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 |  Well let's just try this AGAIN! |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I thought this was tough to start the first time....Don't worry I'll get it right SOME day.  Always there are nay-sayers. Just stick to your ideals. Hold fast to those dreams. Don't let go. |
| You're no bunny until some bunny loves you. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I know I have used the image before (do you remember where or when? HA!) but it fit how I'm feeling. Ever wonder why people get so het up about certain "topics"? A list of these Hot Topics would be: 1. Jimmy Choo versus LoPresti 2. Chocolate or strawberry 3. PlayStation or a Wii 4. Pez or Jelly Belly 5. Koosh or Cyber Gel Stress Ball There you are waiting to let the group know what is your favorite. You open your mouth, the words fly out and everyone turns to you with a *GASP*. How, they all wonder, could you possibly favor THAT one? What ever is the matter with you. Your basic intelligence is in question by one and all. Well my friends, I am here to tell you - STAND TALL! That's right, when you tell the crowd you would much rather play with a Koosh over a Gel any day - stick to your opinion. Nothing wrong with a flourescent Gel with it's wormy squishiness, but a Koosh just does it for you. If you would rather hand-to-hand a slinky then don't let those dubious folks daunt you with those looks that say you are simply nuts. Hang in there, be strong, stick to your guns because at the end of the working day - you will be stress free while they, with their mangled, tangled yo-yo will be a nervous wreck. It helps to keep from being lynched though, if you can put on that innocent face and tell them - You're NO Bunny til Some Bunny LOVES YOU! Then bang on those drums and proudly stroll out. what? you thought this was going to be ANOTHER one of those political speechifications? Nahhhh |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Here is a typical joke from an ancient Greek joke-book "Wishing to teach his donkey not to eat, a pedant did not offer him any food. When the donkey died of hunger, he said "I've had a great loss. Just when he had learned not to eat, he died."    From Wendy Liebman My husband wanted one of those big-screen TVs for his birthday. I just moved his chair closer to the one we already have.  From Jonathan Katz I was a kid during the height of the Cold War. If I did something wrong, my parents just accused me of being a communist. From Sean Keane My girlfriend said, "I hate it when you finish my sentences." So I said, "Period." From Greg Proops They say Hillary Clinton has a bad personality. Really? I forgot about Dick Cheney's wow factor. From David Brenner Gasoline prices are highest in Hawaii, closing in on $4 a gallon. President Bush said, "See, I told you it wasn't only in our country!" Q: What’s the difference between In-laws and Outlaws? A: Outlaws are wanted. A duck walks into a bar, hops up on a barstool and asks the bartender, “Got any grapes?” “Nope,” says the bartender. “This is a bar. Go down the street to the grocery store.” Duck leaves. Next day the duck walks back in, hops up on a barstool and asks the bartender, “Got any grapes?” Bartender says “No, and please don’t ask me for grapes again, I already told you, we don’t serve grapes here.” Duck leaves. Next day the duck walks back in, hops up on a barstool, asks, “Got any grapes?” Bartender is annoyed. He says, “No, and if you come in here again and ask for grapes, I’m going to nail your beak to the bar.” Duck leaves. The next day it walks in again, hops up on its barstool, and asks, “Got any nails?” “No!” says the bartender. “No! and what are you doing here?” Duck says, “Got any grapes?” In an small village there lived a race of people known as the Trids. The Trids needed to cross the bridge to get water to fill their well. One day as the Trids tried to cross the bridge, a giant troll came out from under the bridge and started kicking the Trids. They kept trying to cross but to no avail. Every day the same thing happened. So they went to the wisest man in their village, a Rabbi, and asked him if he could help them figure a way to get across the bridge. The Rabbi agreed and went to the bridge with the Trids. The Rabbi crossed the bridge with no troll kicking him and said to the Trids, “it’s fine, come across.” But as soon as the Trids tried to cross, the troll came out and kicked them all. The Rabbi looked at the troll and said, “Mr. Troll, why do you kick the Trids, but you do not kick me when I try to cross the bridge.” To which the troll replied, “Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids.” Now go out and enjoy your day! |
| We are pleased to announce the Universe has a new Award to hand out. The Award is called....well you can see for yourself! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** A Warm Fuzzy Award - yes the all important W.F we all love and cherish. Today we are giving the Award to - HOMEMADE SPAGETTI SAUCE There is something about homemade spagetti sauce, or s'getti slop if you prefer, that gives me the warm & fuzzies. You know the feeling? You get all relaxed inside your head, all feels right with the World and everything just shines. I am making s'getti slop right now. The smells from the garlic, orageno and onions, the tomatoes simmering - mmmm. There are many aspects that deserve a Warm Fuzzy Award but today it goes to Mr. I'm Italian and You betta wear a bib! The funny thing is I only have skinny s'getti noodles. I mean really skinny. Like if you hold them up to the light when they are not even cooked and you can read through them skinny. Usually I opt for the fatter cousin of the family - BigO Noodle, but for some strange reason I grabbed the Angel of the pasta family. Angel is one of the most fragile of noodles. You don't even have to boil them. Just hold them above the steam and voila` - cooked. I don't know who invented these, probably a mother with eighteen squalling kids all screaming "S'GETTI - we want S'GETTI NOW!" I'm still trying to figure out how she managed to make them that skinny by hand. You all know where noodles come from right? Okay - well now they have a machine that can make them but a couple of years ago no machine. Nope. They had to squooze the dough, pound it on a flat surface, like a rock, then cut it up. Don't ask me where elbow macaroni came from cuz that's another puzzlement to me. Might make for a great article though, the invention of macaroni noodles. OH OH and who invented the noodle with guts? You know the one. It has gunk inside of it. Yeah - not cooked but still has it's intestines inside. Now that must have been a trick huh? I'm gonna go stand over my HUGE kettle of ambrosia and sniff it now. I'd share but that would be out of character for me so - MAKE YOUR OWN |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** We all hear phrases, titles and even opinions that we can finish even if it is left dangling around. "A penny saved...", "Just what the...", A case of mistaken...", Can't make a silk purse out of...", "A Streetcar Named...", "The Grapes of...", This is where you all agree with me.   I forgot where I was going with this. How utterly embarrassing! Let's back this train up (there's another one of those expressions) and see what to do. mutters...'ticket stub...partial phrases...key words...something something'... Nope, it's gone. Don't know where but I'll tell ya this, it was a good one. I think I was headed toward inventing some new phrases to fit the second half of those recognizable first parts. I could be wrong though. Guess I'll have to foot it. When it's sunny it shines so I'm just going to ramble on a bit now. Like rattlers to sun warmed rocks I know I'll pull something out of my Gucci bag. [ relax - I don't OWN any Gucci ] How was my first week of training you ask? They threw everything at us in one week; lock, stock and cask. We are up to "learning" four new software packages. I do believe they will have to lower that bar stool if they want agents to hit the floor sleeping! We still have two more software packages to learn next week and then we go "live". No stress though. Nah - it's all good. I sit by a lady in training and we have decided that two laptops are better than one. If one crashes, we switch to the other person's. Training doesn't include LIVE software. Wonder why? Not like we could figure out how to change records permanently. We can't even figure out how to find peop's with this software. "HEL-L-L-O...Mr. Jones you IN THERE? Come out wherever you are - please?" Lost my Crutch after only two days. He went "live" after being trained for only TWO DAYS. How scary is THAT? Richard/Rick/Dick was a funny guy. He made me laugh - okay too much and yes we got "The Look" several times from Mssr. Instructor. He's gone now and my laughing days seem to be over. We have to "shadow" a real agent on the floor for about 2 hours each day. Okay - now I last sat with a girl who has been there since January of this year and let me tell you all, this girl gives new meaning to 'mess with the bull you get the shotgun'. Rude, interruptive, curt, and downright uninterested in the job she managed to give me a major headache yesterday. I wanted to rip the headset off her head and just take over. Even knowing a mile or two less than nothing, I could have handled her calls ever so much better. She was actually surprised when a customer wanted her badge number and was going to report her to management. I was surprised every caller didn't do the same thing! I can tell this job will be work. The instructor told us it's like an aircraft carrier, turning it around and getting it back up to speed takes time. That's all fine and well, but I'm seeing a sinking craft, not one doing a 180 or anything. Okay not sinking cuz new peop's are coming on. The drive to and from is impressive. I don't get to see much of the scenery. Speed limit 70 - you kidding? I am so not watching for gaggles of cows or cute cowboys galloping by. Do horses get their gallop up to 70 MPH? Okay make that 75. ALL RIGHT 77 but I SWEAR I don't go much faster than that! That's news of the job front. As for other interesting stuff - I am going on base today with a wife of one of the deployed soldiers. She's also in my class. SHE HAS A KID. So, with my unique ability to make kids cry this will probably be my last journey with HER. Sheesh. I want to get a pass to get in, "Enter Poppy Seed" - I can use my really SOULful look. Nevermind. My halo is at the cleaners anyway. All that soot and ash from the fire and bingstones. Sorry I couldn't give you a sterling written entry today but please understand I was up late stabling posters all over WdC.  THAT ONE. Tor's missing SoH has me worried. I am beginning to believe it ran away with Bad Tude and poor lil fellow isn't ready for that experience. You all have a GREAT day - send any requests to someone else and keep smiling. Confuses your enemas or something like that. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** From the very first Entry in which I state: "The title, translates to "Make Haste Slowly" in latin. Anyea says, "She who deletes entry in haste, repents by having to create a new blog!" to all those IKEA Woes, my blog held my words for all to read. One of my sadder entries, Farewell Great One - a tribute to Robert Jordan who died in September 2007, to my first RANT on 9/10/2007 emotional highs were puked on the page. I subjected one and all to them and can only hope each person has recovered by now. There was a totally awesome Birthday party that I think everyone had fun at! Bugz and I started The Butterfinger Wars on 4/9/08. Least we forget, I made a useless goodbye entry that holds sweet farewells from friends. The most current entry shows my Book Sale, Life a la Anyea. It's been a heck of a journey hasn't it? This poor Clogged Blog has seen it all. No, it hasn't because there are many words to go yet. For a writer with Writers Block, I sure find words to spew at everyone. Such fun it is too. Happy Birthday my Blog. Long may you hold my words. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Yes it is true I have a new book out. As you can clearly see, ahem, it has all the answers people are searching for. But, I hear you ask, what are the questions? To that end I shall present... CHAPTER ONE - Mental Floss  After eating, do amphibians have to wait an hour before getting out of the water? Can you be a closet claustrophobic? Did Adam and Eve have navels? If so why? If a book about failures doesn't sell, is it a success? If a woman can be a meter maid, can a man be a meter butler? If the police arrest a mime, do they have to tell him he has the right to remain silent? If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat? If you keep trying to prove Murphy's Law, will something keep going wrong? Since cats always land on their feet and jelly bread always lands jelly-side down, what would happen if you tie jelly bread to the back of a cat? What did we do before the Law of Gravity passed? What happened to the first 6-ups? What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free? What is another word for thesaurus? Why are cigarettes sold in gas stations when smoking is prohibited there? Why are there Braille signs on drive-up ATM's? Why does bottled water have an expiration date? Would a fly without wings be called a walk? Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? Can atheists get insurance for acts of God? Would they want it? Why do people push harder on the remote's buttons when they know the battery is dead? If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? What does it mean if you break a mirror with a rabbits foot? What happens if you get scared half to death twice?That's the questions I answered in my book's Chapter One. For your copy please send $8,991.42 to my P.O. Box 333 - Shipping is extra. Thank you. |
| This entry goes to those I know now on this site that I owe a massive debt of graditude to - aw-w-w-w isn't that cute? ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** In Life, many times we humans are faced with what feels to be insurmountable odds. This mountain looms over us and there is just no way to get over it, through it, under it or around that mass. I have had a mountain, unlike Martin or Abraham, my mountain was set to crush me. A helping hand reached out and asked me if they could help. Many helping hands actually. One, Nada, asked if she could help with the check issue. Thank you Nada. It meant alot that you offered. The check issue should be resolved soon. There was no job coming my way. IKEA's checks were done, no money was coming in from the Lottery or Publishers Clearing House (those skunks). My ego took another beating. No one would interview me, call me back, acknowledge my presence here in Killeen. I was faced with the beginnings of an avalanche. On my knees I started to let despair flow over me, there was no anger or determination left. I was out of choices. A prayer on my behalf was said. Debi whispered a quick prayer on the same day I got a job with a company that makes - COMPUTERS. I'm a geek okay? Thank you Debi. I got the job. I can start to stand upright once more. Then I go and read in a fellow sister's blog about her problems, her anger, her despair and I see reflected back at me - my own. Thank you Bugz. Strange to thank someone for this, but your feelings showed me exactly where I had been, and without the love and support from many of you, I would have given up. There was a point where I told God "I quit. Just take me now. It's over. I just cannot keep going." Once again God got to laugh at me. Silly girl child - God wasn't done with me yet. I don't talk religion in my blog, or discuss my faith but I do believe in God. I believe in a laughing, loving God and no one has the ability to change my soul or my mind on this. I also believe in love. I believe in Life. Today I want to tell all of you who were there for me, during this Mountain Storm, that I believe in each one of you as well. I believe the best is coming into each one of your lives. I believe you will have your heart's most secret desire (shuddup Bugz - no need for THOSE thoughts ). I believe in you. I am returning the favor. Tranq-view ----- that's where I am today. Here's to you all. |
| Before I begin this entry let me expound on the art work for today. I looked for "free" clipart and came to this site called "dezignus.com". The downloads are fabulous for Photoshop users and there are so many brushes and vector designs and even icons. The problem is, I have this feeling that the icons aren't for public use. I have written both the person who tagged the file as well as the site's administrator to be sure. If I do indeed find that these files are not to be used and have been "stolen" from someone else's site then I will indeed delete all from here as well as my own computer. If anyone out there sees these and knows please let me know. Do not guess, be sure. Cite the source code, owner etc. I will inform the owner of this theft as well as the admin for dezignus.com. Thank you. NOW -- on to the entry.... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Everyone stay calm. This is not a rant. This is a subject that has preyed on my mind for years now. I just have seen it on this site alot because it is a writing site. I want to address it. I am no expert and please do not attempt this stunt at home unsupervised --- what? Oh. Nevermind. The icon used in the image above has a big purpose to this entry. Look at the icon. The icon, just a drawing, has tons of personality doesn't she? What can you tell about her? What jumps to mind when you first saw her? What did you feel? Okay. Now. Why is it, that writers today do not put forth the effort to make their written characters have any depth? That icon has more personality than most of the characters I read on a daily basis here in WdC. I'm serious. I know creating a believable character is hard work. It's supposed to be. If it were easy everyone would do it. Why not put into your writing as much work as you have put into your own life? Character creation - a missing artifact in today's writing society. Hell, it's missing in most of Hollywood's actors and actresses isn't it? Shows on television have no character. News anchors have no depth. Why not take the easy way out and just give your readers a shadow character? That's what I keep reading. Shadow characterizations, people I don't care about, don't want to get to know, and don't even bother to finish the read. Is that what you all want? Nothing? I don't think so. It is my belief that all the writers here truly desire to write excellent books, stories, whatever. (I can't speak for poetry cuz I won't read it, write it, analyze it - sorry poets!) Part of what makes a story compelling is the character or characters. You can't just throw sentences out there and hope your audience "gets it". They aren't going to "get it" but they will shut the book, close the page and move on. That is what they will do unless the writers do their homework first. I spent hours last night posting a static item about the most in-depth outline for creating a character. I was intending to broadcast, advertise and promote it until this morning. This morning I read in a blog that someone was feeling awful that no one had read their writings. So, being me, I went to take a look. Nothingness - shadow character enters and I exited. I began pacing around. What bothered me most? What issue was it that I truly wanted to address? Who was I angry with? It hit me then. It's about the novels I've written that sit there waiting to be edited. It's about how I can't stand my own characters! Oh, I started to like them, they began to become real and interesting but then somewhere along the way I threw shadows on the walls of my writing. Shadow puppets. I can't even read my novels to fix them at this point because I am so ashamed of how damn lazy I became writing the things. I always expect others to lead, to show me how it's done, to be a shining lamp in my darkness. Imagine my horror when I keep discovering others are doing the same crap that I did? NOW KNOCK THAT OFF! Please? I am trying to think of the last book that totally engaged my interest. It was a paperback that I actually kept in a box that made it to Texas! The title of the book The Revolt of Sarah Perkins, written by Marian Cockrell and published in 1965. WOW. It's in the Romantic Novel genre and that's usually not my cup of tea. I picked it up cheap at a used bookstore and kept it as a reminder. The characters in the book are alive. You laugh at them, cry with them, get all tensed up when bad things happen to them, you worry about them and in the end you care - you, the reader cares what happens to ALL the characters in the book. Is the book perfect? Hardly. There are holes in the plot, the ending is abrupt, and descriptions are bit shaky in parts. It's the characterizations that I wanted to study. She does an excellant job drawing pictures of her characters. It's what I aim for in my writing yet have failed miserably. I am still learning, still trying and I won't give up. The rest of you - please go take a look, a good hard look at the characters you have created and ask yourself, 'Why would anyone care about you?'. Figure it out because if all you offer is shadows that's pretty much what your audience will become. |
| I should not be sitting at this computer right now. Here in Texas right now at this moment in time it is (if I typed a little slower it would be midnight *sigh* ) ELEVEN FIFTY-EIGHT PM. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Where should I be? Initially I was in bed until the bite. On my right hand. Itched - alot. Woke me up. BIG BITE. Took over the outer thumb top part of my hand. Swelled up and itched. Alot it itched. So, I got up. I put ice on that part of my hand but now I couldn't sleep. A funny thing happens to your brain when you apply ice to the outer thumb top part of your hand. It goes ACTIVE! I figured "oh hey no prob - just go play a couple games of Solitaire - you'll get sleepy again!" What I figured and what I did were living on two different planets. I opened up WdC. I started reading blogs. I started reading e-mails, answering e-mails, commenting in blogs and staying more in ACTIVE brain mode than ever. What happened to playing a couple of innocent hands of Solitaire? I have nothing against the game. I enjoy it. It's been handed down in my family for generations - the enjoyment of playing Solitaire that is. So-o-o I am telling that lady at the interview tomorrow that I was held captive. Yup I am. When I go into the interview looking like 6 week old moldy bread left out in the rain then freeze dried, that is what I will tell her. "Oh no! Who took you?" "Captain Willie d'Comme`" "How did you escape him dear?" "I haven't. He sits at home waiting for my return. Oh, he knows I have to return." K' think I'll get the job? Okay Plan B - um I forget - what exactly IS Plan B anyway? Anyone? Someone? You only got until 10:00 AM my time to give it to me. Well, I suppose I could call it in after the interview! "Yes I am extremely interested but could we pause here in the interview? I would like to take a short break out of respect for the athletes right now in China. Oh, I can return in two days. That should be enough respect, don't you think?" Now it is AFTER midnight...wait...wait....this calls for...MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mSMETRoOs0 You can click and listen while reading and drinking those caramel latte's k? Think up Plan B too. I didn't go to all this trouble and put out this HUGE spread, live music by Eric just so you can sit on your butts and not reciprocate! PLAN B folks - come on now! It has to be totally creative and dynamic! I mean I may actually WANT this job. What is it - the job? Why are you asking me? I don't know. It's gotten so I just throw my resume out there - who knows where and when they e-mail me or call me I just say "Yup really want to work for you. What time can I get there and impress you all?" I don't usually know what frickin' company I applied for - this is TEXAS. Nothing is NORMAL here. They don't HAVE GROCERY STORES HERE! Okay? Show some sympathy then. OH wait, wait - she said something about classes. I have to go to the interview before classes start. OH MY GOD - I gave a UNIVERSITY MY RESUME? I am interviewing to be a PROFESSOR? Wait...do they have schools in Texas? T&A? No that can't be right. AT&T? Nope don't think that looks right. I think that's a tin-type machine or something like that. Folks now I really need PLAN B. I can't walk into an interview where they want to hire me for my brains looking like a raw hide chew toy given to a Saint Bernard for an hour can I? Well, now wait, wait...this might work. I could tell them I was up all night working on my di-polarization of geothermic wave enduced biolinguistic anthomorphizing logic program. Hm. What d'ya think? No? FINE - then YOU give me a PLAN B! AND NO MORE LATTE'S TIL THEN. Morris! You hear me!?! DO NOT SERVE these people until they cough up a GREAT plan B! Okay I'm waiting ... okay you get music to help you think! NOW THINK! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbQbqZptI1c&feature=related&resnum=4 |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** It's been awhile since I last did a "Rant" in my blog. This is more of an Info-mercial than anything I suppose. It has to do with people on this site using copyright graphics. I seriously do not believe that folks here understand the importance of not using artwork that has a copyright attached to it. So let me explain it in a way that will make it understandable. A writer on this site posts a poem. It's a nice poem. It gets rave reviews. Then the author of this poem is out cruising the web for inspiration and what should they find, but their poem attached to an advertisement for a product selling exotic goose liver. Imagine the dismay the writer feels. Someone stole their poem and is using it in a way they would never approve. The writer hates liver. There are laws in place for the Web and use of other people's work. The site listed below has been written to help people understand copyright laws and the Web. It's Web Header states it is a "A Resource on Technology Law". Under the section for copyright infringement is the following information, and I quote: "-- Obtaining images for a web page. One of the chief attractions of the World Wide Web is the ability to use graphics to convey information to users. A sophisticated and subtle graphical presentation is the hallmark of some of the Web's most popular sites. The following "rules of thumb" are meant to guide a web page creator when selecting images for incorporation into a page. Creating original images from drawing and painting programs. The best way to obtain images is to create them in a drawing or other image creation program. In doing so, however, it is best to start from scratch rather than from someone else's creation. Even if an image is significantly altered, the new image may infringe upon the copyright in the first image by being a "derivative work." Taking images from third-parties. The simple rule is, "Don't steal someone else's images." The moment an original image (or string of text) is fixed on a hard drive for the first time, it is protected by copyright. Any unauthorized copying of a protected image is an infringement of the creator's copyright, unless the use falls within one of the very limited exceptions to the copyright law, such as "fair use." In most cases, it is unlikely that the incorporation of an image into a commercial web-site would be considered a fair use." http://www.bitlaw.com/internet/webpage.html I, personally, use photographs from sites that allow non-commercial use. One of these is MorgueFile.com. They openly state: "This morgue file contains free high resolution digital stock photographs and reference images for either corporate or public use. The purpose of this site is to provide free image reference material for illustrators, comic book artist, designers, teachers and all creative pursuits." Some of the photographers insert a comment that they wish to be notified how their photographs will be used. They supply an e-mail address so the person downloading the photo can contact them. I make free use of the e-mail addresses provided, tell them how I intend to use the photo, include my portfolio address and welcome any comments, complaints, etc. The photo shown below is one such that I did make use of recently. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** The photographer, krystal@morguefile.com, had no restrictions on the photo. No contact was made informing her how I intended to use it. HOWEVER, at no time would I use this photograph to sell something, anything. I know that here in WdC people are not actually selling anything in their writings, the contests, the games offered but this does not negate the responsibility for using any graphics within their documents. Copyright laws are still in place even though no selling is going on. I cannot stress this enough. It is something that drives me nuts sometimes. I keep thinking of the people who do actually, under law, own the graphic. They got no say in how it is being used. They have no knowledge that it IS being used. Here on WdC, every effort has been made to protect our works. The site owner has stamped each item we create with that copyright notification. I realize the law isn't something most people are comfortable with nor understand alot of times. But copyright laws are in place to protect everyone, not just the big corporations. I beg of each of you out there in WdC - make very sure that the image you use to create that C-Note, your contests, any sigs made are not breaking a copyright law. If you did not draw that image, or paint that picture, if your camera did not take that photograph, please, please do not use them if they are copyrighted and specifically state that they are not to be used by anyone else. .....rant done now Oh, and do check out the web site about copyrights and the Web. I only posted a small portion of what the site states. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** RANDOMOSITY Imagination is only one small part of being creative. Creating takes guts, heart, soul, three toe nail clippings and a week's worth of navel lint. Throw in a huge chunk of dark chocolate and ta DA - Creativity arrives. Actually most art work is not created initially by logical thinking, planning or even execution. Creativity comes capriciously. Take for instance myself and creating stuff. Whether its artwork, a new program designed to completely hose my processor, or a blog entry, I don't plan the project all the way through. Accountants plan things all the way through. Here's a scenero for you to consider. Went outside late last night with the puppies and *B*A*M* - I smelled it. PFEW - skunk - "EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW!" The smell evoked images from my childhood, from camping trips, and from my puppy Sally who tangled with a skunk and lost. I could see the black and sort-of-white tail (those skunks do get dirty don't they?) raised in warning to all in the vicinity to get away. I am going to have to look up to see who the natural predator is for a skunk. Must be a critter with no sense of smell. Our senses trigger memories and those memories prompt, or can prompt Creativity. After the near death experience last night I created the above graphic. Titled "Randomosity" it portrays just that. Completely random atoms flinging themselves about in the Universe. Just like this entry, which had no planning and seems to have no direction either, Creativity can take off and travel in unexpected directions. We can surprise ourselves sometimes when we create can't we? Start with a small, simple idea and suddenly it's Fourth of July in our brains. Personally someone rained on my Fourth of Brain July. I hold that each person has a favorite sense. Be it sense of Sight, Smell, Touch, Taste, or Hearing one of our senses triggers Creativity over the rest. For me it seems to be a Sense of Smell. What sense is it for you? |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Here's a word that doesn't really need any explanation or definition - so I think I should anyway. BE to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position RATE a charge per unit of freight or passenger service Therefore, the new and mostly improved upon meaning of BERATE is: How much it costs to stand still. |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Enough of all this gloominess of yesterday, today let's have some fun. What is more fun to a writer than WORDS? Yes, chocolate is more fun but let's focus on words for today. I love that art work there. I did the surround sound for it, but the art itself speaks to us all. When we write, our words should come alive right? Wow, think if suddenly they actually did! HOLD THE CELL PHONE! That would be kinda scary.Anyway, I was cruisin' the Web and discovered some stuff about English that I want to share with you all. Before that though, I had this minor side-tracked thought. When they finally get an astronaut on Mars, what are five things that would be ever so cool for them to discover? 1. A Mars bar 2. A copy of The Martian Chronicles 3. A life size poster of Veronica Mars 4. A Geo Pet in the shape of a monkey 5. Set of the Teenage Ninja Turtles Action Figures Okay got that idea out of the way, and if you want to add to my list feel free. Now, let's get back to those English Words shall we? The two longest one-syllable words in English are: "screeched" and "strengths". Both start with the letter "S", which I find to be interesting. The word describing the shape of the bubbles in beer foam is '"orthotetrachidecahedrons". Try saying that after downing a few! HA! In the interest of those who find English a difficult language to pronounce and spell I bring you Orthography, which is nothing more than why languages are spelled and pronounced the way they are etc. This is kinda cool stuff. "Numerous suggestions have been made concerning how to reform the spelling of the English language. What almost all of them have in common is that they recognize the inconsistent nature of English spelling, and they try to remedy that problem by developing a spelling system that is consistent."1 One suggestion from this site was: the combination of -- Ng ng - Represents a single sound, without an extra G sound. Therefore, the word "singer" would stay the same, but "finger" would be spelled "fingger". Also, "think" would be spelled "thingk". Yeah I like this guy and at the end of his site he has the following: For mor informäshen on speling rÃform, az wel az hau dhe tradishenel orthografà käm abaut, rÃd dhe esei, Why not Spelling Reform? bai David Barnsdale. I love it. Almost broke the Spell checker though - too funny. Now don't pout Mr. Spelling Checks it's all in the interest of WRITING after all. Look at him pout. Play with some words today, and if they play back - excellent! Footnotes |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Why do bad things happen to good people? Why are good people struck down with awful things like medical conditions that hamper their ability to do whatever they want to in Life? Why are good people hurt? Why? How many times do we say things just like this? Myself, I ask this every day. I see really sterling people that I admire and respect getting kicked in the butt by horrible things. Then I see people who have everything complain and whine about what they don't have and just have to have. Where is the balance here? I'm big on balance in Life. If I do something "nice" for someone, I don't expect I'll receive something back, but I do expect that receiver to do something "nice" for someone else. On the other hand, when crap happens to me, I wonder what I did to deserve it. I must have done something "wrong". I get that part of Life's balance - I do. I just don't get how some folks who deserve only the best seem to get the worst out of Life. I know - "God closes a door opens a window" - "You are never given anything you can't handle" - "A true test of a man's soul is the way he deals with adversity" - blah blah blah... Heard those, thought about them and I'm starting to think some fat cat somewhere made those up to shut up those who suffer. Seriously. I am getting cynical about this imbalance in wonderful people's lives. Pep talk to Anyea needed I suppose. "Anyea, good people do suffer but so do evil people." Yeah right okay sure. "Anyea, good people are strong inside where it counts." Mmhm, keep going. "Anyea, all people can do is the best they can at that moment in Life." SHUDDUP! Pep talk didn't work. I want good people to win. I want those people who I know are awesome, giving, loving, caring, unselfish to win at Life. I want them to have it all. They deserve it don't they? I don't want them to have to wait for their rewards in Life. I don't. But what I want in this matter, doesn't mean anything. Sometimes I think I would give them what I have, my health, my meager belongings, even my dogs if it would help them. I just can't give my Life away. That's one gift I think I'll hang onto. Here's to all those who have such shining souls - I salute you. I wish I could take your suffering, whatever it may be, away and replace it with only the good. Since I can't do that I'll hold hope and my wishes for the best to come to you in my heart, mind and soul. |
| You know that swans figure prominently everywhere throughout History don't you? They do. Why am I writing about them today? Well, I have a friend, a sister, here on WdC who always uses the swan Costumicon on her case. Always. Anyone else having the courage to use it was in dire trouble with her. That was her sig and when you saw that swan around, you knew you were in for -- trouble -- a good time -- plenty of sarcasm. She isn't on lately, nor has been for some time, but that is her story to tell. Basically I miss her. She is a good friend, a dynamic editor and more fun than a barrel of um, Love Bugs - HA! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Swans - I think they look evil. Their necks look like morphadite albino snakes and their beaks are about a foot long. This is a deadly combination don't you think? Ever met a swan you got to know and like? Nope, I haven't either. In Ancient Roman mythology the Swan was sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. Those Italians are sure big on imagination aren't they? In shamanism, the Swan totem is associated with love, inspiration, intuition, self-transformation, gracefulness and beauty, and also with traveling to the Otherworld. Okay stop right there! It's bad enough these birds are also known for their bad tempers, their love of solidarity but to assign them all those awesome attributes, give me a break. Mr. Andersen wrote about swans in his The Wild Swans, The Ugly Duckling. Not to be outdone, those Grimm brothers wrote a story as well, The Six Swans. They had a tendency to paint rather morbid pictures though, so I can forgive them. Sweets - if you get a chance to read this I'm quite sure I'll hear about it. I look forward to THAT exchange.  Just know I'm thinking of you, hoping for the best and please hurry back. There are many people you haven't started to pick on yet and they could use a dose of Swan-isms. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I haven't told you all the wonderously marvelously adventures I have been having here in Texas, central Texas, sort of central yet going southly Texas. I have told you about the FIRE ANTS - sheesh - but there are so many stories yet untold. Let me told them, or at least one of them. I have gotten into the habit of getting up, first thing in the morning, turning off the "You are locked in and don't open any windows, doors or your mouth until you disarm me", and taking the puppies outside. They are always galloping about by now and I blame it on the fact they can't cross their back legs. Okay so one morning I'm out with them, sitting on the "back porch", which is a small enclosure but it has an overhead fan that is awesome. Suddenly I see something huge whiz by me. "Hey! They have hummingbirds here! Cool!" In Phoenix there is every brand, flavor and type of hummingbird known to mankind and even some that are unknown. This wasn't new. Then I look at the yard and see about twenty of them flying about. This many in one place - this was new. I go out to get a closer look... "DAMN IT! You almost hit me!" The bird had almost flew into me. Unlikely behavior for hummingbirds I thought. Then I looked more closely. These were not hummingbirds. THESE WERE THE HUGEST BIGGEST DRAGONFLIES ON EARTH! I have never in my life seen a dragonfly that must weigh about a half a pound before. They aren't even pretty dragonflies. They are all brown and no rainbow hues to be seen on them. AND THEY ATTACK HUMANS. I quickly made my way, ducking and dodging them, to the safety of the porch. I wasn't bleeding anywhere so I was happy. Then I looked and saw Dew. Dew has a thing for flying stuff. Airplanes, pigeons, frisbees, and his latest - dragonflies. I really think he believes these are all toys to be caught and retrieved. Damn dog. "DEW! NO! DO NOT ----- ARGGGHHH ---- Okay don't eat it! Drop it! DEW DROP THAT DRAGONFLY NOW!" *sigh* He thinks they are all out there playing with him. The birds sit on the wires and laugh their tail feathers off watching his antics. Me? I ain't going out there with them. Forget it. They hurt when they hit you. Texas - everything is bigger huh? |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Ah those days of ore. No, wait, make it those days of your. Yore? Yeah that's it - ah, those days of yore. That has to be one stoopid looking word. I used it to describe something and B*A*M - I fixated on that word. Y O R E Yore = or, ore, ye, yer, roy, rey, ery (not a word)....moving on now...see? I get fixated. Hm. So I'm dealing with rose bushes (I hate roses but don't tell Mel okay?) and I go out talk to this really nice woman who LOVES roses and she sells me some powdered stuff that fertilizes and kills molds and fungus and a million other things - - just for roses. I hate roses. Don't tell Mel. Now, I did what the directions said, listened to the nice lady who told me not to cut them back at this time of year, water the things (there are like 12 of these clumps of roses still putting out) and what do I get? ATTACKED by THORNS that's what I get. "HEY! Look idiot, I'm taking care of you okay? Wanna cut me some slack here? Keep your thorns to yourself would ya?" A fleeting thought of looking up what the roses types and names are went through my mind -- it kept going too cuz I'm not doing research into them. HA! The killer rose climber on the side of the house (it has it's own trellis and has taken over a second one as well) produces these peach colored flowers and four foot long thorns. Yup. Those suckas reach out and touch you just like in the commercials. They touch, rip, tear and make you bleed. I hate roses. Sh-h-h. You would think they would have some use in life so I took the camera out and attempted to get some decent pictures of them. They are so evil that they made the camera die. Maybe it is the battery but I prefer to blame the roses. I am going to give them names like MORTIMER or Norman Bates or ... Lizzie Borden. I told the neighbor lady she could hack the Peach Killer up if she wanted and she was all like, "OOOOhhh they are so beautiful!" HA. Her husband told police she wasn't heard from since the morning she went out to cut some of the PEACH KILLER. Hope he has insurance and her kids are okay. I'm kidding. No animals, two legged or four, have gone under due to the threat of this plant. "FEED ME --- I'M HUNGRY" You get the picture. So here's what I'm thinking. I live by the largest military base in the United States (is too - looked it up!). They must have a weapon to take these suckas out. What do you think? Hope you are staying a safe distance from all the yoring roses as possible today. |
| ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** It is said that two colors represent the two sexes. Pink for girls and blue for boys. I went and did some research into this and found out that originally it was the other way around. It wasn't until about 1950 that the color assignation was switched to what we recognize today. "At one point pink was considered more of a boy's color, (as a watered-down red, which is a fierce color) and blue was more for girls. The associate of pink with bold, dramatic red clearly affected its use for boys. An American newspaper in 1914 advised mothers, "If you like the color note on the little one's garments, use pink for the boy and blue for the girl, if you are a follower of convention." [The Sunday Sentinal, March 29, 1914.] Today men purchase clothes in the color pink. "Real Men" really DO wear pink. From pink shirts to cardigans, shorts to pants and polo-shirts, printed tees, ties and manbags male fashion has broken back into its origins and have gone pink. Have women's fashions then gone blue? Women have always worn blue in its varying shades; Azure, Baby blue, Cerulean, Wharton, Colbalt, Indigo, Royal, Navy, and all the shades in between. It seems that men are finally catching up to women in broadening their color spectrum choices. Designers push new color pallets to the masses and men are gobbling them up. Be careful ladies, those men in your lives may well snitch that gorgeous silk pink t-shirt to wear with their lime green golfing shorts! So what is next? Will we again swap the two colors and put baby boys in pink and baby girls in blue? Who knows - we're only human after all. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Please be aware that this entry is not a rant. While many may hope for one, this just isn't, so pass it by if that is what you hoped for. Thank you. The idea for this entry came from a blogger actually. Special Kay  had a blog entry about her failing contest. She seemed so sad, that I quickly ran and created something to put in her contest. Now, a pity entry is not what I was going for, so forget that Kay! To date, I have hosted three contests I believe. Two were mediocre hits and one fell flat on its face. I always wondered, even back when I was creating them, what it took to establish a Contest that would succeed. How, exactly, does one measure a successful contest? Today I went out and surveyed the contests on WdC. Keep in mind the page lists only 100 entries. The bottom entry falls off with a new entry. To date there are: 25 Poetry Contests ( this is a 1/4 of the total) 21 Short Story 9 Can either be poetry or short story submissions 45 that are left are all over the place or not specifically defined from the short blurb. One of these is for photos, a couple are for doing port raids (reviews) and some I had to open up to figure out what the contest was actually about. That means almost half of the contests listed need the member to open the link to figure out if they were interested in entering the contest or not. This could be a way to "tease" someone into delving further or it could deter people because we all know how lazy humans are and how we need everything spelled out for us. What brands a contest as successful? Which contests currently have the most entrants signed up and why the popularity? ************************** "Invalid Item"  has 854 threads in it, but not all these are entries of course. The moderator of the contest has comments posted as well as questions poised from hopeful contestants.It does display a "Seal of Approval Contest/Activity" Badge however. One must ask how it received that or what criteria is necessary to receive this badge. Actually I had to ask myself is this something the person hosting the contest made and put on his introduction page to entice more people to enter. "Invalid Item" was a contest I had to open to figure out what it was about. Turns out it is a poetry contest after all. This contest just ended Round Two. I wonder how many created contests last into a second round. There is no way of knowing without the writers input."Invalid Item" is the only photo contest on the page and seems to have some problems. A contest is worth only the GP's or Awardicon to win and this contest was stalled until donors could be found. Now, the contest has nine contest entries -- not a lot but at least it isn't an "empty" contest."Invalid Item" isn't even a contest! It is simply a poem written and posted incorrectly. Or was it? Perhaps this writer wasn't getting reviews on the Review page and decided to try this route. I am tempted to e-mail them and find out the story behind it.I would think a contest that stated the purpose succinctly, had luscious GP's and/or Awardicons posted as prizes would gather the largest crowds. I found this is not true. There is one on the Contest page, "Happypotamus" , who has minimum explanation yet has one hundred posted entries. While it states that GP's will be awarded, the amount of GP's is not stated. Perhaps this is more of a having fun type contest than a winner takes all.On-going contests, such as "The Writer's Cramp - Poetry Week" , was created years ago, yet still gather the masses for entries. This contest is tight. The rules are explained well, the criteria listed and judges are in place.So I pose these questions to my readers. What do you think makes or breaks a contest. If it isn't GP's or an Awardicon, is it recognition for the writer? Do more experienced members on the site host better contests? Is poetry more commonly used in Contest form because it is shorter and involves "less work"? This is a writing community and while I would love to enter a short story contest and actually write something (*sigh*), I would love to hear from you out there. Entered any contests lately? Reviewed any? Reviews are possible on Contests you know. The contests you won, were you satisfied with the win or were there factors that could have been improved upon. |
| I believe I forgot to tell you all that I am currently living with a man. Not just any man. This man is a legend before his own time, type man. The type of man women swoon over, men want to grow up to be and even dogs lift their legs in salute to - that kind of man. It's not easy living with him, he is larger than life you see. Just say the word and he pops into his armor and poses for anyone. The dude has some ego. What man? What legend you ask. Him  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Now I am not shy around people, but try parading past this guy at one in the morning in your undies and see how comfortable you feel. I saw him wink at me once, I swear! He wanted to know when I was going to release the information about us living together. *sigh* So I told him today would be the right time and he scurried to put on that uniform, pose that Wunder Arm and told me to go ahead and shoot. If anyone wonders why he lives here in Texas - of all states yet - instead of Wisconsin or wherever he was from originally (somewhere south with that accent I'm thinking!) well he is in flux right now. He has a quandary of what to do with his life. So, for right now he is going to hang around here, posing whenever he sees an opportunity. No he doesn't do autographs either - sorry! |
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When we were first married we had an inner city apartment. It didn't matter how much you cleaned and tried to run them off. They just visited next door and came back when the fumes wore off. After nine months of doing battle with earth's oldest creatures we moved. Now that you've mentioned their love for warm and dark computer cases I have a whole new source for nightmares. 
