocado_soup.html
Many of you know I had a VERY successful Zucchini garden and there are 2 recipes I wanted to share that were my favorite this year...
Zucchini & Yellow Squash
Slice up your Squash
Cut up a yellow onion into squares not rings
Toss in a ziploc bag
Add a bit of olive oil 1 to 3 or 4 parts LIME juice
Toss some Mrs. Dash on top & shake well
Turn your stove top on & heat your pan on high.
Once heated Toss the mix on to sear it - Takes about 2 min ea side
Do Not Over Cook - Veggies should have a slight golden brown - Onions should still be slightly firm
Remove & Enjoy!!!!
~
Stuffed Zucchini
Cut a Zucchini into 4 pieces (Longways & then in half)
Scoop out seeds
Scoop out some of the zucchini to create a hull & add the meat to your stuffing
The Stuffing
Goya Mexican Yellow Rice (it has chicken seasoning, bits of corn, red & green pepper in it)
Cook according to directions
Cook Ground Chicken (I love to put Tastefully Simple Onion Onion & Garlic Garlic in it to make it Awesome)
Mexican Green Pepper (looks like a LARGE Jalapeno but its Med Heat) diced
Yellow Onion Diced
Toss pepper & onion in precooked Chicken
Add Sour Cream & the precooked Rice & mix together
Scoop the Chicken & Rice mix and fill the Zucchini
Top with Taco Cheese
Bake in the oven for about 15-20 min on 350
The Cheese should be a tad crispy
SERVE!!!
I hope everyone had a great Summer. I know I am sad to see it going but that is Maine for ya.
If anyone has any other great recipes from their summer garden post a reply & let us know.
If you don't have any but would like to look some up, this site is pretty handy http://basic-recipes.com/veget/index.htm |
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Try this yourself - Very enlightning
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Jul. 27th, 2008 @ 09:35 pm
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http://www.globalrichlist.com
That makes me one of the TOP 2.59% richest people in the world!
No amount of money in the world can bring value and worth to your life.
Selfless acts of love and kindness do that. |
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Mi5 - Birthday Style
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Jul. 25th, 2008 @ 05:57 pm
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I've debated over doing this weeks 5 because it requires me to plug into my often defective memory bank.
This is not something I posses a skill in. Probably because most of the memories from my youth have been suppressed. If a psychologist could get his hands on me, I am pretty sure I could create an awful lot of couch time. Enough to give him/her reason to retire early.
Bill & Susan will be celebrating all 3 of their children's July birthdays, so that is what inspired Susan with this week's questions.
1. What is your most vivid childhood birthday memory?
~Childhood, I honestly can't recall a single one. If you count my 18th birthday as my childhood then we can go with that one. My Best Friend at the time - Gloria, took me on a surprise weekend to Disney. I recall that I was having fun & didn't want to leave early as Gloria had planned. We almost got into a fight over it. Little did I know it was because there was a party going on at my house which is why she wanted to be home early. It wasn't exactly for me though. I mean they included celebrating my birthday in the festivities but everyone there was friends of my moms & her cousin Faith and Faith's son's friends because it was Faith (or was it her son's) B-day party as well. There were only about 3 of my friends who had been invited. I was quite a bit more popular than that. I honestly felt that including me was an after thought. I didn't need a individual party but this one was most certainly not mine. I really felt let down & a bit jealous because my mother went all out for her Cousin's birthday. She had never even planned my previous parties beyond the cake. This one was a HUGE party with a D.J., enough food for an army, a keg (see not 4 me) and all sorts of activities going on. There were probably 50+ people there. I felt like a wallflower because I hardly knew anyone and besides my 3 friends (2 were my neighbors) there wasn't anyone else even close to my age.
2. What is your most favorite adult birthday moment?
~I am pretty certain I have mentioned this before, it would have to be the year Richard surprised me and filled my apartment with balloons. I mean FILLED, you couldn't walk anywhere without being overwhelmed with latex. That was so incredibly cool. We had balloons turning up for weeks after that.
3. Does any gift that you've ever received for a birthday stand out?
~Same birthday. For the week leading up to it he wrote me a poem/story for each of the 7 days preceding. The 1st one he placed in plain sight, the next one I think was hidden in my lunch bag and each day I would have to search for the next one. He gave me a nice watch for my birthday that year. I still have it although the cards/poems he wrote to me are more valuable to me than that watch ever could be. I still have the cards. Not because I keep them to hold on to him but to the memory of feeling so valued, desired and loved by someone. It's a treasured piece of my history.
4. Did you ever have a theme birthday as a child? If so, what was your favorite?
~I honestly don't believe so although I could have, I highly doubt it.
5. Talk about a birthday milestone (e.g. 16, 21, 40, etc).
~21 seemed like it would be a milestone because I could drink legally so therefor I would be considered an adult. My mother had always allowed me to drink on occasion as long as it was at home and responsibly. So for me the drinking part was not a big deal. I didn't drink that much to begin with, maybe 2 glasses of an alcoholic beverage a year. On this b-day she took my friend Gloria & I to a bar to celebrate & sing karaoke. She bought me 2 .svg/40px-Shot_Glass_(Standard).svg.png) of  and what I remember most about that night was, it wasn't that much fun & seemed pretty inappropriate to be drinking like that with your mother. I didn't get drunk and I don't believe I had more to drink than that. I do recall being called up to the stage to sing the birthday song & before going I said "Wait, I need a shot of liquid courage." and that is pretty much it.
~When I turned 30 I figured ok, this is it. Now is when I start to feel like an adult. I'll tell ya, it didn't happen then either but somewhere in the last 2 years it has kind of snuck up on me. The only thing I felt about 30 was that my body was no longer youthful. OY!!!! In 2 months I will be 35. Its funny looking back at when I was younger (say 16) remembering what I thought life would be like at 35. I'm not as old as I thought I would be. Life has certainly taken me down roads I never expected to a place I hadn't initially planned on but I am not too disappointed. Frustrated by certain things yea, a bit anxious for others sure but all in all, not too disappointed. |
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Billy B's MI-5
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Jul. 18th, 2008 @ 03:29 pm
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Use this word equation, fill in the variable with each of the five words, and answer on your blog.
"If I were an "X," I'd be a (blank), and here's why..." For the variable X, insert each of these:
1) If I were a "snack cake," I'd be an apple fruit pie, and here's why: Hot or cold I am good, sometimes I can be a bit much but you still come back for more. There is a sense of comfort associated with me. Like a good memory.
2) If I were a "car," I'd be a Honda Element, and here's why: I don't need fancy shmancy features to be fun. I'm reliable and clean up easy. At 1st glance your impression is rarely the same after spending time with me. Ride with me a while and you'll love the roominess and comfort, not to mention the flexibility. I'm fun and secure and won't run out of gas as fast as the others my size. Wait, that didn't sound right. I meant I am ECONOMICAL
3) If I were a "kitchen utensil," I'd be a "Blender," and here's why: I like to bring things together, mix things up & keep it interesting. When things get dull I try & put a new spin on it to give it life. I hate it when things are apart because they don't realize how good they can be together so because of that I like to help things blend.
4) If I were a "famous rich person," I'd be "a female Johnny Heart," and here's why: like J.H. I too was raised in a casually religious family. My mom was a Mormon and tried to raise us the same until I was about 12. After which my mother became more focused on wordly things. I however continued to have an interest in the bible and truly desired a relationship with God. After reading Johnny's biography, I discovered we have similar religious convictions. His style of reaching the world for Christ was with humor and art using his Comic Strip. I also tend to use humor to reach others. I can't draw anything much more than a stick figure but I have artistic creativity.
My favorite Christian actor is Will Smith, for all the same reasons Bill mentioned on his blog & well Will is just a little bit hubba hubba. The looks make him average, his personality, sense of humor, dedication to his family and love for God make him the hottest star in Hollyweird.
I tried coming up with a Famous Female but I really had a hard time with this as I don't really follow the lives of celebrities and what I do know are usually what is on the front of the grocery store tabloid. There are very few people who's lives I know/care more about beyond the shows they have been in, things they've wrote or how the world ranks their celebrity status. I didn't want to compare myself to someone I wasn't very familiar with only to discover later they support something I am totally against.
5) If I were and "over the counter medicine," I'd be "St. John's Wort," and here's why: Much like St. johns Wort, I have been told that I often possess the ability to improve mildly depressed moods. I am generally well tolerated. The most common adverse effects reported are gastrointestinal symptoms, generally related to what we had for dinner. Confusion, as I have a tendency to ASSUME you know what I am talking about. Tiredness and sedation, which are generally attributed to the mixing of other factors such as staying out too late, laughing uncontrollably and long lengthy conversations that speak more truth than one were ready to hear. |
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MI-5
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Jul. 11th, 2008 @ 10:13 am
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1. The weather has been way too hot for me this week. What is something you currently think is "really hot"? It could be a book, a movie, a song, an athlete, an artist, or anything.
~A burning marshmallow placed on your tongue - Thats a heat you don't soon forget
2. Eben is going to camp this week. The camp focuses on games, arts, and cooking. Tell us about the last game you played, the last thing you created, or the last meal you cooked. For extra brownie points, tell us all three.
~The last game I played was "80's Trivia" with my friends Kari, Mike & Greg. The last thing I created was the MI5 Poem previous to this. Well, I did create a mess in the kitchen after that and I created an opportunity for a BBQ tonight with friends. Take your pick. The last meal I cooked was the reason my kitchen became a mess. I made green beans, grilled country ribs and Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans that was oh so yum.
3. Caleb thought he wanted a swimming pool. We bought him an inflatable pool with a small slide and a built-in sprinkler. Caleb won't go near it. Have you ever wanted/needed something really badly, and then when you had it, you decided you didn't really want/need it?
~So many things over the years but I think I would have to say my biggest investment remorse, "my ex-husband" I'm not saying it as an attack on him. It really isn't but more of a dumb move on my part. I remember just after H.S. he had decided to join the air force & I was so depressed and cried for days over it because I could not imagine being without him. It was that day that I honestly believed that I needed him to have my fairytale future. He failed his physical and as a result never ended up enlisting. The air force for him was his fairytale future and not getting in broke him. We were married not long after holding on to the belief that we were each others only chance at future happiness. Looking back, I see our foolishness so clearly. He was a swell guy but we were kids. When we were married and faced with grown up decisions, together we were a horrible match. Many things that we "WANT" so badly or think we "NEED" are a direct result of personal greed. We think "Oh if only.... then I could... I would... And it would be better, make me better, fix things" yadda yadda yadda. All too often those regrets come from not looking at the possibilities that it might do nothing at all or perhaps even make it worse. If it did have the opposite outcome we were hoping for. Could we manage and deal with the consequence? I think we'd make better decisions if we were willing to look at both scenarios. Or at the very least test the waters before making the plunge. In my case, I saw the warnings and ignored them because I didn't want to accept it might be reality. Interestingly enough, I am trying to apply this very line of thinking to my house shopping. It's probably the biggest reason that I haven't decided on one. I should have answered this question about a car instead LOL
4. I have been doing a Bible Study about idols (No Other Gods by Kelly Minter). Is there something in your life to which you give more time and/or attention than it deserves? Tell us about it. (This doesn't have to be deep and personal if you don't want it to be.
~Lately its been movies. I get home at night and have been worn out by a busy stressful day and I want to give my brain a break so I veg out to movies. I need a new hobby! My Ballroom dancing class is only once a week and possibly coming to an end soon because my dance partner is moving down south. I need to find a new hobby or a new dance partner soon. That has been my favorite form of re-energizing.
5. Who or what is "Polycarp"? If you don't know, give us your best guess. Then, you can go ahead and google it if you'd like.
~As for the what, Polycarp is that class you should have taken in collage. Its a behavioral science course having to do with Fish & Fashion. You see there was this eccentric professor who believed that the biggest and strongest could influence the weaker to do things outside of their normal patterns of behavior. He tested this theory by placing a polyester skirt on a small carp & put it back in the tank with the other much bigger fish. Well what resulted was the smaller fish got pecked and beaten on & eventually died. So the professor put the skirt on the biggest fish and the others flocked to him but did nothing. One by one in order of biggest to smallest the professor placed polyester skirts on all the fish in the tank and miraculously none of the fish attacked each other. The professor decided to apply this theory to other behaviors primarily human and decided to call his discover "PolyCarp" which is probably a load of crap. PloyCarp/ProlyCrap
However the idea is not so far fetched if you take out the fashion & fish part.
There is no bigger fish in the pond than God. For those of us who know Him, we can allow Him to influence our lives so that we may do things that on our own we might not have normally done. Such as reaching out to a stranger in need. Curbing our tongue when we really wanted to let them have it. Or even putting our worst fear aside and standing up for what we know is truth. Polycarp.net |
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MI-5 for the 4th of July
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Jul. 4th, 2008 @ 11:10 am
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Bill's aunt says: "This week's Five are inspired by the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, some directly and some indirectly. Thanks for playing and have a happy and safe holiday!"
1. AAA predicts a first ever decrease in travel for this Fourth of July due to the gas/oil crisis. Do you find that you are traveling less these days in an effort to conserve?
~Honestly no. I don't travel that much as it is. I've always tried to get my errands done when I am in the area so must things I do during the week while I am at work. If I make a trip outside my normal everyday travel, its always been my behavior to try & do multiple things to make the trip worth while like bring a friend along so they too can get their errands done. Although, I have been Geocaching a bit less because of it.
2. Many of the news shows have been showing pieces about backyard fireworks, and the dangers involved, in the past few weeks. Do you, or have you ever, staged your own fireworks on the Fourth of July? What did you do?
~I worked a fireworks stand years ago with a friend. We bought tons of the leftovers and months later set them off in the cult de sac but nothing that exploded or projected beyond the m80's & bottle rockets which my uncle brought us from his many travels out of state. That was a fun night. Just what you want, a bunch of teenagers in your neighborhood playing with fireworks!
3. The vote for independence from England occurred on July 2, 1776. Do you plan to vote in the November elections? What are your thoughts on exercising your right to vote?
~I feel it is important for you to vote if you feel it is important for your opinion/voice to be heard. If you are ok with not having any influence or say in how you are governed then I respect your decision to ignore the polls. HOWEVER, there is nothing worse (IMO) than someone voting based on party alone. Make an informed decision. Educate yourself before you go to the polls. Don't take someone's opinion or go by what someone SAID they were going to do. Take the facts, look at their history. Does it line up with your beliefs? Can you support them because they most closely represent you? Can you trust them/it to do what is claimed? Get the facts, Then and only then should you submit that ballot. For the upcoming elections check out http://www.myelectionchoices.com and see who best represents you. The site is free to enroll (spam free too) and will provide you with a bunch topical quizes to show you what candidate you most agree with.
4. Do you have holiday plans / traditions for the Fourth of July? Tell us about them.
~I am actually working - So my plan is to get paid time & 1/2 Woohoo!!! I'll catch the fireworks at the Celtic Fest coming up
5. Are you attending a parade this year on the Fourth? If so, what is your favorite part of a parade? Your lease favorite part? Will you be participating IN the parade? What will be your role?
~I enjoy parades when I can sit & watch them, stuck in traffic behind them is a whole other thing...
My favorite part is probably the energy from the kids watching. Seeing their excitement as the different floats pass & watching the people on the floats really get into it & have a great time. There have been 2x I have been in a parade. Once was when I was in girl scouts and another time, for our city's youth day parade I marched with my softball team. I was in Elementary school each time. |
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MI5 - The Poem
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Jun. 20th, 2008 @ 07:32 pm
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For this week's MI-5, let's do something different. Let's write a poem. About the person you should know the best. YOU !! I encourage you to take a moment or two to think about your responses. Reintroduce yourself, to yourself. Rediscover what makes you tick.
*I am: a supporting character in one person play
*I wonder: who really gets it
*I hear: peoples fears
*I see: actors missing their queues
*I want: dedicated participation
*I am: a supporting character in one person play
*I pretend: I am stronger than I am
*I feel: uncertain of how my role should be played
*I touch: the lives of others sometimes its subtle sometimes dramatic
*I worry: my true intent is misunderstood
*I cry: because I have been known to miss my scenes and forget my lines
*I am: a supporting character in one person play
*I understand: I am not in total control
*I say: God wrote my script but its up to me how I preform it
*I dream: of a bigger cast bonded by happiness and love
*I try: to reach out to others through my words and actions
*I hope: I inspire courage in others to seek knowledge and truth so they may discover love
*I am: a supporting character in one person play
So that is my poem. If you dig the idea yourself, use the format below...
I don't want to impose too many restrictions on this creative outlet but leaving out the text written inside the parentheses will make your poem look and read better.
*I am:* (two special characteristics you have)
*I wonder:* (if what I think about me matches what others think)
*I hear:* (a sound you imagine)
*I see:* (a sight you imagine)
*I want:* (something you actually want)
*I am:* (the first line of the poem repeated)
*I pretend:* (something you pretend to do)
*I feel:* (a feeling about something imaginary or real)
*I touch:* (something you imagine touching)
*I worry:* (something that really bothers you)
*I cry:* (something that makes you very sad)
*I am:* (the first line of the poem created)
*I understand:* (something you know is true)
*I say:* (something you believe in)
*I dream:* (something you actually dream about)
*I try: *(something you make an effort to do)
*I hope:* (something you hope for)
*I am:* (the first line of the poem repeated) |
| » Mosquito Repellent |
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Mosquito Repellent
Studies suggest that taking large doses of thiamin is effective in reducing mosquito bites. This safe vitamin apparently produces a skin odor that is not detectable by humans, but is disagreeable to pregnant mosquitoes (Pediatric Clinics of North America, 16:191, 1969). You or I would not notice the smell but the insects apparently do. It is a good alternative to chemical sprays for hypersensitive allergic individuals. When Thiamin Vitamin B1 is taken orally it takes about 2 weeks before the odor fully saturates the skin.
DIY: Make Your Own Spray Repellent
Insect Repellent
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/custom-made-insect-repellent.html
Here is an easy repellent to make that has a shelf life of around six months. Label jars “mosquito,” “tick,” etc. for quick identification.
1o to 25 drops essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (olive oil is fine)
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel (optional)
Combine the ingredients in a glass jar. Shake to blend. Dab a few drops on your skin or clothing.
Here are some suggestions for your choice of essential oils:
Now add the specific Bug Repellent Essential Oils to your individual mixes
Caution: Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before using.
Ticks First Choice: Rose Geranium
Other: Palmerosa, bay, eucalyptus, European pennyroyal
lavender, tickweed (American pennyroyal)
Mosquitoes: Pennyroyal, lemon balm (citronella), thyme, lavender
Blackflies: Sassafras, lavender, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, cedar, lemon balm (citronella), peppermint
Head Lice: Tea tree, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, rose geranium
Fleas: Orange oil
A note about wasps and yellow jackets: Don’t wear perfume, hair spray, or scented deodorant. Avoid wearing bright colored clothing.
Here are more:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf115181.tip.html
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34234.asp
Because I have a Dog & he has a Cat
and many of you have one or the other as well the following info might be helpful to you.
http://www.grizzlybird.net/2006/07/green-cat-flee-fleas-integrated-pest.html
My Dog does not have an issue with fleas but that cat - She stays outside a lot & has a tendency to bring friends inside.
Jun. 19th, 2008 @ 10:11 pm
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| » MI - Money 5 from Jim |
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As some of you may know Jim is a huge Dave Ramsey fan. Personally I agree with Daves teachings as well. Some say he is too extreme. I say we were extremely careless when we got into debt so we need to take extreme measures to get out of it. If you are looking for guidance, this is a great place to start: http://www.daveramsey.com Dave stresses debt repayment and saving. These questions were inspired by him.
1. What are your thoughts on the use of credit cards?
I think when used responsibly and respectfully they are a great tool. Sadly most of us do not. It's my opinion that you should NEVER purchase anything you can not immediately payback. It's also my opinion that immediately does not mean... As soon as I get paid. With so many no fee reward cards not to mention the benefits of purchase protection you have available to you, it makes sense to use your credit card for your purchase & then post your payment to pay it off. This is the ideal way to use your credit card. 1-5% cash back & security protection, 90 purchase guarantee... these are all great reasons to use your ccd over cash or debit. Unfortunately most folks don't pay their purchase off immediately & get themselves in deep financial trouble. If you are paying Finance Charges, late fees, going over your limit... You are throwing money away & being irresponsible with your finances. Good credit is something you earn and a credit card is a tool to help. Credit is not something everyone has a right to. Your lifestyle & behaviors will prove that. It should be used to reward good behavior not for the purpose of punishing bad. Sadly it is often used for just that. Much to the Glee of the credit card companies. The more you are punished with high rates & fees for financial choices, the more the banks profit. The banks LOVE to profit. And here in the USA - We give them so much to be happy about.
2. When it is time to get a new car will you buy new, used or lease and why?
I believe in PRELOVED - it just makes sense! You can get a GREAT DEAL on a preloved vehicle. If you are selective and play it right, you can find the same or sometimes BETTER than new quality because of the LOVE someone else put into their ride before it became yours for a much better price.
3. Tell us something major in your life you saved up for and if you had to do it again would you save up for it or do it differently?
Hmmmm, Well the down payment on my house but technically I haven't bought it yet so I am going to go with...... Golly I can't think of anything else.... I am pretty satisfied with - WAIT, YES I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING..... RETIREMENT - I think I would have started (knowing what I know now) saving/investing earlier cultivating better habits younger.
4. If you had to watch your pennies a lot tell us one guilty pleasure you would not curb spending on?
Netflix was/is a guilty pleasure. I have canceled it before but decided that it's much less expensive than Direct TV and I use it more
5. What do you think your retirement will look like financially and will you be ready?
I retire from things all the time LOL - As for the JOB - I don't see myself ever willfully retiring. An illness or death itself will be the only thing keeping me unemployed - I do best when I am around others so I plan on keeping that part of my life going. I was also born to Shop so therefor I must work!
Jun. 14th, 2008 @ 09:40 am
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| » MI5- The bucket List |
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Lisa's Bucket List MI-5
Bill's sister says: "I actually got the idea for this week's MI-5 from Question 5 from last week. It's probably not too original, and maybe we've even done it before, but---let me see your bucket list!! Tell me 5 things you want to see, do, complete, or accomplish before you leave this world. On second thought, give me 2 Bucket Lists---one list of 5 things that you are reasonably certain you WILL be able to cross off your list, and another list of 5 things that may be much more unlikely for you to accomplish."
Things I'm reasonably certain I WILL be able to cross off my list:
1) Buy a House (I'm looking now)
2) Become a Foster Mom & eventually Adopt (as soon as I buy that house)
3) Travel the USA in an Airstream (or something similar)
4) Learn to Play the Guitar
THEN
NOW
5) Get Published
Here are the five I don't think I'll get around to:
1) Go on a cruise around the world
2) BackPack across Europe with friends
3) Reform the Foster Care System (I've had ideas)
There are so many changes that need to be made - I might not be able to completely reform the system but I hope to at least make a difference - Even if its just for one kid.
4) Become a size 8
Too skinny!!!
5) Witness my own funeral (I am pretty certain about this one)
For those left behind to organize & attend it... I'd like to request to be cremated & everyone given a little vial  of my ashes to empty out in a place they wish I had seen with them. For the actual funeral service.... I request that every one attend in casual attire. Flip Flops Bahama Shirts & Shorts works for me. I'm cool with waiting till summer if necessary. It's got to be an all day, into the night party & for me, a party outside is the right way to do it. It wouldn't be a party without loud music, a roasting pig, a great potluck spread & tons of fun games. And prizes, oh yes there should be prizes. After all the 1st 3 letters of the word FUNeral spell FUN. Some of the random stuff I collected should be given away to the game/contest winners and an auction held for other items with the proceeds donated to a children's charity. Oh & one final thing.... I'd like to request that everyone have a great time. It is a party after all. My work here was completed & finally I get to hang at home with my Dad. He's the King ya know. So let's celebrate!!!! :-)
Jun. 6th, 2008 @ 07:37 am
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| » Childrens Nursery Rhymes |
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Watching (or rather listening) to CSI or some similar show on CBS this evening I over heard them talk about the poem:
Ring around the rosies,
A pocketful of posies.
ashes, ashes.
We all fall down!
One of the guys said: "You know that is talking about the Bubonic Plague"
Interesting I thought. So I googled it and here is what I found.....
Many have associated the poem with the Great Plague of London in 1665, or with earlier outbreaks of bubonic plague in England.
The "ring around the rosies" is the red ringed rash that was the sure sign of having the plague. If you developed a rash it wasn't serious, unless a red ring appeared around the spot.
A "pocket full of posies" is the flowers brought to a funeral. Or the fact that the smell of decaying bodies was so bad that people began carrying flowers in their pockets to try to ward off the smell.
"ashes ashes" which is because they tried to burn the bodies, rather than bury them. There were too many dying and not enough people to bury them.
The UK, AU, NZ & IND versions say ah-tishoo!, ah-tishoo! as in sneezing
And "we all fall down" is because as people tried to care for the sick, they also became ill and died too.
Wikipedia says:
Interpreters of the rhyme before the second world war make no mention of this, however, it seems to have become well established as an explanation for the form of the rhyme that had become standard in Britain.
Folklore scholars regard the theory as baseless for several reasons:
1. the late appearance of the explanation means that it has no tradition, only the value of its content;[15]
2. the facts described do not fit especially well at least with the Great Plague;[17][20]
3. the great variety of forms makes it unlikely that the modern form is the most ancient one, and the words on which the interpretation are based are not found in many of the earliest records of the rhyme (see above);[18][21]
4. European and 19th century versions of the rhyme suggest that this 'fall' was not a literal falling down, but a curtsy or other form of bending movement that was common in other dramatic singing games.[22]
5. Neither a rosy rash or sneezing were symptoms of the plague (or any plague variation)
But it's still kinda cool.
Here is another I looked up
Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up got Jack, and home did trot
As fast as he could caper
He went to bed and bound his head
With vinegar and brown paper.
Jack and Jill story - The French (history) connection!
The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins. The Jack and Jill poem is also known as Jack and Gill - the mis-spelling of Gill is not uncommon in nursery rhymes as they are usually passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
In the Middle Ages, a hard-working peasant was required to give one third of his income to the King, "my master," and one third to the fat nobility, "my dame," leaving only a final third for himself, "the little boy." Payment was made in sacks of wool. In other words it was a tax. Another point about this is that wool from a black sheep was worth quite a lot less than ordinary wool. The term "black sheep" of the family derives from this too.
Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander,
Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs.
Ok, I heard to explanations for this one...
One being, Goosey Goosey Gander focuses on the moral campaign against Tudor prostitution - goose being a euphemism for streetwalker.
Another
The 'lady's chamber' was a room that once upon a time a high born lady would have her own chamber, (also referred to as a solar). The origins of the nursery rhyme are believed to date back to the 16th century and refer to necessity for Catholic priests to hide in 'Priest Holes' ( very small secret rooms once found in many great houses in England) to avoid persecution from zealous Protestants who were totally against the old Catholic religion. If caught both the priest and members of any family found harbouring them were executed. The moral in Goosey Goosey Gander's lyrics imply that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone failing to say their prayers correctly - meaning the Protestant Prayers, said in English as opposed to Catholic prayers which were said in Latin!
Wikipedia says:
The rhyme possibly refers to Oliver Cromwell and his Roundheads. The first line is a reference to "goose-stepping" Roundheads who would search houses for Royalists. Anyone who refused to accept Puritan ways was arrested and thrown in jail. "Goosey" was also the nickname of the mistress of King George I, Madame Schulenberg (later the Duchess of Kendal). The "Gander" referred to would therefore be the King himself.
According to amateur historian Chris Roberts, the rhyme is heavily linked to the propaganda campaign against the Catholic Church during the reign of King Henry VIII. A 'goose' was a Tudor euphemism for prostitute [1]and the origin of the term 'goose bumps' can also be traced back to this time, originally meaning the bumps and pustules associated with venereal disease. Other historical sources corroborate this as a moral tale about not being caught with your trousers down.
A 'left leg' or 'left footer' has been handed down historically as a snide term for Catholic, presumably from this rhyme, although according to certain sources, the 'left-legger' part of the rhyme comes from the manner in which the priest was tortured and executed. The priest had a rope tied around his ankle and he was hurled down a set of stone steps repeatedly until the confession was extracted or he was dead or, most likely, both. If the 'old man' (meaning the priest) wouldn't say his prayers in English (as opposed to Latin), he was executed.
~And this my friends is why I prefer to love God over Religion!
For more on this topic
Check out MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY
or listen th the NPR show on All Things Considered The Real Meaning of Nursery Rhymes October 2, 2005 · Sex, death and cruelty. Chris Roberts, the author of Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme, tells Debbie Elliott what lurks beneath the surface of those verses we learned as children.
Jun. 4th, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
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| » BEHOLD... THE POWER OF CHEESE |
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Tainted cheese fuels TB rise in California
Unpasteurized dairy products linked to reemergence of ancient disease
By JoNel Aleccia
Health writer
MSNBC
A rare form of tuberculosis caused by illegal, unpasteurized dairy products, including the popular queso fresco cheese, is rising among Hispanic immigrants in Southern California and raising fears about a resurgence of a strain all but eradicated in the U.S.
Cases of the Mycobacterium bovis strain of TB have increased in San Diego county, particularly among children who drink or eat dairy foods made from the milk of infected cattle, a study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases shows.
But the germ can infect anyone who eats contaminated fresh cheeses sold by street vendors, smuggled across the Mexican border or produced by families who try to make a living selling so-called “bathtub cheese” made in home tubs and backyard troughs.
See article to read on: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24954041/
For my mother (wherever she may be) this is just added Job security.
Jun. 4th, 2008 @ 01:37 pm
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| » One Week on Twitter |
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So a week ago I joined up with TWITTER. Not because I know anyone who does it but more so because I had heard of it & was curious. Also, since I have been using my new Chat program DIGSBY that allows me to be logged into my AIM, MSN & Yahoo chat profiles & my email as well as my Facebook & Myspace page all under 1 chat window/buddy list, I noticed that I was signed up for all the social networking programs offered except TWITTER so I figured, eh, what's one more!
What I realized with twitter is that it's good for a person like myself who wants to keep her friends in the know but is blog challenged. Most of you know I go through posting stages. Several days even weeks of post after post & then nothing but a cricket chirping for a month or 2. Twitter is like a blog but much more limited. You have 140 characters to say when you need to in an effort to let folks know WHAZZZZUP!
This is my WEEK 1 Postings on TWITTER
imkukie Had an odd day today - Pretty tired, spent most of it sleeping. Now its almost 2am & I am wide awake. about 13 hours ago
imkukie Looked at a sweet little 3 bedroom house today in searsmont. Great Yard & amazing winter view. Needs some work & is $35k over budget :-( 09:46 PM May 29, 2008
imkukie Eating lunch - Chicken Provolone Ceaser Bacon & Tomato Panini YUM only 4 more hours of work to go - even yummier, half the day is done! 12:37 PM May 28, 2008
imkukie dealing with shoulder/neck pain today - GRRRRRR!!!!! 07:05 PM May 27, 2008
imkukie Spent the day in Bangor picking up some really sweet bargains. Ate some AWESOME Chinese for dinner & came home exhausted but content! 09:11 PM May 26, 2008
imkukie Feeling a tad sore in teh arms from gardening. Contemplating a road trip to Bangor to pick up my Monitor - Yea desk space, I miss U 07:14 AM May 26, 2008
imkukie I just planted my 1st garden. I loaded it with good stuff - Tomato's, Cukes, radishes, green onion, dill, cilantro, zucchini - Carrots soon 05:47 PM May 25, 2008
For my RSS fans who want to follow along without signing up
http://twitter.com/statuses/friends_timeline/14902573.rss
Jun. 1st, 2008 @ 02:17 pm
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| » Susan's MI-5 |
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This week Susan decided to get her questions from the WWW. She typed "getting to know you questions" into google & picked her five favorites.
1. Is it easier to forgive or forget?
Totally easier to forgive. God calls us to forgive. He 1st forgave us after all. The forgetting part is a different story because we also need to protect ourselves from danger. A 1x mistake is one thing but a behavior pattern is another & while I might be able to forgive you for stealing $10 from my wallet - I am not going to leave my wallet unattended in your presence. Forgiveness is is not Trust
2. If, like the characters in the Wizard of Oz, you could choose a Heart, Courage, or a Brain--which would you take?
A heart every time - there is no greater thing than to love someone else and feel their love in return
3. Have you ever wanted to change your first name? If so, to what?
YES - 1000x Yes!!!! Now if I tell you what to, when I go undercover you might be able to find me.
Actually I had often thought it would be cool if my old nick name was my actual name - No not ImKukie but Lanie, then there would be no temptation to call me Mel. Blech! I just don't care for the sound of that nick name but for one reason or another Lanie was not a name that stuck with folks like Mel seems to - I've turned a deaf ear to the way it sounds - one of those things in life you just accept I guess.
4. Which insect would you choose to eliminate from the world?
COCKROACHES & THE LIKE - ewwwwwwww
5. If you discovered you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do for the rest of today?
Make sure my apartment is clean & write a letter to each of the many people that have had an impact in my life & ensure Bailey had a good loving home to go to.
May. 29th, 2008 @ 10:22 pm
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| » Brownie Recipe that all Parents should try |
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BROWNIE RECIPE
A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they
could not attend PG-13 or R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a
particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters.
It was rated PG-13.
The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their
family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made
a list of pros and cons about the movie to use to convince their dad that
they should be allowed to see it.
The cons were:
*It contained ONLY 3 swear words!
*The ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV
all the time they said),
*You actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex, it
was just implied sex, off camera.
The pros were:
*It was a popular movie, (a blockbuster).
*Everyone was seeing it.
*If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when
their friends discussed it.
*The movie contained a good story and plot.
*It had some great adventure and suspense in it.
*There were some fantastic special effects in this movie.
*The movie's stars were some of the most talented actors in
Hollywood.
*It probably would be nominated for several awards.
*Many members of their Christian church, including the pastor, had
even seen the movie and said it wasn't really "that bad".
Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens asked
their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them
have permission to go see it.
The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He said
he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request.
He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his
decision.
The teens were thrilled, thinking, "Now we've got him! Our argument
is too good! Dad can't turn us down!" So, they happily agreed to let him
have a day to think about their request.
The next evening the Father called his three teenagers, who were
smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a
plate of brownies.
The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought
about their request and had decided that if they would eat the brownies,
then he would let them go to the movie. But, he explained, just like the
movie, the brownies had pros and cons.
The pros were :
*They were made with the finest chocolate and other good
ingredients.
*They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them.
*The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting
on top.
*He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe.
*And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of
their own father.
The brownies only had one con :
*He had included a little bit of a special ingredient: The brownies
contained just a small amount of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well
and they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had
baked it at 350 degrees so hopefully any bacteria or germs from the dog poop
had probably been destroyed.
Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies
which included just a "little bit of crap" and not be affected by it, then
he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of
smut" and not be affected. Of course, none of the teens would eat the
brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces.
Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he KNOWS THEY
SHOULDN'T BE DOING the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip up a
batch of my special brownies?"
May. 27th, 2008 @ 08:24 pm
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| » What's in Your Fridge!!! |
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What Your Fridge Says About You
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You aren't greedy, but you don't really deprive yourself either. You strike a good balance with the stuff you buy.
You are not careful with your money. In fact, you rarely think about how much you are spending.
You don't tend to be a very adventurous person, but you do surprise everyone now and then. You have a bit of a wild side.
You try to be responsible, but you don't always succeed. Your heart is in the right place though.
You are likely to be married - and very busy.
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May. 25th, 2008 @ 08:33 pm
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| » Writer's Block: Commercials: the Best and Worst |
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Alrighty here goes:
So far the commercial that annoys me the most is the one by a company called "Bath Fitter"
I can't explain why exactly but every time I hear him say "Loverboy" I want to vomit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bsX6x1zrR8
As for the commercial that I am currently giving the highest thumbs up for is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3w3V9c9Jt8
First off those kids are adoramus!!! Secondly it does a good job at sending the message by putting it into prespective and 3rd its a very creative concept. Did I mention those kids are CUTE!!!!
May. 25th, 2008 @ 07:16 pm
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| » MI5 - CATCH UP |
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The Santa Cruz mountains are burning - I live not far from them and the smoke yesterday was crazy thick in the morning. That is my inspiration for this weeks MI-5:
1. What is the worst natural disaster you have personally experienced?
~ Hurricane Andrew, I was living in Ft. Lauderdale at the time. There was a lot of destruction but the majority of the damage happened 45 minutes to an hour south of me. As the storm was passing over, we had no idea what was happening as far as the severity of the storm. We knew it was a major hurricane for sure but seeing the wind & rain & everything whipping around, it was all quiet amazing. hypnotic in a way. We didn't see the heaviest parts just the beginning and the end because we had to keep ourselves away from the windows and doors & the windows were covered up. We did however go outside during the eye of the storm because it was much calmer and checked things out a bit. We even tried a little game of basketball but the wind kept blowing the ball away. That was pretty funny. I think , looking back, if we had been more aware of the devastation and destruction, we might not have gone outside at all. I remember a few days later seeing a minivan driving down the road with a huge hole in their back window & the rest of the glass was shattered around it and they had spray painted a sign on their car that said "Hurricane Andrew came through here" Check out this Youtube Video for a funky song & some images of what the storm was like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqZ5GeYAsZQ&feature=related
2. You were forced to evacuate your home. When you are finally allowed back your house sustained fire damage- but isn't a complete loss. What one room do you hope remained untouched by the fire and why?
- The living room - It is the only room where I keep the stuff I want to keep. Everything in my bedroom (except what is ON my hard drive) is replaceable. I can't say the same about some of the things in my living room and even those that are, its more expensive to replace what is out there than it is to replace what is in my bedroom.
3. The smoke was so thick yesterday morning until the wind shifted that the sun was shrouded and actually cast an eerie orangish glow over things. Tell us about something or an experience that gave you an eerie feeling.
~ A dream I had once not to long ago, I remember being creeped out about it the whole day. Now, I can't remember anything about it to share it with you.
4. Lots of people are descending on the small town of Corrilitas CA to offer support. The small general store has become a makeshift command center where people gather for support and information. Does your community have a place that everyone would gather at? Where would it be?
3. I love to cook, but in my wake the kitchen looks like a tornado hit it! What is something you love to make and eat but only do it on certain occasions because preparation or clean-up is a hassle?
~ I honestly can't think of anything off the top of my head except to say Everything. What I mean is I hate cooking for 1 & I hate throwing things away. Coming from an environment where there were always tons of people around to cook for, now that I am basically on my own, I am not very successful cooking for just myself. As a result, I frequently find food going to waste so I don't cook meals or bake that often unless there is someway I can be creative with it in several ways or find folks to share it with so that it doesn't go to waste.
05/02/2008 Entry: "Pastor Dave's First MI-5"
Pastor Dave says:
"Hello Blogging Family,
This is my first time at coming up with weekly the questions. I hope its OK with protocol - I'm going to give you FIVE RIDDLES to solve. My sister sent them to me earlier this week. ENJOY!"
#1 A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
~Lions - If they haven't eaten in 3 yrs they'd be dead
#2 A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
~She photographed him, developed the print & then hung the photo
#3 What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?
~Your Checking account? (the real ans was charcoal)
#4 Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?
~Yesterday, Today & Next Day? (yesterday today & tomorrow)
#5 This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!
~Ya got me, English has never been my strong subject I want to believe there is something grammatical about it. Or maybe it's a counting thing - either way, I am missing it (real ans.. There are no "e's" in the paragraph)
04/25/2008 Entry: "Jim Takes the MI-5 Wheel"
1. What is your personal policy regarding locking your car?
~It depends where I am. At work, all the time unless I have someone coming by to get something from me while I am at work and all too often (to Kari's disappointment) it ends up locked then too. At home though, its a 50/50 thing. If nothing is in it then I leave it unlocked unless however I am walking to my door in the dark, then I hit the locks off & on so that the headlights illuminate my way.
2. If you had to do it all again would you choose the same career path?
~I have learned so much and had some many experiences & got to meet quite a few folks I might not otherwise have encountered had I not gone the path I did. Then again there are things that I would have liked to have tried had I done things differently but there is always still time. It would have been awesome if back when the internet was new I had the foresight to own a few big domain names before the mega cooperations wanted them. The folks who jumped on that opportunity found they were able to trade for some good cheese.
3. What is something you hope to do this summer?
~Grow a successful garden & visit the islands, oh & most importantly feel the warmth of the sun on my skin on a consistent basis. I miss the natural heat of that huge glowing thing in the sky!!!! hmph - Global warming my butt!!!!
4. Tell us something you are thankful for right now.
~My dog. He has the best personality and is the coolest companion. I am very fortunate to have him.
5. Tell us of a book, movie, tv show, webisode, author, CD, musician, comedian or any form of entertainment you have been digging lately.
~ABC's LOST
Over a year ago I decided to cancel my Direct TV that I had subscribed to for over 5 years. I had gotten to the point where I was only watching Prime Time shows on the 3 major stations & the season finale's were coming up & I didn't want to pay to watch reruns. I had been so busy with life that I didn't miss the TV & shortly into last season they had the writers strike so I saw no reason to turn it back on. I have grown accustomed to only having CBS (although I do miss some of my favs on the other stations). At the time Lost 1st aired I had missed the 1st half of it but I kept hearing the buzz of how great it was and decided I needed to see it from the beginning. Because I had shut of Direct TV I decided to Netflix again. One of the 1st TV Series in my queue was ABC's LOST. I stayed up until 2:30 some nights watching the DVD's. I was/am so sucked into this show. It has great writing, drama, action, twists and plot lines. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it but I also recommend not watching it in the middle. You MUST watch if from the beginning. I Caught an episode on ABC before I went Analog & lost my over air signal - Yea living in the boonies!!! Honestly I was not interested in the show after watching that episode because I just didn't get it. I mean I understood the show but I didn't get the flow and writing and didn't feel the characters. That is because of how it is written, you do need to watch it from the beginning. Its like trying to watch 24 from the 8th episode, you just don't get it. ABC's LOST is some seriously good TV
04/18/2008 Entry: "Bill's Beloved's MI-5"
His beloved (wife) says: "Here are some more questions from "You Gotta Be Kidding!" a book I purchased at Julia's book fair several months ago. The only rule is: You must choose from one of the 2 answers, "neither one" is not an acceptable answer. If you would like you can explain your choice."
Would You Rather:
1. Sleep each night with 2 harmless bats in your bedroom OR Always have 5 pigeons hanging out in your bathroom?
~ I am going with the bat's here. They don't make that much noise or that much of a mess & I have a huge yard and have seen a few field mice (thanks to the cat) so I am guessing the bat's might not be a bad edition. Also the question didn't specify if they were caged or not so I am going on the assumption they are :-)
Now if the pigeons were the "GoodFeathers" I might have to ponder this question a little longer.
2. Sleep on the sidewalk for a week straight in normal weather OR Sleep for 1 night on the sidewalk in the pouring rain?
~ Considering how uncomfortable sleeping on the sidewalk would be, I'll take the rain, and get it over in one night.
3. Never be able to smile OR Never be able to dream when you sleep?
~ I love to smile, I feel the endorphins kick in every time my lips curl up. I can't imagine not ever doing it. Dreaming however is cool too but often, I don't recall them and the ones I do tend to be a bit odd so I wouldn't feel like I was missing out if I never had one again.
4. Not be able to read OR Not be able to talk?
~ Most certainly talk, I can sign a little bit & write all I want so I can still communicate. If I couldn't read my world would be seriously limited and I would miss out on so much amazing knowledge not to mention some pretty entertaining stories.
5. Bang your funny bone 5 times in a row OR Listen for 20 minutes to someone scraping their nails down a chalkboard?
~ Bring on the chalkboard, that sound never bothered me.
04/11/2008 Entry: "Bill's Sister's Restaurant MI-5"
Bill's sister said:
"This week's five is a little different... I'd like you to pick five restaurants that you have never been to before. Go to their online menu, and tell me what you would order. I know. I always have food on the brain!"
These are in no particular order other than how I happened to pull them up on line.
1. http://www.carouseldinnertheatre.com (in Ohio)
APPETIZER - SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE FONDUE
Creamy fondue crock blended with cheese, baked and served with freshly-baked French baguette
MAIN ATTRACTION ENTRE - SEAFOOD TRIPLE PLAY
Tender filet of salmon topped with snow crab stuffing and crispy bread crumbs escorted by two mouth-watering shrimp served with light lemon cream sauce. Accompanied by sun-dried tomato rice pilaf
DESSERT - FUNNEL CAKE SUNDAE - Golden fried funnel cake tossed in cinnamon sugar topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry.
2. http://www.medievaltimes.com/home.aspx
Guests feast on garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, spare rib, herb-basted potatoes, pastry of the Castle, coffee and two rounds of select beverages.
3. http://mysterycafe.com/shows_mysterycruise.php
The meal goes with the show - the current one is: The Mobfather
Delectable Antipasto Salad
A wonderful refreshing feast of crisp greens mingled with mortadella, capiocola, salami, and provolone cheese; vegetables, tasty Mediterranean olives and pepperocinis drizzled with our minced fresh herbs, balsamic Dijon vinaigrette
Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Topped with our own savory fresh Basil Roma Plum Tomato Sauce
Chicken Marsala
Light and delicious with sautéed mushrooms
Mouthwatering Meatballs
From Mama Lena’s Kitchen, served with freshly grated cheese
Gala Apple Crisp
Scented with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
4. http://www.anthonysdinnertheater.com/
Again the meal is already decided
Meatball Minestrone Soup
Broadway Salad
Shrimp Scampi on Skewer
Stuffed Shells Alfredo with Meatball
Tiramisu
Vanilla Ice Cream
Coffee
5. http://www.benihana.com/
Yes I am all about entertainment when it comes to eating out
04/04/2008 Entry: "Welcome to the Neighborhood MI5"
Amy says: Since we have some new peeps playing along I thought I would do some basic questions. Since I love INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO I thought I would use the Bernard Pivot questions asked by James Lipton. Since we only usually ask five questions feel free to just answer the five questions you like best…or answer all 10 for extra brownie points.
1. What is your favorite word?
~Pickle: I just love the sound of the word
2. What is your least favorite word?
~ That would be a certain curse word that describes female genitalia in a very derogatory way and is also used as an insult when directing it at another individual. Everything about it just reeks of negativity & disrespect. Not to mention the sound the word makes is just awful.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
~ Music is amazing at altering my moods but a good story (fact or fiction) can really get me charged up in a creative & spiritual manner.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
~ Negativity & stubbornness
5. What sound or noise do you love?
~The honest laughter of young children
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
~ Verbal abuse
7. What is your favorite curse word?
~ Shazbot
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
~ Something that allows me to be creative that involves some form of information gathering research or School Guidance Councilor :-)
9. What profession would you not like to do?
~ Forensic Pathologist (I see dead people)
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
~ I'm so glad you made it, welcome home. I've got so much to tell you but 1st do you want to hear a funny joke?
03/28/2008 Entry: "Paddy's All About Jobs MI-5"
1) Think back now. What was your first REAL job ... you know, one that you had a W-2 from at the end of the year. Tell us about it:
I am pretty sure it was McDonalds when I was 14. I can't seem to remember a job where I actually filled out a W2 before that. I worked there the entire school year. I only took time off twice. Once was to go home early because I accidentally reached into the fry oil. It was a reflex action. I dropped the fry tongs & instinctively reached in after them. I experienced a miracle that day. My hand turned beat red fast & thanks to quick thinking co-workers & those cool orange pumpkin happy meals my hand went into a bucket of ice mighty fast & as a result I didn't even have a blister. I did go through a lot of ice though & it was several hours before I braved removing my hand from the bucket. The worst thing that happened was my hand was pink for a few days. Amazing & true. I ended up quitting when just before summer when I broke my big toe. I had to be on crutches for a few weeks so I took some time off then shortly after I returned to work, I decided it was time for me to enjoy being a kid for a while.
2) Everybody has had a favorite job, perhaps one that they are still in. What was yours?
I worked as the inventory control supervisor for Metro PCS. It wasn't very challenging but I enjoyed it. mostly because I had a fun staff and the company was pretty great too. I enjoy what I do now for the most part. More than other jobs I have done, including those for the same company. There are parts of my job that I enjoy much more than any other job I have ever worked before. I love the chance to teach & be appreciated for my ideas, knowledge & creativity. I often volunteer for or create opportunities with this company so that I am exposed to those situations.
3) Remember that job that you thought would be great ... that wasn't? Tell us about your biggest career-related error in judgment:
Working for RAINBOW - It was great money and great people and I love the product but I discovered a fear/anxiety I had that I didn't previously know existed. Years after I worked for another company that was similar in style (Silversand Photography) but provided a much different approach & was much easier to market. It helped me to deal with this fear and become more of a people person. It also helped me hone my sales skills. Neither of these were my biggest career error. I seem to recall working for a company for a very short time and quitting because I didn't feel the fit was right & didn't like the high pressure. Not to mention I felt the demographic they were marketing to was all wrong so for me, that career was short lived. So short that I can't even recall the name of the company. I want to say it was SkyTel but I can't be certain. I feel as if the name was Metro Communications or Uni-something. I can't be certain. They were one of the 1st companies to introduce 2 way messaging pagers. The company focus however was the professional business. My thought was they would be better off with the teens & 20-30 demographic. I seem to recall that not long after I left, so did the company.
4) What is more important to you in your career choice: Money or Satisfaction? Or both ... or something else? Explain:
As long as I can pay my bills & enjoy my life, I don't care how little I make. I just want to love what I do and enjoy my time while I am away from home and be appreciated.
5) OK, it's dream job time. For the sake of this exercise, we'll assume that you can at least make a comfortable living wage from the work ... regardless of its nature. So, what is it that you would choose to do, day in, day out, to earn your daily bread?
I would love to be one of the folks who got to travel all over and share interesting findings with others.
Example - Great Vacation homes, Incredible getaways, Amusement parks, kind of like that chick from the travel channel Samantha Brown or if I was skilled, I would love to be a carpenter like Amy Wynn from Trading Spaces or Paige Hemmis from Extreme Makeover Home edition. Not because of money or fame. I don't care about that aspect of it - actually I prefer not to be that famous. I just think the experience to be had would be amazing.
03/23/2008 Entry: "Holy Week MI-5"
This week is the week many Christians refer to as "Holy Week." Here are five questions inspired by the week. Well, inspired in a low-brow way!
1) Palm Sunday. On this day, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt--one that had never been ridden before. What's the most unusual form of transport you've ever been on? Fighter jet? Submarine? Dog sled?
~ I am going with unicycle here - I wasn't on it long though
2) Maundy Thursday. On Thursday of Holy Week, Christ and His disciples ate the Last Supper. What would you want to eat for your final meal?
Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings & as soon as my tummy was ready for more, a turkey samich made from the luscious leftovers. Thanksgiving dinner is eaten in stages ya know :-)
3) Good Friday. Christ is crucified. What's the most excruciating physical pain you've endured? (And just so we can get some cool/interesting answers, ladies please eliminate child birth. We know that hurts wicked!)
~ The following is not for the squeamish...
Not that long ago I had developed a bartholin cyst that had grown to about the size of a quarter by the time I had decided I needed surgical assistance to have it drained/removed. Since I have an allergy to novacane, the standard numbing agent they would normally use prior to incision was not an option. What they tried using instead was apparently weaker & quite unsuccessful. After 3 incredibly painful shots of something for the pain that did not work a bit, my doctor was left with a decision, try yet again with another injection & hope this one takes or simply make an incision with the scalpel that would allow it drain with the belief that the release of pressure would reduce the pain. He went with that option. Imagine someone taking a razor blade & dicing up your girlie (or boy) parts with nothing to reduce the discomfort. Holy guacamole dip batman that was wicked painful - I screamed and the poor nurse who let me hold her arm, I am pretty sure I left her with bruising that lasted a few days. She did warn me it was going to be incredibly painful, more so than whatever I was going to do to her arm. I think she was right on the money with that one. That was the 1st and hopefully the LAST one of those I'll ever have.
4) Holy Saturday. It's sometimes observed with silence. Can you think of something significant to share dealing with silence?
~ Shhh I'm thinking
5) Easter Sunday. The Lord is raised from the dead. Even many non-religious people celebrate Easter in some fashion. Do you have a family tradition on Easter? A dinner? An egg roll (the rolling of eggs on a lawn, not a noodle rolled around napa and bok choy!)? If you're Jewish and playing along, how about a Passover family tradition?
~ Actually no, Since it's just me during the holidays I don't really do anything in the form of tradition.
I do use the time to reflect on the amazing sacrifice and love He displayed for me and allow it to motivate me to make more of an effort to remember that everyday instead of just at Easter. I also (traditionally) try to avoid the commercialism of the holiday and after, I have been known to take advantage of the discounted candy!
03/14/2008 Entry: "My Sister's Comforts of Home MI-5"
My sister Lisa says: "A benefactor wishes to set up a get away apartment for you. This is just a small place for you to escape to when the going gets rough and you just need some time away for yourself. He wants to know what things he can put in it that would really make it feel like home for you. He obviously cannot just go out and buy people or sentimental things (so don't pick those kind of items, no matter how much you might want them), but he really wants to make the place special for you. What can he buy for you with relative ease?"
1. Name one big ticket item;
A home theater complete with surround sound & all the movies I love or would love to see
2. Name two authors whose complete works you would like to see in the library;
James Patterson & God
3. Name three musical artists whose complete works you would like to see loaded into the mp3 player;
Third Day - Paolo Conte & Armik
4. Name four things you would like to see in the food pantry and/or refrigerator;
Tea, Turkey, Tuna & dill pickles
5. Name five other things.
Tons of Candles everywhere, Kohler's "Sök" with chromatherapy for the bathroom, A laptop with high speed access, a garden & a beautiful fire place.
03/07/2008 Entry: "Aunt Ginny's Retirement MI-5"
Aunt Ginny says: In 25 days I will be retiring from the best job I ever had. Naturally, it is on my mind quite a bit! Even if you don't work for pay full time right now, What do you think it will be like?
1. At what age do you see yourself retiring?
I don't think I'll make it to that age. Can't say why I just don't see myself living long enough to enjoy retirement. Maybe that is because with the way our economy is going, I can't see that I will ever have retirement as an option unless I win the lottery & I don't play.
2. Are you actively planning for that now? How?
Not really, I wish I had the discipline and understanding of the proper way to budget and save for that day, but "life" always seems to come up. Not to mention - See question 1
3. Do you think that you will "come out of retirement" at least once? To do what?
Again see #1 - I don't predict that I will have the opportunity to even go into it.
4. Will you have a career after retirement? Paid? volunteer?
I would love to volunteer but again I direct you to #1
5. Will you just take one last look around, close the door behind you, and keep walking? Or, will it be a slower, more gradual, more thoughtful process?
Eh, I see it as more of an extended vacation. I'd probably visit from time to time in the beginning. Just to see old friends & stay in the know. Eventually (if I made it) my life would present other adventures to keep me busy.
03/04/2008 Entry: "A Late MI-5"
1. How many times have you moved in your life?
More than 10 probably even more than 15.
2. What is the worst part of moving for you?
the packing & unpacking part of deciding what gets to stay & what has to go
3. What are your thoughts on long car trips?
Great if I am not alone & we get to Geocache along the way
4. Tell us your preferred method of travel.
Really Long distance - Plane but with friends and a plan for adventure along the way Car most certainly
5. Has a friend ever come through for you in a way that surprised you?
Many years ago when I was a kid, my little brother was riding his bike & around the corner came a guy speeding in his van. He hit my brother and dragged him under the van a ways until my brother ended up coming out the back. I watched the whole event. There was a woman who said she lived across the street from us but I had never talked to or seen before. When the incident happened she must have heard it because she came out of her apartment and acted as if she knew me. She felt like a favorite aunt or someone close. She comforted me with her words & her reassuring touch. Staying with me the whole time until my mother arrived. She was so calming & nurturing to me during that horrific ordeal. It surprises me still when I think back on it. Mostly because I don't remember ever seeing her before and never saw her again after that day. She was like an angel of comfort when a kid needed one the most.
02/22/2008 Entry: "Susan's MI-5"
Susan says: "These questions come, once again, from the "Coke or Pepsi" book I bought at Julia's last book fair."
1. Are you always up-to-date on the news?
Rarely. It's only recently that I began watching the Early show as part of my morning ritual
Local news I hardly ever watch. Before coming to Maine, I avoided the news. It was always full of such garbage & violence and sports. I didn't care about any of that. I use the internet now for my news source and even then I just glance the headlines & only read deeper on the things that interest me.
2. What is your favorite hot beverage?
Coffee. With chocolate mint truffle creamer - YUMMMMMY
3. Would you rather go to the museum of art or natural history?
I'd rather go to the natural history museum. I've been to a few art museums and enjoy them but I have never been to the Natural History Museum & have always wanted to go.
4. The best food comes from which country?
I am pretty sure it is Italy - I'd say Thailand but really what we get here at the restaurants is nothing like what they serve over there.
5. Would you rather bicycle through Europe or go on an African Safari?
I almost went with African Safari on this one because I LOVE photographing animals & to see them up close like that would be awesome. Then I remembered the other side of it - 100+ degree heat, biting bugs galore and so much dirt up your nose from all the dust your truck makes that you could erect a small sand box by the time your trip was through. So bicycle through Europe. What a great way to see some of those fantastic cities. Providing I was in good enough shape with a comfortable bike seat :-)
02/15/2008 Entry: "Amy's MI-5"
(This makes two weeks in a row for the MI-5. Are we back in a groove?)
Amy says: "Next week I will be going on a vacation. These are vacation inspired questions."
1. What is the longest vacation you have ever been on?
A month! In 2006 I went to California. Ok so it was a working vacation. It certainly didn't feel like work to me.
2. Where is your favorite place to vacation?
I am going with California again on this one. I only got to see a speck of it while I was there. What I saw was quite entertaining, interesting, enjoyable and with all the variety to suit any whim, it's the perfect place to visit.
3. Name some place you would like to go on vacation that you haven't been before?
New York City or Jamaica - Unless you count a cruise around the world a place.
4. When you vacation do you like to plan out every minute or roll with the flow?
I plan a few things just to have an idea or a starting point but I primarily go with the flow.
5. Are you more of an ocean person or a mountain person?
I am both. That is why I live in Maine. The ocean is across the street & a mountain (small as it may be) ends in my back yard.
Whew! That was a lot of back trackin - Ok back to gardening :-)
May. 23rd, 2008 @ 09:53 am
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