Swiped it at Cindy's!

:) You're the classic smiley You're well-known and always cheery. You're just an all-around friendly person! You are loyal and can be trusted with a secret. Many people admire you. What online smiley are YOU?! @ Radiant

Weird Week.

This has been a strange week. Ever have one of those weeks that you feel that you've lost your equilibrium? Not the physical kind, the emotional kind? That's how this week was for me. Things have balanced out now, and I am thankful for that.

Yesterday was a busy day. Work, then the last spring elementary concert I'll go to for my nieces or nephews. (That's part of the equilibrium thing, I think. The nieces and nephews are all growing up. We haven't had a baby to pass around and goo-goo over for ten years now. Rose is the youngest niece at ten . . . and she is definitely no baby!)


I had about an hour to play with between work and the concert, so I stopped off at the park. To show you how badly off-tilt I am this week, the only camera I had with me was my cell-phone camera. Yikes! And yesterday was probably the peak of spring beauty. Wild flowers were rampant in the Arboretum. Even the jacks were out.

There is a "blind" that looks out on a swampy area. I checked it out first, as that was where I had last seen the deer. Nothing there, but I thought I heard something behind me in the woods. (The blind needs a peephole back into the woods, not just into the swamp.) Sure enough, at the junction of the blind trail and the main trail was a deer, chomping away about twelve feet from me. And of course! I was in the middle of transmitting a cell phone picture, so couldn't shoot it right away. It was cool to just stand and watch her eat. Eventually she noticed me, and bounded off . . . about 15 feet into the brush on the other side of the path.

Well, it is Friday now. Hope yours is going just jim-dandy! See ya!

It's not your father's Oldsmobile anymore.
It's not your mother's Oldsmobile anymore.

The Oldsmobile is no more.

(Note: If I look north out of our breakroom window, I can see the spot where Ransom Eli Olds built the first Oldsmobile. Over to the west is the Oldsmobile plant. Times change.)

Michigan's weather is wacky, but Montana's is worse. I lifted this from Gates of the Mountain. Also, bryn has snow again in Cape Breton!

Yesterday: Sunny, high 78.
Today: 'Winter' Storm, up to 8 inches of snow, I-15 closed.

Are we done with April yet?

Cheese Test: What type of cheese are you?

if you had one word...
Sum up your opinion or impression of me in one word, leave it as a comment in this posting, and then post this sentence in your own journal/blog.

found at susan's.

Survivors Ready?

Bear with us, please, non-Survivor folk. There are only 3 shows left!

Please choose your bootee.

Wacky Weather!

The mid-Michigan area had lovely weather the last week, causing all sorts of budding and blossoming to spring forth.

This morning I opened the drapes at 7:15 a.m. and saw fluffy stuff floating by the window. I wondered . . . is there a fire somewhere and this is the ash from it?

Nope. It was snow!

It kept up for quite awhile this morning. Didn't stick, but everyone got a good look at it.

People had all sorts of funny thoughts when they first saw it. Denny thought his pear trees were losing their blossoms, but the pear trees were in the back yard and the falling stuff was in the front yard.

Debbie thought it was some sort of fuzz.

Instead, it was just April in Michigan.

Yikes!

Tuesday already!

The last Tuesday of the month is "Charity Day" at work, where we have a bake sale and wear something odd to collect money for various charities. This month we are working to collect money for the cancer society. One of our shop men is walking in a 24-hour thing in June, so he'll take our proceeds in for us.

We're supposed to wear funky footwear today, I believe.

I have Michigan State University tennies. I think that will work!

Have a great Tuesday!

If you have a spare moment, please stop at meg's and help her calibrate a monitor.

And with that, I'm off to bed. Great thing is . . . tomorrow is already Tuesday!

Cybertoad has monarchs. Wonder if we'll see them later this year?

Monday Madness!

I'm running out of ideas (hint! hint!!) I hope you enjoy this week's question. Using the letters in the word 'blogger' describe your blog for us.
B_______ ewildered
L_______ ight
O_______ dd
G_______ iggly
G_______ oofy
E_______ nigmatic
R_______ ight? *grin*

We are back. "UpNorth" can be ever so soothing. *smile*

And we're off . . . to north of the 45th parallel. Have a great weekend! See you Monday night! (Unless I get a chance to peek.)

Let the Weekend begin!

Packing now for our trip "UpNorth". I consider "UpNorth" in Michigan to be north of Clare. Diane and Otto and Sherle, you're from MI. Where do you draw the line? For other areas of the world, how do you define northerness?

TGIF!

Well, the end of heck week is in sight.
The company I work for belongs to a peer association of twelve similar companies from around the country. Twice a year the principals/GMs meet at one of the businesses for a review of that business on Thursday and Friday and a panel of discussions on Saturday.

This year was our year to host. Ugh.

Twenty-three people, most of them type A's to the max, wandering around your business. Asking why you do things the way you do. (It's a small business dummy, and that's the way the boss wants it done . . . oh wait, can't say that.) So you justify and clarify. That part will be done by noon today. Then six of us, the comptroller, the installation managers, the salemen, and moi, are privileged **cough cough hack hack** to go out to the hotel where these folks are staying and hear their "Sugar and Salt" of our operations. Oh great.

Then tonight we have to dine with these folks at a swanky restaurant. Argh.

I've had heachaches all week. Wonder if they'll stop tonight?

On the positive side . . . Mom and I are heading up north this weekend to see the "Upnorth Bunch" of relatives. That shall be a good time!

Woods or Forest?

Survivors Ready!

Here it is, Wednesday night again. Survivor tomorrow . . . please choose your bootee!

It's been a rough week at the office. How rough, you ask? Rough enough that we've stashed a one-pound box of Godiva's in the back room and hit it when we're in need. We're a little evil on this one too . . . the women know where the stash is, but we're only sharing with select males. The new cinnamon ganache is perfect.

Saw it first at bryn's, then at Isabella's, so I had to find out the truth. Ut-oh.

Shirl was a Famous Side-Show Performer in a past life. Discover your past lives @ Quiz Me

One of the joys of blogging is getting to see what's going on in other parts of the world. Roscoe is currently covering San Antonio's Fiesta. Thanks for the insider view . . . it's fun to watch the festivities build!

It's Monday already, and time for the Monday Madness.

Pick a letter; any letter.........Got one? Okay, R.
.....
.....
.....
.....
Ok, for the following questions, each of your answers must begin with the letter you chose.......Have fun!! =)

1. If you were limited to 3 things to pack for an overnight trip, what would you pack? Red Clothes ('cause I have to wear something), Rouge (ha!), and Red Sox. Sheesh. That was HARD!
2. What 3 things would you pack in your picnic basket? Raspberry shortcake, Roll-ups, Red Peppers
3. What are 3 things you'd rather do than go to work? Read, Roam, Rest
4. Name 1 song. Rainy Days and Mondays
5. Name 1 movie. Revenge

Yo! The Easter Squirrel Arrived . . . a Week Late!

The Rally of Writers yesterday was its usual invigorating and informative gathering of writers and wannabes. The keynote was given by Bonnie Jo Campbell. She is a Michigan short story/novel writer who is warm and witty and gawky and wise and totally Midwestern as apple pie. (This is the quirky MidWestern of her short story book, Women and Other Animals, as opposed to the bland midwesternism propagated by the likes of Thomas McGuane.

I attended three sessions, leaving before the fourth so I could get ready for the birthday party, which was great fun.

One session was Bonnie Jo Campbell's on fiction short story.

Another session was on the romance novel, presented by Sandra Steffen. She started at Silhouette and has moved to full length romance in the Zebra division of Kensington books. She's new to the presentation game so there was a little hesitancy, but she found her stride quickly and rolled with the group. (Aside: The Romance Writers always are the best dressed of the group.)

The third session I attended was Joe Mackall's Creative Non-Fiction. Joe is the editor and co-founder of River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative. Joe had ten great tips and was a genuinely nice guy. I'm sure he's not finishing last!

All of the presenters exuded such a love for writing and reading. It matters not the genre, each in their own way made you want to pick up the pen or hit the keyboard. A great time had by all.

Chris: Are you back at your old place? Thanks!

Unconscious Mutterings.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Virginia :: Beach, Kim
2. Soft :: Soap
3. Carol :: Christmas
4. Vanity :: Bedroom
5. Feminist :: Humanist
6. Alias :: TV Show
7. Coward :: ly Lion
8. Beer :: Nuts
9. Chance :: Last, Luck
10.Honest :: Abe

Got this from Joni, who has a code in her node:

I want everyone who reads this to ask me 3 questions, no more no less. Ask me anything you want. Then I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends (including myself) to ask you anything.

:)

EDIT: Note it says ask, doesn't promise answer. Hmmm. Always an out!

Mandarin meg made me do it.

FAKE QUIZ Results

The crowd is rallying at the Capitol on Monday noon? You can't make it, but you stage a one-person protest on Tuesday. Who cares? You don't go to stores on holidays in the hopes that they will be so slow that they will close and the employees won't have to work the holidays. Who cares? And besides, it's double time. You work like a dog on a mailing at work and the service calls roll in, but the servicemen don't like doing that kind of work. Give up. You are the Queen of the Futile Gesture.

You are the Queen of the Futile Gesture

Today is the Rally of Writers in Lansing, so I'll be there most of the day. I say most, because I have a double birthday party to go to tonight, and I haven't finished wrapping the gifts for that yet. My brother Boo's wife and daughter were born on the same day. Boo and another daughter have birthdays a day apart in May. Their third daughter, Rose, feels a little left out. Her birthday is in September.

I should have wrapped the gifts earlier this week, but things fell apart for awhile. Have you seen the new Disney stickers that feature characters from the movies? Well, Glory loves Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. The stickers are set up with the dress and accessories of the character, and then you can put a picture of a person as the head and voila! I hope I can find a picture quickly. (Actual gifts are a beading kit for Glory and a Joann's Gift Certificate for Ruby.)

When Glory was two we asked her what "the Beauty's" name was. She calmly replied, "Speechless." And she was right, of course. Belle is startled at one point and says, "I'm Speechless." Kids know.

It looks like it might be dark and rainy today, but that's okay. I won't be so tempted to play hooky. I have to do the second draft of my NANO book, (sitting here recently printed) and I need some inspiration!

Have a great day, y'all.

I've been following a band of deer since about February. They would come out to play in the cemetery at dusk, just about the time I was leaving work, so I would watch them.

The cemetery is next to the arboretum, where the deer live. I often wondered how they could appear so quietly and magically in the cemetery. I never saw them leaping fences. One moment there would be no animals. I might hear geese squawking above, look up, then look back and there the deer would be. How did they do that?

As it got warmer I started walking the fence line between the two properties. Those deer - - there are at least six holes in the fence. (I think some of them have been aided by humanoids, but still.) So here is one of the deer gates.





With daylight SAVING time (see Scott, I got it right this time) I haven't been able to catch the deer at the cemetery. Fortunately, the park stays open later now, so I can walk the trails and catch the critters that way! And boy, does it seem good to be outside walking. I do so love spring!




TGIF!

Hmm. Almost back to normal. Thanks for all the great tips and advice and just general kindness!

It was funny. For an hour last night I seriously considered walking away from blogging. Just walking away, leaving a white space.

You all are too much fun. You drew me back.

See ya!

Yep. Somehow I have royally zonked the blog. And of course I don't back stuff up. Sheesh. Well, have a great day!

Hmmm. I wonder if this will publish. The template looks screwed up. Blogger is fritzed up, or I'm fritzed up. Oh great.

Survivors Ready?

Tomorrow night: Who will get the boot?

Ah yes, the three a.m. blues.

They hadn't struck in a long time.

I just saw an ad for "Find Your Dream Job" today. What would be your dream job?

"Howdy. We're trying out floating quotes, which mandarin meg is sharing today. Let us see how it works."

Well, for those of you celebrating the holidays: Did you survive? Our family get-togethers usually run about twenty-five. This one was only nine, so it seemed very quiet. (Two brothers and my sister were with the relatives on the "other side" of their families.) We had only one niece and one nephew with us. A smaller group can be a bit illuminating at times. I learned some interesting things.

The funniest moment was when the niece's boyfriend was looking at my mother's wedding pictures. "Grandma, you were a hottie!" Darn, I wish I had been in the room to see her face when she heard that!

Monday morning: It came fast. Time for Monday Madness.

Let's do something with colors this week....Each question will begin with 'What color is your favorite.......'

1. Vegetable::orange
2. Beverage::brown
3. Room::Spartan green and White
4. Outfit::Wine & Black
5. Mood::Yellow
6. Season::Green
7. Fruit::Red
8. Dessert::Brown
9. Pair of shoes::Black
10. Color????::Lilac

The only book which doesn't take place in Narnia at all, per se, you're the story of a voyage to find the end of the world and hopefully the Seven Lost Lords (remember Rhoop!). You contain some of the most unique people and places and beautiful descriptions of the whole series.


Find out which Chronicles of Narnia book you are.

Summer Fun Toy
Summer’s coming. If you had to pick just one summer fun toy, what would it be? Would you cruise around the South West in an RV? Does the convenient refreshment of a backyard pool entice you? Looking to steam up the summer nights in your very own hot tub? Up for wave-skimming excitement with a jet ski? Or are you more of a home-body, opting for an ice-cold air conditioner to keep movie nights comfortable? What is your summer fun activity toy?

Oh, I would like a big boat! A big Lake Michigan size boat. And I would tool around the lake and visit all the islands and be tan and warm and . . .

But wait. I don't have a trailer hitch on my car to pull a boat. Wait again. My car is too small to pull a Lake Michigan size boat. Do they deliver boats directly to their docks? Hmmm.

Idea #2. A new digital camera with all the bells and whistles and settings and everything would be awesome! But wait . . .

They cost bucks. This is a poorer year. Maybe I'd better just work on understanding the new-old Rolleiflex I won on EBay. It would help a lot if the instruction book that I had to bid on separately would ever get here! Hmmm.

Idea #3. A hammock. Yes, that would be the best toy. My balcony should just about accommodate one nice-sized hammock. My budget can accommodate one nice-sized hammock. I don't need a trailer hitch for one nice-sized hammock.

Hmmmm.

Happy Easter!!

Blogger is posting again! Yippee!

Unconscious Mutterings time.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Boxing :: Ali
2. Lewis :: C.S.
3. Bodyguard :: Kevin Costner
4. Burnout :: Close
5. Cruising :: the gut
6. Easter :: Resurrection
7. AA :: Battery
8. Research :: Grant
9. Redemption :: Calvary
10.Snickers :: Candy Bar

Whoops. Is Blogger not publishing, or is it me?

Good Saturday morning!


post in progress . . . I think . . . kind of sleepy this morning *smile*

Peace
peace
peace
Peace
peace
peace

Happy Friday!

I have a 7:15 a.m. meeting this morning (about fireplaces and warehouse space, sheesh!) so I'll catch up with y'all this evening. Hope your day goes well!

Not yet, but soon.

I saw "The Passion of the Christ" over the weekend. I was deeply moved.

Survivors Ready?
It's tomorrow night. This week is moving quickly. Please pick your bootee. Thank you!

Happy Hump Day!

I need help.

Yes, it's true. Confession time is here. I'm intimidated by . . . Subway. You know, the sandwich shop? I get in there, and I order my sandwich, and then I never know what the heck to put on it. I feel so stupid! So, if I may be so bold to ask, what do your sandwiches wear?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give this poor ol' gal.

Oh Sure. Say, I love DST, but I'm having trouble adjusting. Came home and slept from 8: - 11:15. Got up in time to see the end of the NCAA championship. Went back to bed at 1 and slept until 5:30 (usual waking time). Wonder if I'll make it through today without that awful three o'clock slump?

Have a great day!

TV Tuesday

Executive Decisions
The Networks are getting ready to announce their new fall schedules. Imagine what would happen if you could play programmer for one day!

1. What shows would make up a perfect night of TV viewing for you? Oh, that's easy, the Thursday night CBS schedule is already perfect. Survivor, the original CSI (long may William Peterman live), and Without a Trace.


2. What show(s) would you cancel without a moment's hesitation? Everybody Loves Raymond. Because I don't. Love Raymond, that is. The rest of the cast is fine, but Raymond has to go.

3. Is there a show (previously cancelled or just no longer airing) that you'd bring back, original cast and all? No. You can't go home again.


~Bonus~ You get to create one show to put on the schedule, with any stars you choose. Who and what would it be? A ten-part mini-series on the flight of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce from Idaho to Montana, with Graham Greene as Joseph and some fading male star to play the part of Nelson Miles.

A query. Define snarky?

Let's see: Monday = Monday Madness!

1. What makes your country special? U.S.A. Land of hope and possibilities.

2. What makes your hometown special? Lansing. Great diversity with a hometown flavor.

3. What makes your neighbourhood special? I live in a predominantly student neighborhood. Again, diversity of races and nationalities. Physically, we are just the other side of the highway from the MSU farms. I like that

4. And your loved ones - what is it about them??? Well . . . There is a strong undercurrent of love between us.

5. And finally you - what is it that is unique about you...??? I am Aunt Owwee . . . that's kind of different. *smile*

Oh cool! Jennifer reminds us that today is 04/04/04.

Jeff Bridges. Yum.

Want to see who is contributing to the presidential campaigns in the United States? Go play at OpenSecrets.org.

Sunday Morning. Time for Unconscious Mutterings.

I say ... and you think ... ?

Condemn::Decry
Promiscuous ::Unthinking
Pro-life :: Movement
Mona Lisa :: da Vinci
Crown :: of thorns
Mumble :: Jumble
Hack :: Cough, Cold, glad mine is over
Diet :: Food
Introduction::Meet
Latin America :: South

Edit Note: Chris's blog is down, so he's posted his Unconscious Mutterings in my comments. They're a hoot! Chris, feel free to do the Monday Madness in comments also!

. . . and now . . . back to the game.

Glacier National Park.

They are scheduled to start plowing the Going-to-the-Sun Road Monday. Anyone want to guess when plowing will be completed?

Interesting game going on!

Yippee Skippee ~~ Here Comes Daylight Savings Time!

I shirley do love DST . . . love that light of day after work hours. Yes!

Susan on the other-side-of-the-world just went off DST. (She lives in Oz.) I think that means we're 14 hours apart instead of 16. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

All NCAA basketball roads lead to San Antonio: how's the traffic, Roscoe? And isn't there a premiere for The Alamo going on? Or was that last weekend? (And if you saw Dennis Quaid and didn't take a picture you are in BIG trouble!)

Oops . . . having trouble with IE at the moment. Will return soon.

Back.

Well, I know what Susan in North Carolina is going to be doing this evening. Go Duke. (Now I have to walk around with a paper bag over my head all day so no one in Spartan country will recognize me. We're not supposed to say things like that. This is what I like about blogging. It brings peace and understanding to people of different basketball persuasions.)

And I have seedlings coming up! (This promises to be a wildly erratic post. Really, I'm not hungover.) And the seedlings are another reason I like blogging. I hadn't done them for a couple of years. I felt it was easier to just buy plants already grown for the dozen or so pots I have on my balcony. But michelle has written about planting seeds, not worrying about the proper timing, and tamping them down with her cane. And I was touched. And planted some seeds. (All right, you over in the left corner. I heard you whisper we knew she was touched, already! You're right.)

Lynn's asking for comments on comments. Always an interesting topic.

Bryn is turning into the queen of e-bay. Interesting purchases, my blogging buddy! And Isabella's entire post is in haiku today. Bravo!

Thinking about the Alamo: Billy Bob Thornton plays Davy Crockett? Only Fess Parker can play Davy Crockett in this other-side-of-an-age person's eyes, though I suspect I'll go see the movie for Dennis Quaid.

Cindy Loo Who's Yoo Hoos has a link to a fun IQ test. You'll need to set aside a little time for it.

Back again. I'm having a dickens of a time staying connected today. Just consider this a post in progress . . .

Dickens: well, I'll be.

dickens - (what the dickens, in dickens' name, hurts like the dickens, etc) - Dickens is another word for devil, . . .

. . . Shakespeare has Mistress Page using the 'what the dickens' expression in the Merry Wives of Windsor, c.1600, so the expression certainly didn't originate as a reference to Charles Dickens as many believe, who wasn't born until 1812. Charles Dickens' fame however (he was extremely famous in England while alive and writing as well as ever since) would certainly have further reinforced the popularity of the 'dickens' expression.

And now, chores are being finished and I'll be taking off. Have a great day!

Okay, it's official. Rune is the bubble queen.

Blogrolling.com.

I think it was otto that mentioned that blogrolling.com seems to have lost some of its information. I'm seeing more and more times where the blogrolls aren't loading. That's fine if I'm home because I have all the bookmarks, but one of the points of a blogroll is that you can get to your favorites wherever you are. I'm seriously considering going back to hand-coding the list. Any thoughts?

Morning! Good week . . . fast week!

Tuesday was our Charity Day at work. The last Tuesday of the month is the day when the office staff dresses weird and brings in baked goods for a sale. We collect for a charity until we reach a certain amount, then we decide on another charity. We've given to organizations such as Rescue Mission, Animal Shelter, Diabetes Association, Make-A-Wish, Loaves and Fishes, Domestic Assault Council. This month we were collecting for the American Heart Association.

Elsie, our most senior member (let's just say she's on the other side of the Social Security birthday), often shies back a little from dressing oddly. However, this time she dived right into the project. She decided that as we are close to Easter, we could all be bunnies, and she brought in bunny ears from the dollar store. It was too funny to see six women all coordinated with furry little ears.

And it worked! Normally we collect between $40 and $60 each month. This month we hit a hundred!

Yesterday went very well, thank you all very much!

And I hope your Friday goes well today.

Has anyone seen the movie Continental Divide, with John Belushi?

Sorry, got a little carried away with the "April Fool". But I really feel like one. We have about a dozen projects going at work today. End-of-month, Inventory, an Ad for the Parade of Homes book, a new mailing, the general work. Oh okay, so we have five projects going now. I find the adrenalin boost from multi-tasking crashes faster lately.

Pace yourself, Shirl.

Thanks for reading!

APRIL Fool!