At the
MoviesLast night we saw the movie Emma and Alex. Or wait, is it Alex and Emma? Anyway, it was kind of a hohum movie, but sometimes that's all right. Two new Bobby Duvall movies previewed. I think Duvall is such a treasure. One was Open Range, with Kevin Costner. Now, I've been a KC fan since the old Bull Durham days, and Field of Dreams is one of my top three favorite movies, but his recent films just aren't in the same range. This one has beautiful scenery (filmed in the Canadian Rockies) but...it looks dark, Wyatt Earp dark. *sigh*

The second Duvall up-and-coming is Second Hand Lions. I hadn't heard any buzz on this one -- but the trailer was certainly winsome. Also stars Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment.

Oh, and IMDB set me straight -- it's Alex & Emma.

Swiped from Roscoe's.


Helium! You have your head in the clouds and think
a lot. Sometimes however, you miss a lot of
things because you're simply not paying
attention.


What Element (heh, heh...) Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Insomnia. Counting Sheep.





Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

Yikes. It is already Thursday night. Definitely getting busier up here in Michigan.

Ah, the joys of spring. Waking up to the birds singing instead of the radio. (Well, it's kind of nice as long as it isn't toooo much before the alarm goes off.)

There are still no fireflies. I wonder if it was too cold of a spring.

Time for last week's Wednesday Wonder. If you haven't checked out the Wonder, it's a great meme that involves some wondering throughout the week. This week Bryn was the author, and we were to introduce ourselves in one of three ways:

Read your astrological sign here. How accurately does it represent you?

OR

Describe what you are "not," do "not" believe in or do "not" represent, are "anti"...

OR

Describe yourself/your life as if you are talking to a 5-year-old child.

The "not" challenge caught my fancy, and so, you may find what "I am not" here.

Does someone have an easy definition of civil twilight? Thanks.

The Tuesday This-or-That is on reading. Can't miss that!

1. Newspapers or magazines? Yes. Too many of both.
2. Books-on-tape or regular books? Regular Books
3. Paperback or hardcover? Yes. Normally paperback but I will buy hardcover for certain authors and certain dear-to-the-heart subjects.
4. Fiction or non-fiction? Yes
5. Sci-Fi/Fantasy or romance novels? Romance
6. Borrow from library or buy books (either new or used)? Buy. I'm notorious for being a slow return at the library and that is embarrassing...so I don't usually borrow them.
7. Subscribe to magazines or buy on newsstand? Yes.
8. Current best-sellers or classic literature? Yes. Right now I'm doing a Hemingway thing.
9. Read books once, or re-read favorites every so often? Usually once, but...A River Runs Through It is coming up on its tenth read.
10. Here in the U.S., we have two hot best-sellers...former First Lady Hillary Clinton's memoirs, and the new Harry Potter book (coming out June 21). If you had to read one, which one...Hillary or Harry? Why? Hillary, because I do quite a bit of biographical/autobiographical reading. Reviews have been mixed on the book though, so I may wait on it.

STILL
NO
FIREFLIES

Where have they all gone? Do you have any? Want to send some up to mid-Michigan? Help!!!!

Ut-oh. from LifeAdventures:
In recent years, fireflies have made major scientific news. We've long known why they blink their lights -- they're cruising for love. But only recently have researchers determined how they control the pattern of quick on and off. The answer turns out to be an enzyme called nitric oxide, the same chemical signal that powers Viagra. The findings could prove extremely important for human medicine.

Dominant
Side of the
Brain
Bryn found the site to take the brain dominant test over at Otto's. Thanks! I'm going to retake it on Friday, see if the "other side" kicks in then.

Shirl, you are mildly left-hemisphere dominant while showing a slight preference for auditory processing. This overall combination seems to indicate a well-working blend of logic and judgment and organization, with sufficient intuition, perception and creativity to balance that dominance.

You will at times experience conflict between how you feel and what you think which will generally be resolved in favor of what you think. You will find yourself interested in the practical applications of whatever material you have learned or whatever situation you face and will retain the ability to refine whatever knowledge you possess or aspects of whatever position you are in.

By and large, you will orient yourself toward intellectual activities and structure. Though not rigid, you will schedule yourself, plan, and focus on routine and continuity of operations, rather than on changes and disruptions

When changes or disruptions occur, you are likely to consider first how to ensure that such disruptions do The same balance is reflected in your sensory preference. You will tend to be reflective and measured in your interaction style. For the most part, you will be considered objective without being cold and goal-oriented while retaining the capacity to listen to others.

Preferentially you learn by listening and maintaining significant internal dialogues with yourself. Nevertheless, you have sufficient visualization capabilities to benefit from using graphs, charts, doodles, or even body movement to enhance your comprehension and memory.

To the extent that you are even implicitly aware of your hemispheric dominance and sensory style, you will feel most comfortable in those arenas which emphasize verbal skills and logic. Teaching, law, and science are those that stand out among the professions, along with technical sales and management.

Happy
Fathers
Day

Yesterday's roofing project at Mom's took on an unexpected twist. The attic of the garage came under cleaning attack, and there were scads of photos and old memorabilia we had stuck up there through the years. Old toys were found, faded prom flowers, and for me, there was the box of letters that I had saved from my freshman year in college.

On Fathers Day I would like to share a piece of a letter my ole man wrote me in January of 1970. He wasn't an outwardly sentimental man. He was short and stocky and loved cars and sports and was often mistaken for a football coach instead of the auto parts salesman he was. But....

What do you mean, "Don't forget me." We don't and we won't ever forget you. Every once in a while I look up on the book shelf and say, Hi Punkin, to your picture. Silly ole me. I know you can't hear it.

Dad's been gone since 1982, but I won't ever forget either.

We alway do the Unconscious Mutterings.
Arbitrary:: Willy Nilly
Sweatshop :: Hard labor
Cotton ball:: eyes
Intimate:: this close
Forgotten :: Dreams
Photography:: memories
Secretary:: amanuensis
Stadium:: Spartan
Purpose:: Life
Shoe box:: of pictures

And a pleasant Saturday morning to you. Just doing a little surfing before I head off to my mother's house. My up-north brother decided she needed a new roof on her garage, so the carpenter types are gathering to make it happen. We "non-carpenter" types will be doing the food thing and amusing (or being amused by) the kidlets. How are you spending your Saturday? (If it is not too forward to ask.)

Lots of transitions going on in the lives of folks on the blogroll. Lynn has a new job. Cyber-brother Jeeem is headed to China in September. Kathryn just left her job and is headed toward a private practice (after she visits family). LillyAnne is moving her big household. Yikes! Robin is recuperating and getting stronger. Yay!

Listening to Elvis this morning. Picked him up over at meg's place.
Also found some extraordinary visual sites over at Sugar-n-Spicy. Excellent.

The Wednesday Wonder question this week is by my blog twin Bryn. It's an "introduce" yourself type question, and one of the ways she offered for introduction was by telling what we are "not". Talk about looking at the "other side" of things. My list is getting long, bryn!

Wake up, Susan! I dress on Saturday's for Susan's howsabout you question. I'll go shower and check back later. See ya!

Well hello there! Are we all enjoying/have enjoyed our Friday the 13th? This, for me, was the one day this week that proceeded rather normally.

For all my blogger.com buddies...what are we thinking about the new interface? Pro/Con/Too soon to tell?

Also, to my blogshares.com buddies: I never get upset when you sell me. That's how the game is played. *sigh* I was high for a little while, but I'm dropping fast now, so do what you need to do!

Tulipstats died on me! Argh. I threw a sitemeter on fast, but does anyone have any feedback on which tracker works best? Thanks in advance!

Saw it at Bryn's.




How random are you?

this quiz was made by alanna

Google: wall.
21,900,000 responses.

Wall Street.
VietNam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Hadrian's Wall.
Berlin Wall.
Wall Drug. (That was the highlight of my friend Dee's trip out west. The woman is an inveterate shopper.)
The Great Wall of China. (My cyber-brother Jeeem can tell you about his adventures there....and his upcoming adventures in China.)
The Hole in the Wall Gang.
The Wall of Jericho.

Life Without Confetti is Only an Existence

Smack!
I just hit a wall.

Wednesday
Wonder


The Wednesday Wonder this week involved observing accessibility:

Note which places have wheelchair accessibility. Even one short step can be the difference between accessibility and inaccessibility to someone in a wheelchair. If you were in a wheelchair, could you get into your favorite places?

Michigan has been one of the leader states in disability rights, having stringent laws before the ADA. Most public places are ramped both up to the door and inside if there are steps. Handicapper parking must equal a certain portion of the spaces in a lot, and these laws are enforced. Curb cuts rule! (And have you noticed how handy they are for mothers with baby buggies?) At least one bathroom in new buildings must be accessible: grab bars, spacious enough for a chair, and sink that can be wheeled under. Even some of the State Parks have paved trails. Unfortunately, people's attitudes always lag behind the laws. (And I do so miss the speedy handicapper sign above. It was retired in the 90's. Too bad.)

For another Disability Viewpoint, visit here.

There's a Christian song called I Can Only Imagine that has been getting a lot of play-time on secular radio in our area. Cindy posted the words at her site the other day, and in response to my comment pointed to this article on the group that sings the song. (Wonderful song. Thanks, Cindy!)

What is Molasses?

I went here to find out.

Molasses is the syrup remaining from processing cane or beets. Traditionally, sugar cane processing involves three boiling processes to extract the juice. The first boiling produces light moleasses; the second, dark molasses; and the third, blackstrap molasses.

In January of 1919 there was a Molasses Disaster in Boston. A molasses tank exploded, killing 21 people and causing a flood of molasses through part of the town.

Cookies are done and I really should go to bed now.

Good night.

oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Some folks swear by peanut butter cookies, some by chocolate chip, but for me....give me a warm molasses cookie any day and I'm transported. Absolutely.

Of course, it is kind of weird to be baking in June. It's been a bit chilly up here in Michigan.

BlogShares.
I know some folks haven't been happy with BlogShares and that's cool, but I've had fun playing with it. I've also been introduced to some interesting blogs through it. One site I've come to enjoy is Scribble, Scribble, Scribble by Dale Keiger. He points to some articles he has written, and I got a big chuckle out of this one: "Far" North Dakota "Go". I have been to Fargo!

Off to check on the cookies.

Okay, let me ask...why am I making molasses cookies at midnight??? 'Cause I really don't have a clue. Sunday I made molasses baked beans. They were a hit at the family dinner. Now the cookies. But at midnight???

Actually, I'm going to blame it on blogger. Yep, I was on-line at about 11 and blogger was down for "emergency hardware fixings" (maybe that was what was going on this weekend) and so I decided to stay up and see if blogger would return. And here we are. The dough is chilling in the 'fridge.

First batch is now in the oven.

MONDAYBLUES

Well, at least this is cool. Last week a bunch of folks stopped by The Other Side due to searches for spirea or ladybug tattoos. We had pictures of both!

This feels like a rough-starting week. Hope yours is a good one!

Cooool! You're Natalie. Shes kind of goofy but
still a cool individual, the most interesting
angel.


Which of Charlie's Angels are you???
brought to you by Quizilla

Swiped from Lynn. Any feedback on the first movie, or plans for the sequel?

Oh yeah! The Chili Cook-Off!!! It was great fun. We avoided the hot hot hot, but that still left standard, chicken, vegetarian, and various presentations.

And speaking of google: I posted that I was going to the Cook-Off at 1:24 p.m. Friday. By 4:45 p.m. someone had found my blog via Google via request for the Chili Cook-Off. That is amazing to me!

A cameraman for WILX took shots of our hands holding and spooning chili from the cups. (It was bizarre. We were eating and suddenly this big camera swooped in.) I fell asleep before 11:00 (yay for those margaritas) so don't know if we made the news.

Must have some Unconscious Mutterings:

Suspected:: Unsure
Indulgent :: Grandparents
Advertising:: Game
Represent:: Stand-in
Ethical :: Moral
Witness:: Harrison Ford
Triumph:: Win!
Talons:: Eagle
Finals:: Exams
Squeak:: Mouse

Saturday Slant
Whether you have children now or simply need to imagine yourself with a child (even someone else’s), where in all the world would you most like to take your child? Where would you like to show your child? Where? When? Most importantly, why?

I have two answers to this:
1. The mountains. (Specifically the eastern face of the Northern Rockies.)
2. Impressions Five Museum

Now #1 is the romantic answer. Three years ago I had a chance to be with Boo's family out west. Glory was riding with me, and as we drove up from Great Falls toward Glacier Park I became slightly excited as the mountains appear. (Oh okay, I was just this shy of hyperventilating.) Lookee lookee lookee, I said.

Glory looked up from her Harry Potter book. "You're weird, Aunt Owwee," she said (with a smile). So that one was more for my benefit than the child's.

Impressions Five Museum here in town is the happenin' place for the young set. It is a hands-on science museum, and they never tire of going there. Might as well go with the flow *grin*.

For a lovely description of where she would take a child, visit Hestia. (Kathryn, you do know what your true calling is, don't you?)

BLOGGERBLUES

All righty! Did we all have fun this morning with The Blogger Blues? For some reason blogger.com went missing this morning for some of us. I've grown accustomed to problems, but I do usually report them to....google! Yep, I'm sure it does no good, but help@google.com, webmaster@google.com, and suggestions@google.com heard from me this morning. Nothing nasty, mind you, but the weekends are my play days.

Board of Water & Light's Chili Cook-off Tonight. I always go. Do you have a secret to your chili?

My non-blogging friend Sher sent me the link for the ten rules of lomography. Hmmm.

Questions from late at night:
Are you, or have you ever loved, a fisherman? or fisherwoman? Yes. I have one on the hook right now. Trouble is, he's too young, little and pretty.
What was your favorite playground activity in grade school? Tether Ball (This question is going in our newsletter at work this month. It was thought up by one of the managers...he wondered if playground choices might be a way to define certain types of people. I know, I know, we're a heating and air conditioning company, but we get into lots of reallllly strange discussions.)
Is it really better to have loved and lost? Yes
Will we have any 90 degree days this summer? Not looking too hopeful up here in Michigan
Why do you read the books that you read? Cycles get going. What prompted this was thinking about Hemingway. I'll blog more on that. Really
Where are you going to? Further up and Further In.

Need a destressor? I might suggest going to share a bowl of berries with amit.

Blogger didn't like me this morning. Grrr! But we have sunshine tonight, so I'm over it.

Robin has a post up! She's been recovering from surgery and this is the first post since May 21. Robin is Susan's sister and I enjoy reading of their love for each other. Sisters are special, and these two really are amazing.

What a lovely surprise.
I had just cradled the phone after talking with my mother tonight when it rang. I almost answered it with a teasing "what did you forget" but something stopped me. Good thing.

The sweet voice with the uplifting lilt on the other end of the line was unfamiliar, but I knew immediately who it was when she said, "Try the dairy aisle for molasses".

Wondrous wonders, it was my blogger twin Bryn, calling from Cape Breton. We had a delightful conversation, and i shirley couldn't stop giggling. She is such a sweetie! Bryn, hugs and love to you, and thank you for your wonderful inspiration.

Bryn is an amazing researcher. I love to read her responses to the Wednesday Wonder. In the firefly post below, she has tons of firefly information that I need to bring up here:

"Firefly" is the common name for the nocturnal luminous insects belonging to the beetle family .

Lightning bugs, also called fireflies, are not simply bugs and are not flies. They are beetles and part of a scientific family that contains the largest order of living things—290,000 species at last count.

The light given off by fireflies during their abdominal flashes is called bioluminescence. It happens when oxygen and the organic compound luciferin react together in the presence of the enzyme, lucifereace. This creates light.

Although other insects can produce light, fireflies are the only insects that can flash their light on and off in distinct signals. Even the eggs and larvae of some firefly species glow. That’s where the name "glow worm" comes from.

Some fun facts about fireflies:

Did you know that the state insect of Pa. is the firefly ?
Did you know that you won't see fireflies west of the state of Kansas ?
Did you know that you can set up your backyard to attract fireflies ?

F I R E F L Y.

And now for the follow-up question:

What do you like to put on your pancakes?

Number 8 on the Pronoia Therapy list:

You perform a senseless act of altruism, for instance by giving an anonymous gift or providing some beauty or healing to a person who cannot do you any favors in return.

I occasionally do the "pay it forward" thing at McDonald's drive-through. The reactions from the order-taker vary dramatically.

That is soooo cool!
Huh?
I'll have to ask my manager.
Nobody ever did that for me!! (Okay kid, here's your chance to be part of something positive for someone else!)

The reactions from the following car are funny to watch if I'm still in line. Some will honk and wave, some look like they're in serious discussion with the order-taker (probably trying to figure out what the catch is or if they know me), and some appear embarrassed.

Oops, now that I've posted this I've lost my anonymity. There goes the karma!

The Wednesday Wonder is back, and true to form, here I am at the eleventh hour.

The subject is: Pronoia.

She introduced the CEOs to the flip side of paranoia: “pronoia”—the idea that everyone is not out to get you, but that they are out to love you, or at least to appreciate you, if you reciprocate. According to the new Darwinism, only the pronoid survive—in fact, only the pronoid endure and flourish.
[Fast Company, Nov. 1999]

Kathryn asked us to look into pronoia as this week's wonder. Initial reaction: noias probably aren't very good. However noias are a matter of degree. I tend to look at life probably a little on the negative side, and that is limiting, so a little pronoia therapy sounded good.

Ever the helpful teacher, Kathryn sent us here for pronoia therapy. I liked number five the best:
You kick your own ass 22 times
However, I pulled a leg muscle on the the 15th kick, had to go to the hospital...no, I'm kidding. It was marvelous exercise. (And if I HAD had to go to the hospital I probably would have met the love of my life and lived happily ever after. Okay, now I'm dreaming.)

Anyway, I had a chance to try to get the pronoia juices going at the grocery store this evening. I couldn't find the molasses. I looked high and low by the baking goods, the sugars, that sort of thing. Could not find it. Grrrrr. I thought. They're hiding it from me. Then I realized where THAT train of thought would lead. About the same time a man stopped me, wondering if I knew where the bar soap was. "Ummm, nope, it was right here before the remodel." He went off searching for a clerk and I thought, that's it! I'll find a clerk!

Found the stocker who was very nice and said, "I think it's in the baking goods aisle." See, that's logical. So I went back, and it hadn't swooped onto the shelves where I thought it ought to be.

Again, trying to hold the thought that this wasn't personal, I found another stocker. "I think it's in aisle 9," he said, but instead of leaving it at that he went to the aisle. It wasn't there. And he said, "I'll go find out." He was back in a jif and directed me to: the cereal aisle! Where the syrups were! (Try that, Lynn, I bet you'll find it.)

So as I headed there I pondered. I could have gone off all grumpy, thinking the grocery store didn't want me to have molasses. Instead, by trying to look at the situation pronoiadily, I:

1. Got my molasses.
2. Talked to two stock boys.
3. Talked to the soap bar guy again. He had his quest in his hand as I rounded the corner bearing down on my molasses.
4. Developed a running exchange with a lady in a motorized wheelchair who kept going down the same aisles I did.
5. Noticed this little old gray-haired lady smiling every time I came around the corner.
6. Kept blood-pressure to a minimal rise.

So, yep...pronoia might be a good mind-set to develop. Now to develop yet another good habit!

Thanks, Kathryn!

Molasses.

Where would YOU put it in the grocery store?

Morning. That is all.

FIREFLIES


Those luciferin-blinking critters should be making an appearance sometime this month. We usually see them around the 18th. How about you? Do they spread their light in your vicinity?

Whoops! Boo's family has been a little bit too busy lately, and they almost missed daughter number two's fifth grade graduation. Fortunately the word somehow got out, and we received phone calls at 4:30 today informing us of the 6:00 p.m. ceremony.

Boo's three girls are stair-steps; 13, 11 and nine. While a fifth-grade graduation isn't earth-shattering by itself, to miss it would have been seen by daughter #2 as favoring daughter #1. You know how sisters are. Whew. We could see the little rascal pointing out her row of relatives to a friend. Glad we got there so that WWIII didn't start.

Places within families are interesting. I was the good-two shoes type (so I've been informed) and a bossy older sister type (who me?) What position did you play on your family's team?

Nephew Number One Graduated!
Yesterday we sat in the bleachers of one of the local high schools, watching the class of 2003 traipse across the stage and receive their diplomas. That scene will be played out in countless venues over the next couple of weekends. It's a moment of great joy, and of great sentiment.

J.J. is my brother J.R.'s boy. It amazes me how true the cliche is: wasn't it just yesterday that we watched J.R. manuever up the stairs of the old Civic Center auditorium stage and clomp across the platform on his crutches to the embrace of the principal and board of education president? It probably wasn't just yesterday. J.R. is gone, the old Civic Center is torn down, life is irrevocably different.

And yet graduation is still the same and that is a comfort. It is a marking of a moment of entrance into a new stage of life.

Yay for you, J.J!!!!

Scott is on one side of the country and John on the other, but they both take wonderful photos!

LillyAnne is on a little break, but she says she's going to continue messin' in folks comments *grin*. Mess away, ma'am...'cause you rock!

and the answer is...my ladybug needs a leaf beneath it.

Unconscious Mutterings:

I say … and you think … ?
Tattoo:: Ladybug
Sunburn :: Ouch
Jaguar:: Sleek
Trousers:: Zipper
University :: Go Green
Express:: Yourself
Suicide:: Ultimate sadness
Slide:: Playground
Rain:: Showers
Bulletin board::Notice

Questions from late at night:
Are you, or have you ever loved, a fisherman? or fisherwoman?
What was your favorite playground activity in grade school?
Is it really better to have loved and lost?
Will we have any 90 degree days this summer?
Why do you read the books that you read?
Where are you going to?

Back from Tourist in Your Own Town. Will try to post pics later.

Want to know the secrets of good at-home cooking of Chinese food? Ilana pointed out this site. Great info!
Jennifer at fortysomething points to the International Photo Scavenger Hunt, slated for July. Sounds fun! Jennifer has been my unofficial BlogShares advisor.
Robin...please post! And Leah...get over that bronchitis. Please!

Busy day weekend here.

Today is "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" day. I had visions of getting a good walk in and visiting several venues downtown. However, we have rain right at the moment. That is discouraging, though I suppose it would alleviate the crowds.

Downtown Lansing also has an exhibition of Seward Johnson sculptures. These life-size sculptures are exhibited throughout six blocks of downtown for the summer months. They create a lot of excitement. We had a set last summer, and a new set has been unveiled for this season. Now if summer would just get here!

Now tomorrow...neither rain, nor wind, nor snow shall keep us from first nephew's high school graduation! Yikes, but time is flying!

Running around the blog world:

I learned a new word at Lynn's place.
My cyber-brother Jeeem posted his tattoos! They are cool! (Note: While Jeeem is my cyber, not biological brother, he looks enough like my real brothers to be part of the family!)
Susan is a media star!
Hestia has had several life changes in mind for the past few months. They are beginning to happen. Best wishes, Miz Tejas!
Oh man! Cybertoad's office sounds like a dream job!
Bryn comes up with such a variety of items at Celestial Offerings. If I took only half the good medical advice I found there....
Joni Loves Brian, and by the looks of her new design you don't want to mess around with Joni! *grin*
Convalescing from surgery, meg still finds time to dispense tips and information and megness. And meg, we wear the same perfume! (thanks to frank's interview for that fact!) Bet it smells better on you!

Okay, gotta run now, but more blog-wandering to come this weekend!

Sweet! Susan was interviewed in her newspaper about the joys of blogging!

Is everyone finding that with the advent of spring there is less time for internet activities? I know things have been jumping here!

Ok doke! Wednesday Wonder is back up! Check it out.

Forward


What's your sexual appeal?
brought to you by Quizilla

hahahahaha....thanks for the link, hestia!

Hard to get up this morning? Did you writhe in bed, thinking of the torments to face you today? Do you have two days worth of work to squeeze into this one lousy day?

Welcome to.....the Tuesday Monday.

Good luck.

For Eliza.

We visited a cemetery where many family members are buried on Sunday. One of the gravestones was that of great-great-great-grandpa Warren. He and his third wife were named on the front of the marker. A baby son was named on the south side of the marker, facing into the cemetery. On the north side of the marker, facing the road, was his daughter, Eliza.

We have several artifacts of Eliza's. We have a couple of her schoolbooks, with detailed Rube Goldbergesque drawings done in the margin. We have several autograph books in which she appears, with her beautiful Spencerian hand and fine ink drawings. And we have a letter that she wrote to her brother Charlie when he was in Kansas, describing the beautiful Michigan spring and asking him to "come home".

Eliza became a schoolteacher (one wonders if she let her students write in their texts). According to family tradition, she caught cold walking home from school and developed pneumonia. She died at the age of 24.

It would be easy to view Eliza as a victim of her times, but in truth she's our hero. For she was Idy's best friend and when her brother Charlie came home...he married Idy. And this whole side of the family says "thanks, Eliza" for writing that letter.

The power of the word.

The blogger problems appear to have reared their heads here. Hopefully this won't last for long.

Someone needs to remember to check the amount of time left on their digital camera battery. We won't mention any names, but someone only got eight shots off this afternoon before the little icons started showing a flatline. Please remind this someone to be more observant. Please.

Ten of us visited the old country cemetery this afternoon. Armed with shovels, gloves, and plants, six urns were filled lickety-split. Three country families stopped by as we worked. Though she hasn't lived in that area in more than half a century, my mother knew them all.

After the urns were filled and after the old pumped had been primed seven times and spurted water we played the "find the name" game. A quarter went to the first kidlet who found Emily and Amanda and Sally and Ida and Roswell. (They're pre-teen kidlets or a quarter would never work.)

Whoa! I just got educated! I had always called the plant to the left "anthony water spirea". I'm not sure why. When I just googled "anthony water spirea" I came up with a batch of pictures that showed a red fuzzy flower.

Interestingly, when we were at the cemetery today I had mentioned to my mother how I thought the flowers were used in bridal bouquets when I was young. She laughed and said she had thought the same. Well, the laugh is on us. The plant is called......mmmhmmm, you got it: bridal wreath spirea.

Lovely lovely images over at Sensitive Light. It takes a spot of time to load, but is well worth the wait.

How does the way you appear to others differ from the real you?
Who we are to other people is filtered through the kaleidascope lenses of their perceptions. People often interpret one’s shyness as aloofness or arrogance. Someone who may appear confident and in charge is inside actually quite scared and uncertain. How do you appear to others, but are really not?

I am a sort of compartmentalized, multi-faceted person, so I would say that how I appear to people is usually how I am, but only part of how I am. Argh. That doesn't make sense.

Politically, I don't show my passions with most people...but the passion is there. With the guys at work who hunt and fish I share my love of nature, while with the computer geeks we get into that area.

Some people think I'm a know-it-all, while others think I'm wishy-washy.

Good question, and I'm not making sense (perhaps I really am a multiple personality, argh) but thanks for asking, Pariah!

and of course, we must have our weekly Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Badminton:: Birdie
   
2. Obsessive compulsive :: Debbie
   
3. Prosthetics:: Legs
   
4. Sophistication:: New York
   
5. Hiphop :: New
   
6. Stammering:: Stuttering
   
7. Property taxes:: Buried in rent
   
8. Lowrider:: Jeans
   
9. Blowtorch:: Burn
   
10. Formality::Just
    

And no, I didn't play with the answers to get GREEN *grin*! Link via AsIAm.

. . . What is my spectrum? I am green: My main color is green. I like to have fun and comfort. Happiness is the marker of a great life. . What is my spectrum?

Bruce, Almighty.

Ever have one of those times when a movie just fits your mood exactly? I had one this afternoon, when I caught Bruce, Almighty at a matinee. It had the physical humor that goes with a Jim Carrey movie, but it also had one of the loveliest (read sappy, sentimental, tear-jerking just like I like 'em) lines I've heard in recent movie history. Perfect movie for the grey day.

Swimming, anyone?

Up here in Michigan lake swimming is a big thing. We've got lakes all over the place, and playing at the beach is a good way to spend a warm weekend day. Big time lakeage is over at Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. We always preferred Lake Michigan, with its sandy beaches and big-time opposite ogle factor. (Query for you Wisconsin folk: is your side of Lake Michigan sandy or stoney?)

Anyway, the usual rule-of-thumb growing up was lake swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It's a temperature thing. And this weekend doesn't look good: highs are only supposed to be in the 60s (F).

Do you have swimming memories?

One of the questions meg was asked in her Sandhill interview was about the perfume she wore. Unusual question, so I'll ask it here of y'all. What do you smell like? (okay, so that's not how it was worded, but...)

Michelle at Mandarin Design is an incredibly special person who has blessed the blogging world with her generous sharing of tips and her writings that tickle and illuminate. Read her interview with Frank Paynter over at Sandhill Tech. Thanks for sharing, meg!

Memorial Day Weekend.

Here in the states we're coming up on the Memorial Day Holiday. Sunday we'll be at an old country cemetery, tending graves of family members. We've actually snookered the next generation into going too. Boo's girls and Crystal's son are regulars and know how the urns should be filled: first a dab of clay from the pit in the back of the graveyard, next toss in the potting soil, then each urn gets a spike, a vine, two geraniums, a foliage plant, and petunias to fill. Then they'll fight over who gets the water at the old red pump (it takes seven pumps to prime) and they'll spill half of it but they'll have fun. And when the graves are tended, we'll walk through the cemetery and see how many of the grands, greats, great-greats, great-great-greats, and great-great-great-greats they'll remember. (See, once you find the beauty of Michigan you seldom leave. The family came here many moons ago and put down big roots.)

Edit to add:
So what's up with YOUR weekend?

Amazing. It was freezing here this morning. Literally.

Yikes! This week is going fast. That's the problem with a couple of days off work: when you return the work has mounded and it takes some mighty quick digging to reduce the pile.

I've been reading Jim Harrison's The Raw and the Cooked, Adventures of a Roving Gourmand. Harrison is one of my favorite quirky writers, and part of his appeal is that he is a Michigan State graduate (all together now: go green!) and he maintained a Michigan home base up until the last year or so and one of his other home bases is in Montana, my second favorite state. (Sometimes my first favorite, depending on what's happening here in Michigan.)

Anyway, everytime I read his food essays I get this urge to spend time in the kitchen. I am not a domestic diva, so this can be highly amusing. Last night I decided I would make some fruit salsa. Have I ever made salsa before? No. So why not start with regular salsa? That would be what smart people would do. I, on the other hand, am not smart, so I gathered the recipe items and started chopping. Cilantro smells wonderfully clean when it is being minced. (Oh great, I just read that coriander (cilantro) comes from a word that means "bedbug" in Greek as both it and "bedbug" have the same smell. Dratted google, anyway!!!) Did quite fine, too, until I got to the papaya. Thanks for the tips on cutting, Susan and meg and amit. I got a little bit of the fruit, then gave up, and stopped chopping before I managed to mangle the mango.

So, the salsa was only so-so. I'm wondering about the vinegar now. Last night I was using a white wine vinegar (specialty and pricey). I just found an internet recipe that called for apple-cider vinegar. I wonder if my palate just isn't sophisticated enough for pricey. I'm going to try again. I think. Will keep you posted and please leave me any suggestions (if you've made it through this rambling). Thank you very much.

Ut-oh...I ended up the same as hestia on the pirate test.

Okay. How do you cut up a papaya? Thank you very much.

take the nerd test.


and go to mewing.net. a nerd utopia.


via Joni, who loves Brian.

Misfit, oddity, eccentric, oddball, loner, non-conformist, rebel

Oddity, peculiarity, quirk, foible, idiosyncrasy

Eccentric, unconventional, unusual, strange, weird

Oddball, crank

Loner, recluse, hermit, outsider

Non-conformist, dissenter, maverick, radical, free-spirit, individualist

Unconventional, alternative, avant-garde, original, exceptional, irregular

Unusual, strange, curious, extraordinary.

Playing with the thesaurus.

They're working on opening up Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier Park, Montana. Wonder if they'll have it done by August?

Blogger is going to be doing some renovations and moving, so...I hope to see you all on a regular basis, but if I'm not here...blame it on Blogger! (I really do love blogger and it is nice of them to give us a heads up that changes are in the wind.)

Wonderful! Amit caught the Full Lunar Eclipse, both in image and words.

Have to do the Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Naked:: Bare
   
2. Singular:: One
   
3. Particle:: Atom
   
4. Unified:: Together
   
5. Lion:: Aslan
   
6. Capitulate:: Surrender
   
7. Quantum:: Physics
   
8. Celestial:: Offerings (hi Bryn!)
   
9. Motion:: Wave
   
10. Delight::Giggle
    

I'm back home now. Today is the start of Michigan week, so I'm going to be babbling a lot about Michigan for the next seven days. How should one start a Michigan Week? Why, with a Parade, of course, and so Lansing duly hosted a parade. And what should be the star of that Parade? Altogether, now, this is Michigan....Cars! And, as this is the fiftieth anniversary of the Corvette, well...I just saw 150 of the critters coming up Washington Avenue. Wow!

(A wee little disclaimer here. Lansing was the home of the Oldsmobile. The 'vette originated over in Flint.)

Oh yay! Ilana is posting again, and with a new lay-out. Sweet!

I picked up a copy of Writer's Digest this month. It is their 101 Best Web Sites for Writers issue, and I'm off to check out the sites under the Creativity listing. The first is Creativity-Portal. Next up is CreativityforLife. Now on to The Soul Food Cafe. (Soul Food is the best of the bunch so far!) I'm curious about Magnetic Poetry. (If you've ever played with those words on your refrigerator I would highly recommend this site.) Last on the Creativity list is Tera's Wish. I shall return again!

Home Alone.

I have a day off work today, yippee! I figured with Mothers Day last weekend and a busy weekend coming up I could use a little down-time. (Of course, I had no idea I'd catch a cold too, and spend a good share of time achooing and cough-dropping, but anyway, down-time is good!)

Anyway, there's a poor little chihuahua that lives in the apartment below me and he (she?) barks and barks and barks. Then it gets quiet. I wonder if she (he?) gets tired or loses its voice. Poor baby. Now I know what I'm missing when I'm at work all day.

Mothers Day Tradition.

The last Mothers Day that Grandma Bea was with us was 1986. She and Grandpa Larry were at my mother's house. When it can time to leave, she said to my mother, "I have a present for you." Grandpa Larry opened the trunk and took out a flat of pansies.

Presents had always flowed to the mothers on Mothers Day, never the other way. Mom asked Grandma why? and she just smiled and said it was something she wanted to do.

Mom is always good about picking up on traditions. Now each year she buys a couple of flats of pansies and distributes them to those who visit her on Mothers Day. Pretty cool!

I wanna see my shadow!! Oh yay! It worked this time. Stolen boldly from meg...you rock!

It appears that the weather isn't going to break for us to see the lunar eclipse here in mid-Michigan. On the 11:00 p.m. news they are showing Minneapolis' coverage. Anyone out in blogdom have any luck?

Thursday Night.

And no Survivor to pick our bootees. Hrmph.

Aha! Total eclipse of the moon tomorrow! I bet if I go check out bryn's page she already has it posted!

Ummm. What is it that they say about the full moon affecting behaviour? Things are going berserk over here. (well, not really, but it sounded good)

Haven't done this-or-that for awhile.

1. Packrat or minimalist? Packrat
2. Computer: desktop or laptop? Desktop
3. Seashore or mountains? Mountains, followed by Lake Shore...beautiful Lake Michigan lakeshore
4. Carpeting or bare floors? Carpeting
5. Drinking water: bottled or tap? Bottled
6. Shopping websites: eBay or Amazon? about 50/50
7. Cute little kitties or big scary tigers? cute little kitties
8. Front door or back door? back door
9. Lots of jewelry, or little/none? little
10. Thought-provoking question of the week: At the last minute, you obtain tickets to an event you're dying to attend. However, you have to work that day! Do you ask the boss for the time off, or just call in sick? Ask. The boss is very understanding.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope all that are celebrating today are having an enjoyable time. I did, we did, and now it's time to do the Unconscious Mutterings:

1. Want:: to be
   
2. Pleasure:: Smile
   
3. Sugar:: Sweet
   
4. Special:: Friend
   
5. Pure:: White
   
6. Right:: Left
   
7. Something:: Nothing
   
8. Cherish:: Adore
   
9. Pub:: Tavern
   
10. Snap::Bean
    

This is cool! I work just off Baker Street, and it was named for the L. Baker, who was the head of the Secret Service in 1865 and found John Wilkes Booth. How come I never knew that? Apparently the land in the Baker Street area was part of his family's farm.

Survivor Reminder: Finale is Sunday

I'm putting my boot order in the comments. EDIT: Well, I would, if I could ever see this post *grin*.

Mothers Day Tradition
I'm not a mother, but I have one *grin*. Traditionally I prepare a "Grandma" meal at my mom's house, and whatever siblings are available come. My brothers and brother-in-law help me set up and tear-down, so everyone gets a break.

A "Grandma" meal consists of roast beef, potatoes with gravy, coleslaw (the sweet and sour type), peas, cottage cheese, Parker House Rolls, and jelly. That's a direct from Grandma Bea menu...it was our usual Sunday dinner when we visited her. I think she also used to make it for threshers. Threshers=Grandchildren? Sounds about right.

The dessert will be purely for my mother, though. Ice Cream -- lots of it! Enough to leave left over ice cream for the next week.

How will you spend YOUR day?