Once again, my blog twin Bryn and I are both:


test yourself at fontlover.com!

And it's the Friday Five.

1. What was the last song you heard? "Lose Yourself"

2. What were the last two movies you saw? Of Gods and Generals and DareDevil

3. What were the last three things you purchased? mustard, marshmallow and gas

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend? Get the oil changed in the car. Go to the MSU library. Get haircut. Drive through the cemetery again.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to? Mom, Rich, Mike, Darla, Diane

Surprised by Joy.
I was driving through Eastlawn cemetery last night. Made the last turn, and there were deer crossing in front of me. Seven of them, going down into a little hollow. And then they just stayed there, watching me. Until another car drove up behind my car. What darn fool would be driving around in a cemetery on a snowy evening? The knucklehead! I had sort of left my car in the middle of the road, running, so I had to discontinue the picture-taking. But I was so thankful for this moment of grace.

Michael Don Juan DeMarco III aka meg posted an "outside my window" type picture a few days ago. I decided to take an "outside my work" picture. Those are the stacks that provide power to our fair city.

We had about six inches of snow yesterday: just enough to slow things down (and cancel all schools) but not enough to have a snow day at work. Dee at work reminds me that we can have these storms right up until the middle of April. Yep...the joys of Michigan weather.

Kathryn has the perfect Wednesday Wonder up for me...spring cleaning! We're going on a treasure hunt here, kiddies! Some people have a miscellaneous drawer...I have a miscellaneous apartment. This should be fodder for at least a dozen blog posts. Thanks, Kathryn! Bryn and Leah have wonderful postings on last week's Wonder on Grace. Wow!

Oh good! Mz posted the "full picture" of her partial object. I'd never seen one of those, Marge!

Susan remembers high school activism days. Great memory, Susan!

And a warm welcome to LillyAnne!

I opened my Newsweek tonight: this article on Marketing: Flogging on a Blog, of course caught my eye. It's about Dr. Pepper using bloggers as pitch people for their new product, Raging Cow. Hmm.

ooh! we've got snow. But I don't think there's enough to keep work from opening. Drat!

Survivor bootee choice, anyone? I'm thinking perhaps Joanna.

This looks interesting.

Meryl likes today's date: March 4th. March 4th. An action date. March forth.
Lynn has a new addy and a new look...warms me up every time I stop by, Lynn! We spent last weekend following Lynn around blogworld, but she's lit now.
Kathryn and Leah have been cross-blogging about commitment to action, making changes, following dreams. I want to thank both of them for sharing....they've been very inspiring!
Are we supposed to keep saying oulipo, meg?

Tuesday This or That:

1. Soup or salad? Salad
2. Hot or cold sandwiches? Cold
3. White or whole wheat bread (or rye, etc)? Multi-Grain
4. Pack a lunch for work/school, or buy it? 1/2 and 1/2
5. If you eat out...fast-food chain, or mom & pop type place? Mom & pop
6. Tuna or chicken salad? Chicken
7. Cheese: Swiss or cheddar (or American, etc)? Cheddar
8. Mustard or mayo? Mustard
9. Sandwiches: wrap/pita pocket, or regular bread/roll? Regular
10. Sweet stuff: cookie/cake or fresh fruit? Fresh fruit

The Olden Days.
I recently re-established contact with an old high-school friend via email. I last saw him at his wedding thirty *gulp* years ago. (He has since divorced.)
It's tricky to fit now and then together. It's difficult to remember what I was like at 21...and what parts of that person are still with me. It's challenging to get old business out of the way and open onto new business. And of course all of this is possible because of...good old email. Bridging time and space.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.

~~Henry David Thoreau

Umm. Yikes. It's -4 degrees F out. Winter is still very much with us.
Yesterday's nap was perfection: making a nest on the bed in a ray of sunlight. Mmmm. The only thing better is a nest on the sand of the beach at Lake Michigan, relaxing to the sound of the waves as they caress the shore.

Oops. It's Monday morning. Get to work, Shirl!

Taking a new step, uttering a new word is what people fear most.
~~Fyodor Dostoyevski

Saw it at Bryn's first, then at Kathryn's. I think it keys on only one question...the next to the last one. hmmm.

I am the Ideal Lover Most people have dreams in their youth that get shattered or worn down with age. They find themselves disappointed by people, events, reality, which cannot match their youthful ideals. Ideal Lovers thrive on people's broken dreams which become lifelong fantasies. You long for romance? Adventure? Lofty spiritual communion? The Ideal Lover reflects your fantasy. He or she is an artist creating the illusion you require. In a world of disenchantment and baseness, there is limitliess seductive power in following the path of the Ideal Lover. Symbol: The Portrait Painter. Under his eye, all of your physical imperfections disappear. He brings out noble qualities in you, frames you in a myth, makes you godlike, immortalises you. For his ability to create such fantasies, he is rewarded with great power.

What Type of Seducer are You?
created by polite_society

Daredevil.
I saw Daredevil about a week ago. I wasn't familiar with the storyline so had no pre-conceived ideas about how it should be. (My comic book reading basically stuck with Superman and an occasional Batman or Green Hornet. Or was it Green Lantern? It's been awhile.)

My initial thoughts on viewing the film were positive. The "wounded hero" concept always resonates well.

I just found out by accident that Michigan State University has the largest comic book collection in the world. Guess where I'm headed next Saturday?

Wonderful images in this gallery.

I can't figure out what Mz has here. Can you?

Questions not to ask in the middle of the night: redux
Is there anything you believe in that is worth dying for? in defense of loved ones, for religious beliefs...still musing here.
How much should we be willing to "give up" for love? Still musing here, but I love Leah's answer.
Who do you trust? My sister.
What was that thump? I dunno...it's the middle of the night!
What should I scan for my next header? well, at least I completed ONE question!
Does joy really come in the morning? if there's been weeping during the night. Bryn says in the gloaming, but I usually have anxiety attacks at twilight. (Somewhere I read that's a symptom of Alzheimers...uhoh.)
Do be or don't be? Do be's would be proactive while don't be's would be reactive. I think. And I'm too reactive.

Have you ordered your Paczki? We have. Just another made-in-Michigan event.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say .….….…… and you think .….….…… ?

1. Towel :: dry
   
2. Ohio:: State
   
3. Coke :: Pepsi
   
4. Vacation :: Montana
   
5. Pumpkin :: Pie
   
6. Embarrassing :Moment:
   
7. Plastic :: Paper
   
8. Tight :: Fit
   
9. Camera:: Window
   
10. String:: Bean
    

oops! that would be a BIG oops up there in the header...going to change it RIGHT NOW!!!!

More Harbingers of Spring.

Home Shows. We have several up here in late winter/early spring. People are getting cabin fever, want to get out, to fix up. The HVAC company I work for will be displaying at this one this weekend. I'll be there, from 2-5. Yay Spring!

Questions not to ask in the middle of the night:
Is there anything you believe in that is worth dying for?
How much should we be willing to "give up" for love?
Who do you trust?
What was that thump?
What should I scan for my next header?
Does joy really come in the morning?
Do be or don't be?
(I's a losing it.)

Good photographic evidence on Blogger/Google here. Hmm.

I cannot believe it: there are already 33 fridayfivers posted!

Here is my Friday Five:

1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)? Let's see. That would be yes, yes, yes, yes, and only if it's very good.

2. What is your favorite novel? A River Runs Through It by Norman Mclean. (There are neat quotes pulled from the novel at that link.)

3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!) Yes. It's a Wordsworth. I'll have to go get it.

ODE
INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

The full version is here.

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.

XI

And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves,
Forebode not any severing of our loves!
Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might;
I only have relinquished one delight
To live beneath your more habitual sway.
I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;
The innocent brightness of a new-born Day
Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.
Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.


4. What is one thing you've always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read? Oh geez. I just wish there was more time to read. Books are stacked up in all different genres around the apartment ready to be read.

5. What are you currently reading? One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gonzo Marketing by Christopher Locke, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, the newspaper, the back of the cereal box, and the toothpaste tube.

Oulipo. I have been told to: Use the word "Oulipo" in your blog. I dunno, go see meg.

ooops....overslept!

Any Survivor choices?

Have a marvelous Thursday!

My Wednesday Wonder for LAST week is posted here. Kathryn has just posted a new Wonder there.

And the top ten reasons we blog:

10. Because we can.
9. To add pundit or zilla to our name.
8. For community.
7. We're inveterate readers.
6. We're inveterate writers.
5. It's an open venue to practice various forms of expression.
4. To further a cause.
3. Because Pyra has this cool tool that works really well 90% of the time and sucks majorly 10% of the time and we enjoy the challenge. (Applies only to blogger...welcome aboard, Lynn!!)
2. Blogging is a necessary step in the evolution of cyber-space and we want to be pioneers.

and the #1 reason is:

<---------Over there, on the left. Under Visiting. Those folks. Mmmmhmmm. Yep. 'Nuff said.

Okay, I'm calmed down from Monday now. Tuesday was our charity day at work. On this day we pay to dress in a theme and two of us bring stuff for a bake sale. It was my turn to bring stuff. I ran out of brain power on Monday night, so I thought I'd just whip up some no-bake cookies. They're easy, they're chocolate, they don't crumble and the guys like them. (I work at an HVAC company.) I got them started and then thought, "no, let's make it a double batch!!"

Well, I suppose that would have been okay, if I had put them in a bigger pan--but I didn't. Soon I was boiling away, and the goo was getting higher and higher and higher in the pan and I'd lift the pan off the heat and it would go down, and then setting the pan back down the goo would rise again and....well, you can see, I need to go back to cooking school. I did better as a ten-year-old than I do now! By the time the cookies were done, the stove was smeared with chocolate, and I wasn't too sure that the cookies were going to set-up!

I couldn't NOT show up with anything so I launched plan B...cupcakes. I had some funfetti ones I hadn't made up at Valentines. Out came the stuff for those. (AFTER I cleaned the stove, of course!)

About 11:00 p.m. the second batch of cupcakes were ready to be removed from the oven. And in the morning, I was able to take both cupcakes AND cookies to the bake sale. And I included some bananas and apples (a couple of the guys don't like sweets, hard to imagine).

Over at Mandarin, meg is on "orange-alert" and has been color-charting Pumpkin the finch. Well, you know how "monkey see, monkey do". I'm not on "orange-alert" but I wanted to color chart my baby robin. Whee! That was fun! (If you haven't stopped by to visit with meg I highly recommend it. Incredibly generous. And she never laughs at poor rip-offs.)

One of Kathryn's Wednesday Wonders dealt with color. You know how it is sometimes: a topic is brought to the forefront of your mind and you find great examples all over the place. Color-charting from nature was one of the ideas in the reading on that wonder. On the video I saw on Sunday Gen on Trading Spaces pulled her palette from an artichoke. And here's meg charting her birds. Pretty neat.

I ALMOST have last week's Wednesday Wonder done. I really am regressing...I haven't been this behind since Miss Hall's 4th grade class. Someone smack me!

Tuesday This or That:
1. Holland or Netherlands? Netherlands
2. Emu or Ostrich? Ostrich
3. Biff or Happy? Happy
4. Quincy or Braintree? Quincy
5. Cassius Clay or Muhammad Ali? Muhammad Ali
6. Instanbul or Constantinople? Constantinople
7. Pig or Swine? Swine
8. Barf or Puke? Barf
9. Potatoes or Spuds? Spuds
10. Squeeze Box or Accordion? Accordian

Tuesday....definitely a better day.
Today is the final Tuesday of the month, so it was Charity Day at work. Today the theme was "presidential" but we all chickened out on wearing stove-pipe hats or white whigs wigs (argh, what did THAT typo mean???) and settled for the standard red/white/blue. We have several people on lay-off, so we didn't quite hit the $50.00 mark this month, but a good time was had by all.

Oh yeah...Survivors! Predictions for bootee this week? (The way we say it at work is "Pick your bootee." Ok. Sorry. We get bored.)

Oh boy. Mondays are tough.

Way tough! Lynn, what's going on at your place? Email or comment, pretty please?!?

Kathryn is Google's #1 Kathryn. Yay! She points to the Random Name Generator here. Some options for me would be: Amory Brandice (gag), Riley Lillian (not so bad), or Amma Kyleigh (hmmm). Have fun!

Susan had a wonderfully evocative piece on trains yesterday. Lovely piece of writing.

My cyber-brother, Jeeem, is down with a cold. Fortunately, reinforcements were coming this weekend to help apply the Vicks. Don't forget the Vernors, Jimbo!

Bryn says it's about dinosaurs today. Some days I FEEL like a dinosaur.

I think it was meg who blogged The Sound of Silence one day. Gonna go check her archives.

Edit: Yep, it was meg. And she must be in the same mode. The post is right here.

It was strange and wonderful seeing Simon and Garfunkel tonight on the Grammys. And the thing that made it special was that I was IMing with my old friend S when they came began to sing. She's in Florida, I'm in Michigan. She's one of my oldest friends, and she ran to her TV (which is on the other side of their house) to watch them. And for a moment the breezes of the 60's wafted through my heart. Fuss all you want, Meryl, folk-rock is always going to have folks like me misty-eyed with memories. Even, no, especially James Taylor.

And oh boy..."Lose Yourself". Yes. So I'm not totally living in the past.

Wednesday Wonder from February 12 on Food Rituals is here.

(This time there is a note that blogger is going down at 7:00 p.m. Pacific...hope this makes it.

Gone In the Morning.

I miss him on cold snowy evenings.

Looking up Robins.

A robin's diet is 42% animal and 58% plant. My robins are early birds (not getting any worms today) as the typical migration is around March 15-April 15 in this area.
More information here.

And then, of course, we can visit people Robin, who has just had some great news!

Still having some problems getting published....I'm just not as persistent as you, leah *grin*

Now I'm wondering...maybe I just can't see myself? It's 11:08 a.m. and I still can't see this...can you?

Unconscious Mutterings:
I say .….….…… and you think .….….…… ?

Key :: .….….…… Lime
Ice :: .….….…… Cream
Compassion :: .….….…… Friends
Crayon :: .….….…… Lose Yourself
Insatiable :: .….….…… Hunger
Bench :: .….….…… Press
Capsule :: .….….…… Time
Heart :: .….….…… Soul
Fourteen :: .….….…… 92
Postcard :: .….….…… Old

Unusual 404 pages here and here.

It's too early for the robins!!! We have a snowstorm in progress. The flock I saw earlier in the week is still here, stranded in a stand of pines by the building to the north of me. They've been joined by about five Cedar Waxwings. They were feeding on these crabapple? berries. There must have been thirty of them in the trees. Argh. I had no birdseed, but I did have some Cheerios. Do you think that will hurt them?

Sunday Update on Birds: Not here anymore. And no little corpses lying feet up are found, so they must have decided it was time to continue their journey.

Confession: I came up Manila the first time, so took the test again.

You are not very reliable but people like you anyway because you are so easygoing and fun to be with. And cute, too. Which Blogging Tool Are You?

Eventually a new header is going to show up on this page. Yes, they are JellyBellys. Special ones: the Bertie Bott's Flavor Beans.

Now, when the nieces and nephews have had them I've ughed and arghed and said "why would anyone want to eat those?" That's what aunts are supposed to do, right? But last night, when I stopped in at Caruso's Confectionaries for some lemon/chocolate drops, they cute little boxes were sitting right at the counter. So I bought a box, and here we are.

The silver one on the left is called "sardines". Here goes.

Argh. Uck! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! Fortunately, the yellow is a lemon, so we'll clear the palate.

Next up, the brown one next to the sardines. That is called "dirt".

mmmph. Yikes! How do they do that? It's been a long time since I've eaten dirt, but that's it! Fortunately, there's a buttered popcorn in the batch. Unfortunately, it appears that popcorn doesn't quite cover dirt.

Okay, the plain green one is either grass or green apple. I suspect it might be grass. Oh yeah, it is...and I rather like the taste of that. Cool! Now on to the dark green ones...another kind of grass: spinach. Uhoh. Here goes!

It appears that spinach isn't too bad in JellyBelly world. There is no aftertaste. Now we'll add a little Black Pepper (dark one right in the middle). Yum. That is good. Now on to the one I was avoiding the most: Booger. That's the innocent-looking one over on the right, above the lemon. Uck. Tastes like dirt again. But I'm home free. I've saved a cherry and two toasted marshmallows for the finale.

Thank you very much for revisiting childhood with me this fine gray Saturday morning. Maybe I should go turn on the cartoons!

Note: I see that Kathryn published and it came through. Mine hasn't. Hmmm. Mebbe I've done something bad.

Saw DareDevil tonight. Still processing. I didn't know the character at all.

Picked this up at Bryn's: (once again we are twins)


How evil are you?

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of waht they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do in order to have what you want.
~~Margaret Young

Sort of related to the quiz, but not. This particular quiz deals with being stuck in an elevator, which just reminded me of a dream I had last night. I dreamt I stepped into an elevator, but there wasn't anything there, and I was falling falling and trying to yell out that people better be careful, because the elevator wasn't there, and then I think I either woke up or landed in a pile of soft something. Ummm.

Which Sesame Street Muppet Are You?

The Friday Five

1. What is your most prized material possession? My cameras: the digital, the pocket Olympus, and the good-old-standby Olympus SLR.

2. What item, that you currently own, have you had the longest? My sewing basket. A Christmas gift from parents when I was ten.

3. Are you a packrat? Yes

4. Do you prefer a spic-and-span clean house? Or is some clutter necessary to avoid the appearance of a museum? I like a clean cluttered house. Does that make sense?

5. Do the rooms in your house have a theme? Or is it a mixture of knick-knacks here and there? Mixture

It's Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day. Check out Celestial Offerings for details!

I've just been informed: It's National Engineer's Week. Salute your favorite engineer!

Oh, and any more Survivor Bootees? So far we've got Daniel and Daniel. Anyone want to make it three?

I've just been a little off this week. Don't know if it's a flu bug that's knocked me down, not out, or too much activity, or just what. (and then, of course, Blogger doesn't like me this week. I'm sure THAT'S personal *grin*). Anyway, I work, come home, eat a bit, and crash. Dull dull dull.

Kathryn has a couple of terrific Wednesday Wonders posted...last week and this week are both thought-provoking. I WILL get something worked up by the weekend.

Congratulations to Elaine! She got her job. I think she's going to love it...lots of parts of it sound like what I do at mine, only on a larger scale.

Picked up this quiz over at Lynn's. Now we know that I am:

Which toe are you? o_O~?

Wow! Blogger actually let me on.

I just saw a flock of robins. I don't know if I've ever seen a whole flock. I think this means spring is coming...or robins are getting stupid.

Tuesday This or That:

Potpourri
1. Black or white? Black and white
2. Plaid or stripes? Stripes
3. Paperback or hardcover books? Yes
4. Color or B&W printer? Color
5. Golden oldies or the newest tunes? Golden
6. Ice cream: in a cone or a dish? Dish
7. Bath or shower? Bath
8. Are you outgoing or shy? Shy
9. Answer the phone when it rings, or screen calls? Depends
10. VCR or TiVO? VCR

I need help. Now that Valentines Day is over I have decided to keep my tree up...and make it a St. Patrick's Day tree. I even bought some shamrock lights. I need some Irish sayings to go on the tags I'm making for this tree. Anyone have some favorites to share? Thanks in advance!

Survivors Ready?
Taking guesses for bootees this Thursday. I'm going with Daniel this time, I do believe.

Well blogger likes me this morning!
I was one of the few in the States who didn't have yesterday off, I guess. But it was a good day at work, and I'm over with Monday now, while the rest of you are facing a Tuesday/Monday! Good luck!

My friend Sheryl sent me the link for this presidential trivia page. So, I'm a day late, but I tried to post it last night, I really really did! An example from the page is this about William Henry Harrison: In 1840, his supporters pushed a huge paper ball covered with campaign slogans from city to city. They added a phrase to the language: "Keep the ball rolling."

I stole meg's rainbow.

rainbow

It will be interesting to see how this all works out. You probably already know, but Google bought Blogger. Read it here.

Bryn found another one:
Unconscious Mutterings. They provide the first word, you provide the second. Free association...doesn't cost a dime.

1. Ecstasy ::drug
   
2. Journey :: life
   
3. Warning :: danger
   
4. College :: long time ago
   
5. Shrub :: bush
   
6. Pick :: nose
   
7. Restriction :airflow:
   
8. Cracks :: knuckles
   
9. Vacancy :: brain
   
10. Bears :: Glacier National Park
    

Another political quiz here. I think this one comes out pretty accurately (well, it has me as a centrist). Link via Roscoe Ellis.

Cactuslab game of four in a row here.

Taterbug looks like a mighty handsome young man, meg. Comments are down right now, so I'll comment here.

Bryn reminds me that there is a full moon tonight. Hopefully the clouds will break for it!

Music Man is on tonight. Our school did it my sophomore year...my first time in a pit orchestra. First time is always special. Can't wait!

oh, now this has to be the cutest cooking site I've yet seen on the web.

Skipping rope.
So while the kidlets were gathered for the festivities this weekend, I checked out the status of "double dutch" jump roping in the new millennium. I am pleased to report that it is alive and well, and the girls had many rhymes that brought back many memories.

Susan, bless her heart, has posted about a different set of exercises in "Games for When We are Older". I believe I've played a few of those too!

There is a vilality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never existing through any other medium and will be lost. ~~ Martha Graham

Oops, I actually missed a blog day! But everything is just all right...today we had the engagement party for my niece.

This is the first of the next generation to begin the commitment process. As divergent and wacky as our family is, everyone showed up to see the ring and wish the couple well (and pass on some advice and bucks to help with the main event). The new groom (whom we've known for three years) stood up to the stress of facing four uncles.

This niece is the oldest daughter of my brother who passed away. J.R. wasn't there, but his presence was surely carried on in the ear-to-ear grin of his beautiful girl. He would have been proud.

Hope you all had a great day.

Friday Five

1. Explain why you started to journal/blog. Natural progression. I had a homepage that was in semi-blog form. A visitor suggested checking out blogs.

2. Do people you interact with day to day or family members know about your journal/blog? Why or why not? My blog, while very G-rated, is something that is just for me. I edit enough in real life.

3. Do you have a theme for your journal/blog? Yeah, sure, isn't it obvious? Whatever interests me at the time!

4. What direction would you like to have your journal/blog go in over the next year? West

5. Pimp five of your favorite journals/blogs. Impossible. I was thinking earlier...just visit everyone on my blogroll. They're a great bunch of people!

**giggling like a kid over here**

I emailed an old chum last week. Today, I have flowers. Twenty beautiful cut tulips.

This is the power of the internet. It cuts across space.......and time.

Survivor
First night of Survivor, finally. Boys against the girls. Should be interesting. Survivorfever is a great links spot for news, speculation and spoilers. I'm going with Ryan as tonight's bootee. Any other guesses?

Edit at just before 8:00 pm....Let the Games begin!

Valentine's Day is Nicer on this side of the hill.
My absolutely worst Valentine's Day was in 2001. I was 49, alone, had had the flu for two weeks. I went to bed early that night, only to be awakened by sharp pains on my left side. I called the emergency number. The doctor on duty asked if the pain was palpable. I felt around my breast...oh whew, it was. Turns out it was a cyst that was infected, but I was sure that night that it was a broken heart.

On this side of the hill it's a lot easier to just go with the flow. I really do like pink and red. And LOVE takes a lot of fascinating forms.

Oh my. Jennifer points to Sex-In-A-Pan. The things you learn from visiting blogs.

Tuesday This or That:

1. Bacon or sausage? Bacon
2. Eggs: scrambled or not? Scrambled
3. French toast or regular toast? Regular
4. Pancakes or waffles? Waffles
5. Muffins or bagels? Bagels (stinky ones)
6. Coffee or tea? Tea
7. Juice: orange or grapefruit? Orange
8. Hot or cold cereal? Cold
9. To put in cereal: bananas or strawberries (or some other fruit)? Nekkid
10. Eat breakfast at home or at a restaurant? Home is fine, but a breakfast buffet is PERFECT

It's good to see Jann at Sweet Aspirations writing again. I was putzing around her place tonight, and was reminded again of rivertrout.com, a wonderful collection of letters. I highly recommend both sites. Exquisite.

Aren't these cute? I got mine here via a link from Lynn!

I want to wish a speedy get-well to Susan who is down with the flu. She blogged this morning and then headed back to bed.

Bryn has a wide assortment of posts to visit...and she had sunshine yesterday AND today! But she has a snowstorm coming. We just have 0/-17.77 temp coming here.

Survivors Ready? Taking predictions now for first bootee. I'll guess...Ryan!

Well, Jennifer is a two, but I'm:

I am an imaginary number 1i I don't really exist _

what number are you?

this quiz by orsa

Jump-Roping.
Do they still do it at elementary schools? Not the singular kind, but the group kind...two twirlers and a line of (usually) girls ready to jump in to hop to a jingle. That adrenaline rush as it became your turn, as you picked up the cadence of the rope to make your entry. I couldn't remember any of the jingles (mind going a little fast lately) but as usual, google helps out.

Down in the valley:

Down in the valley where the green grass grows
There sat my grandmother sweet as a rose
She sang, she sang, she sang so sweet
Along came my grandfather and kissed her on the cheek
How many kisses did she get that week
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and so on until that person messes up jumping.

Thanks to Traditions and Treasures for the memory tweak. There were several variations that could be run on that rhyme. More jingles here.

Here comes the Sun. After a week of continuous gray, today was a relief. The sun was bright all day, warming the car, warming my spot on the sofa at Mom's while we watched Trading Spaces (the one where Gen installed the tin ceiling for the kitchen), warming my cold heart. I have a list of my ten favorite words...light is one of them, sun another. Whew.

Bev's been playing in the snow. That's one heck of a snowman!

WW
#2

The Wednesday Wonder for this week is to design a "CreativityCuriosity Work-Out". Yesterday I posted some of the 5-minute ones. Here are five 30-minute (remember, don't get hung-up on the time) creativity curiosity walks.

Argh. I'm hiding my head in embarrassment. It was supposed to be curiousity work-outs, not creativity work-outs. I flunk. Going to the dunce chair. *sigh*

1. Take a walk. Be as observant of EVERYTHING on the walk as you possibly can. When done, jot down every detail of the walk in order. See how many gaps you have in your log.

2. Take a walk, only...walk backwards. The creativity comes in how you respond to people's reactions to you and how you respond when you fall on your butt. (Hopefully you'll just pick yourself up, dust yourself off...and hey, that sounds like a song!)

3. Take a walk with a camera. Look for specific things. For example, look for a color. Nature colors are a good way to start out, colors like pink take a little more examination. Look for shapes. Frame your shot. If you have film or disk space, fine, take the shot, but the creativity is in the frame, not the output.

4. Take a walk in the cemetery. Look at the monuments. Make up stories about the people memorialized there. Note the dates, the ages, whether they are alone or with other family members.

5. Take a walk outside on a clear night. Look up at the skies. Search them for your own personal constellation...not one of the ones the astronomers tell us about, but one of something you can picture. Name it. Name it in Latin. Remember it. Point it out to a companion.

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

C. G. Jung

(I see there is a cjungpage.org page.)

Oh Susan....you're driving me nuts with all those links to Valentine Chocolate places....keep on doing it! And Lynn...that recipe sounds AWESOME!

Scott over at edgecurve has an interesting collection of Seattle bumper stickers.

WW
#1

The project for this week's Wednesday Wonder is to design a creativity work-out. I've got a bunch of ideas for 5 minute work-outs, 30-minute work-outs, and a day work-out. Here are a few 5 minute ones:

First, if you're being creative you do have to remember that five minutes can mean anything from a minute to fifteen minutes. Do not constrain yourself with time.

1. Do normal activities with the wrong hand. If you're a righty, brush your teeth with your left hand. Brush your hair with the opposite hand. Pour beverages into glasses with the "other" hand. (Kathryn, easy on the wine there.) Tie your shoe or button your shirt...with the lesser used hand. Mouse with the wrong hand.

To continue this feeling throughout the day, wear jewelry you normally wear on one side (rings, bracelets, watches) on the other wrist.

2. Color with crayons. Make sure you break at least one crayon in each session. Smell the crayons. Heck, TASTE the crayons.

3. Take pictures of ordinary things in ways that make them look extraordinary. (I wish Wendy still had her weepixile site up...this is what she did for the Blogathon and it was wonderful!)

4. Stand on your head. (At my age, this will take a WHALE of a lot of creativity.)

5. Blog non-stop for 1-15 minutes. Don't correct. Hit the post button. (Oh, okay, you can take out obvious typos...but don't spell check and don't thesaurize any words.)

Charles
Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in 1812. Lots of staying power for a dude of that era, and lots of staying power for a writer who is the dreaded "required" reading in high school.

Edit:Bryn has a good post about CD day.

A dear friend introduced me to A Tale Of Two Cities about 10 years ago. His favorite line was:

It was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and touched her face with his lips, he murmured some words. The child, who was nearest to him, told them afterwards, and told her grandchildren when she was a handsome old lady, that she heard him say, "A life you love."

Ok. I did it.

A co-worker had a "where they are now" book of our high-school's graduates. There were a couple of people I was curious about and their email addresses were listed. I just sent them emails. Will they respond? Will they remember who the heck I am? Stay tuned!

Update at 9:53 p.m.
Okay. One email bounced. No surprise there. The other one did elicit a reply...he's over in Egypt building something. I thought he was in California?!!!! Argh. Anyway, it's a great electronic age we live in.

THURSDAY
Good morning!

Kathryn has a new Wednesday Wonder up! It looks like challenging fun.

Blu is pointing to some intriguing articles. (Especially February 4th.)

It's been one of those weeks...way up then way down then way up. Pass the dramamine, please.

Old toys: Did you ever hula hoop? They were all the craze in the 50's, and we have home movies where we were hooping all over the place. I bought one a few years ago....uhoh. Time, gravity and this old body have changed.

Good Wednesday morning!
I have a niece Bryn as well as my blogging buddy Bryn. Last night when I got home there was a message on the answering machine from Bryn. Her voice was lilting, so I was pretty sure it was good news...and it was! She's engaged! This is the first of the nieces to reach this stage of life. Her old aunt is mighty happy for her. We've liked her boyfriend for a long time, and he has to be pretty all right to put up with us.

Jennifer at fortysomething is pointing to Real Simple. I'm printing the recipes now!

The Swimsuit Edition. (Not the usual one.)

Tuesday This or That:

1. Morning or night person? Night
2. Heavy or light sleeper? Light, unless I'm sick or exhausted
3. Remember your dreams or not? Some
4. Do you need a lot of sleep, or just a little? Variable (must be my age)
5. Do you need something like a nightlight or TV to sleep, or do you prefer complete darkness? Nightlight
6. Flannel sheets or some other kind? Flannel in the winter!!!!!! *grin*
7. One pillow, or more? more more more
8. Bedroom door opened or closed at night? Open
9. Wrap yourself into blankets like a cocoon, or just cover yourself with them? Cover
10. Alarm clock: wake to music or buzzer? Music

Blogging
Around
Whoa! Ava caught a wave! We should all be so lucky.

Lynn is doing the good kind of "giving up". If you have any resources on quitting smoking, sugar and caffeine, she needs your input!

Have you stopped by Bobbi's lately? Beautiful heartwork.

Susan, maybe there is still some hope for that competition in March Madness. Thanks for the plug!

DianeG has a beautiful post about telling her children about the space shuttle. She also has a neat link to a quick-time American Sign Language primer.

Via Hestia Chronicles and Celestial Offerings:

I am, of course, none other than blank verse. I don't know where I'm going, yes, quite right; And when I get there (if I ever do) I might not recognise it. So? Your point? Why should I have a destination set? I'm relatively happy as I am, And wouldn't want to be forever aimed Towards some future path or special goal. It's not to do with laziness, as such. It's just that one the whole I'd rather not Be bothered - so I drift contentedly; An underrated way of life, I find. What Poetry Form Are You?

Heart
Tree

I tend to have a little trouble handling the darkness and greyness of January in Michigan. Knowing this, I make sure all my lights are bulbed and ready to illuminate. I also decided to keep my table top Christmas tree and decorate it with some heart lights I found at Browns Pharmacy. I thought the lights would be enough ornamentation...

Kathryn has created the Wednesday Wonder blog/meme. She posts ideas for projects for the week. The January 15 post was Finders, Keepers, Creators and pointed to this site on Found Art, which is about creating art and then releasing it into the wild.

Lightbulb time! I had a bunch of art type supplies around, so I created 18 pieces of "tag art" to adorn my tree. After Valentines Day I'll release them. It was such a cheerful, in-the-pink project for a gloomy time of year.

That's what I love about blogging. Sometimes you click on a link and find a lifeline.

February 2, 1982.
It had been a cold January. There had been an ice storm on New Years Day, and the temperature had never risen above freezing since then. Boo, who was sixteen at the time, had built an ice rink in the back yard.

We had buried my father that afternoon. It was a Tuesday. My sister had been planning to skate with Boo and Dad that night. We all helped her keep that date. Later we sat around Mom's living room, batting a balloon. (Bryn was only three, we couldn't sit and cry all day, now could we?)

The snow began to fall. And then: a huge crack of thunder and lightning. That rarely happens in a snowstorm. We figured Dad was tinkering with the weather machine. Oops.

I believe there is a "further up and further in".

Okay, we all love to do the blogroll now and again...meg has the snazziest blogroll I think I have EVER seen. If anyone sees Elvis, tell him to sign on in!

Link via Hestia




I'm exceptionally artistic!

Find your soul type at kelly.moranweb.com.

It was a little too cold to sit around at the Michigan State University 4-H Children's Garden yesterday. A little too cold, and a little too gray. But it felt good to be outside without having to brace against the cold (it was in the low 30's) and it felt good to walk. Argh!

More gray is predicted for this week. I'm just gonna have to remember to turn on my heartlights!

SO SAD

My friend Sheryl sent me a link for a very peaceful site. Slow loading, but worth the wait.