The Photo Thursday at Create a Connection hostess this month, Amber says:
"...a good theme for this week's photo day to post a picture of something new to you. A new food you had never tried before, a new pair of shoes you love, a new friend you just met, anything that is new to you."
Here's what's new to me; they just arrived a few days ago, and I'm SO in love with them!
Skeleton Poppet
Little PInk Poppet
Here's a shot of them meeting Captain Jack Sparrow, who seems to have lost an arm:
Here, they meet Screaming Mimi!
And here, they're settling in nicely together:
Happy lil poppets :-)
If you'd like some poppets of your own check out their creator's blog for details!
The Photo Thursday at Create a Connection hostess this month, Becca says:
"Today we're discussing/showing off those crazy kids. Now, i don't have human children, but i do have 4-legged and very furry children. And oh boy, are they crazy at times!
Now it's your turn to show me some of your babies and the funny things they like to do. Human children and furry children alike! Heck, even bird children..."
Oh, this one is SOSOSO easy! I'm going to limit it to pets I have now, else...it could go on and on and on (there's 17 pictures as it is).
First up:
Max RARELY plays with any of the gabillion dog toys laying about...but every now and then, after Wolf has gone to bed, he'll take one of the furries and chew on it ;-)
The Photo Thursday at Create a Connection hostess this month, Becca says:
Today we're posting about birthdays! They can be yours, someone in your family, your pet, a friend... it doesn't matter! Show us some really fun pictures from birthday parties you've attended.
Here's a picture that was one of the first I took on my 50th birthday 21st anniversary of my 29th birthday this past June; it's from a bouquet sent to me by my friend, MaryEllen:
Unfortunately this next one is a bit washed out from the flash, but here's a shot of a group of my friends that went to Vegas to celebrate my birthday with me:
This Thursday, over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection we have a new hostess: Becca!
Becca says: This week, post either your favorite back to school or Fall photo's. Let's see those kids with their new school clothes or your favorite parts of the upcoming Fall season.
Since I don't have kids, I'll post some shots of my favorite parts of Autumn!
First off, PUMPKINS!!!
I adore pumpkins, in fact, I saw my FIRST jackolantern (ok, too early, but still) on the way home from work today! I swear! I'll try to get a picture of it tomorrow, it was in someone's back yard LOL!
Next, blue skies and beautiful foliage, like this:
and this:
Finally...my favorite holiday, right at the tall end of Autumn:
Halloween!
Why?
Cause it makes me scream:
Did you play?
Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is appropriate for my last time hosting in the month of August!
This week, I'd like to see you post a picture of a "goodbye", a fond "farewell" or even better, an enthusiastic "see you later"! This could be a wave, a sign, a kiss, running away from the camera, any one of many things! Have fun with this!
Sailing away into the night, saying goodbye to the island we just visited!
Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is "unique".
This week, I'd like to see a picture of "unique". I was once told I was unique by my ex-husband, and when I tentatively smiled at him, he added..."but not in a good way." I felt sad for him, sad that he didn't appreciate uniqueness, that he didn't appreciate expressing enjoyment or delight in life. He would rather I was like everyone else...perhaps you understand this? I can't say I do, but to each their own! That's what makes life interesting...can you imagine if everyone was exactly the same? Eek!
So go ahead and post a picture that represents "unique" to you.
Come play!
Continue reading "Thursday Photo Day: Unique!"Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is "love".
This week, I'd like to see a picture of "love". What love means to you, what makes you feel loved, what you love! This week, no ideas, just take that word, "love", and show me what it means to you.
Come play!
Continue reading "Thursday Photo Day: Love"This is my second Thursday of hosting Photo Thursday at Create a Connection.
The theme I chose this week is summer...all these photos represent summer to me, in some way, shape or form.
Continue reading "Thursday Photo Day: Summer!"1) Which are the latest doors in your mind, your world, you had to close, to feel safe, to stop bearing grudges, to just learn to say goodbye and to move on?
I recently ended a friendship because it was causing me more frustration than pleasure. Life's too short, and you know, people do change...sometimes not for the better!
2) Do you believe in Helen Keller's famous quote ... when a door closes another one opens?
Oh yes, I sure do! As an example, I went to my boss awhile ago and told her I wanted to resign from one aspect of my job (I wore two hats at work). Unfortunately, there were already two full time people doing the other aspect of my job and the company didn't really need me to do that. But...what do you know? One of those folks gave her two week notice, so voila! I had a job again! Funny how that works...
3) Sometimes all doors are closed, but there are Windows the third eyes is the biggest window of our mind. How do you escape this way? how do you heal traveling by that window?
What are the thoughts that appease you when all doors are closed in your life or on your path?
If all doors and windows are closed, I know it's a temporary thing, and I wait it out...I have endless patience. I enjoy life while waiting, because, what's the alternative? Not fun :-)
4) Eyes are often seen as the windows of the souls; would you agree?
Do you feel people's soul this way? Is the gaze something important to you?
Do you feel you're an open book when someone reads in your eyes?
Staring into your lover's eyes is an amazing thing! I don't feel that all people are an open book through their eyes...some people are very deceitful. I don't feel I'm an open book at all. I tend to not let people get to know me very well...even when they think they do :-)
5) Tell me about the door you need to close and open right now? think. look around. your goals. your regrets. your anger. memories. anything. make peace with yourself.
There's a BIG door I need to close. And another I need to open. It remains to be seen if I am able to do either.
This is Nina's first week as the Dialog Day hostess this month. She says: So today I am hoping to hear a little bit about what YOU have been up to this summer. Where have you been and what have you been doing?
This summer I did something I've never done before; two things, actually!
1. Turned 50! It's a memorable birthday, to be sure. It makes me feel...well, I'm not sure how it makes me feel, to be honest! I think that since most of my friends are significantly younger than me, it might be embarrassing to them to have a friend who is now 50, and I'm not sure why I think that. Certainly, none of them have expressed such a thought! But there it is, I throw it out there for discussion.
2. Visited Las Vegas, a place I never had a desire to visit (The Stand, anyone?). What made me want to go? One thing; the Cirque du Soleil show, Love, which not only met but exceeded any expectations I might have had (I don't generally have expectations; it seems a sure fire way to get disappointed). It was HOT the 4 days we were there, hit 117 one day, I believe.
I've also taken quite a few day trips (mostly to NH) and a couple of long weekends, one to my cousin's and one to Vermont.
Lake Winnipesaukee
Portsmouth, NH
Hampton, NH
Newburyport
Vermont
Coming up are three weddings (and no funerals, I hope!) that I will be photographing, one in St. Thomas! Woohoo!
I'm so excited!!! I'm trying something new this month; let me introduce you to the host (each Thursday for the month of August) over at Create a Connection for Photo Thursday: me!!!
Go check it out, and please play along if you're so inclined! Just leave a comment there if you play so others can come visit you :-)
Also, while I have your attention about Create a Connection, I'd like to tell you a bit about Melba's other efforts. Melba is the creator of not only Create a Connection, but of justBe...connected and The Creative Bazaar
If you click on the justBe link...you'll see she's organized a gathering for creative bloggers this coming October...and it's going to be located in my home state, down the cape, Hyannis to be exact. There will be a craft fair and workshops, friendships (old and new), food and fun! I hope to go down on Saturday to meet up with DebR, among others...LOVE the cape in the fall!
Anyway, on to my entry for Photo Day Thursday!
Once you get to know me, you'll know that "fun" is a top priority in my life. Maybe this makes me simple...maybe this makes me smart...who knows!
This week, I'd like to see you post a picture of what is "fun" to you! This could be watching the waves roll in on the beach or eating an ice cream cone or seeing your dog/cat/kid/significant other smile or knitting something or reading a book or cooking dinner for your family or yourself! There are so many fun things in life...and you know, life is too short not to get out there and enjoy those things! So...go ahead and show me what you enjoy, what you consider fun--I want to see!
Here are my pictures of things I consider fun:
Fun! And funny :-)
This is Katherine's last task for Photo Thursday; I must apologize to her for not participating in the others, my loss, as they were GREAT prompts! This week, she says:
"...this week's prompt is beauty. What is beautiful to you? What scenes and sights do you cherish? I absolutely love the sight of sailboats on the Puget Sound, interesting patterns in clouds and motion in lights.
I find beauty in the simplest things:
in footprints in the sand,
in this beautiful dog,
in the ocean,
the woods,
and in my own back yard.
Of course, I find beauty in my wonderful friends, too!
Jimbo, Megan, Diane, Maureen, Betsy, Heather in Vegas
My cousins, Mel (on the left), and Maribeth, 3rd from the left
Pat (she won't let me take her picture, so here we have a fine stand-in!
Michelle at the beach
The Scream!
and flowers...who could forget flowers?
I also find beauty in unexpected places:
How about you? Where do you find beauty?
Holly, the Getting to Know You hostess of the month, says: Today we'll be digging in a little deeper and finding out who/what brought us through the rough times in our lives. Maybe it will inspire all of us to reach out and do one small thing to cheer someone else up. Reach out and RAK someone today.
1. When you were going through a rough time in your life, what did someone do to help get you through that period. (you don't have to tell us about the rough time if you don't want, I just want to hear what helped you through it) I was quite depressed in my late teens; my live in boyfriend had been hit by an oil truck while on his motorcycle and broke his pelvis as well as most of the bones in his foot. We had 3 german shepherds and 8 puppies at the time in a 3 room apartment ... and I had to care for them all, plus pay the rent and utilities. While in the hospital, my boyfriend got addicted to the morphine they gave him for the pain which changed him mentally (he became cruel and abusive; he eventually received shock treatments, which, as you can imagine, messed with his memory big time) and I ended up moving out of the apartment with him and in with my friend, Sue. There were days when I just wouldn't get out of bed, and Sue would patiently come in, literally make me get up, and then we'd go on an adventure. We'd drive here or there, she'd make sure I ate and had fun and pretty soon, I was feeling back to myself. I always remember her with much love and fondness for doing this for me.
2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of a RAK? What was it? How did it make you feel? I've been lucky to receive quite a few RAKs through out my life. In recent times, a friend of mine sent me flowers to the office, and that really made me smile! Another friend gives me her magazines when she's done with them, like Real Simple and Martha Stewart, which I TOTALLY love!
3. Have you ever sent out a letter/greeting/bunch of flowers to someone, just to cheer them up? Did you do it anonymously? I have, yes, but never anonymously. I should do it more often, tho!
4. If you were not familiar with Random Acts of Kindness before now, are you more inspired to go out and do something nice now? I was familiar with it...but I also am more inspired. But, damn it, I'm forgetful! If I don't do it RIGHT NOW...well...
5. If you know of another good website that encourages spreading joy and love, please pass it along. I saw this Kind Blog button on Zoot's blog the other day and thought it was an awesome idea!
Holly, the Getting to Know You hostess this week, says: Children today don't get a chance to explore nature as in the past. The thought made me shudder and terrified me that children aren't encouraged to explore the world around them. My questions to you today are:
1) What are some of your memories about the "great outdoors?" (games played outside, camping, hiking, bike riding, running in the rain)
Many of my best memories involve spending time down the cape with my cousin. We'd ride our bikes, go to the beach, swim, lay in the sun! I also went camping a few times as a kid, once to Bar Harbor, ME, another time to a campground in PA, where I fell in love with a beautiful palomino horse. At home, in the summertime, I'd play games with the neighborhood kids: 1-2-3 Red Light, hide & seek, dodge ball, Mother, may I?, and always, always riding my bike!
2) Do you spend a lot of time in the outdoors, or have you lost touch with nature? If you've lost touch with it, how could you incorporate more of the outdoors in your every day life or would you want to?
I take my dogs for long walks in the woods on the weekends in the spring and summer, and to the beach in the fall and winter. It's a good 45 minute walk thru the trails at the woods, and I love it! My camera often comes along as well, so I can snap pictures of whatever catches my eye. I also have a garden, and actually enjoy mowing the lawn :-)
3) What small thing can you do (or are you doing) to ensure that the earth and all it's bounty will be here for future generations?
Recycle!
4) Can you share one or two links that showcase the great outdoors or some way to help heal the earth?
MA State Parks - There are some great places to hike, bike & camp in MA!
An Inconvenient Truth - One of the best movies I've ever seen!
5) Feel free to share a picture of you in your environment, enjoying the outdoors and just plain having fun.
Here's four shots of New England in all her glory:
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
This is Charlotte's last week as the Getting To Know You hostess this month. She says: What better way to get to know someone than over food?! Some of our best times are spent visiting with friends and family over a delicious meal. My challenge for you today is to share a recipe with us and tell us why you chose it. Is there a memory attached? Is it a family recipe that's been passed down through the generations? Did you cook it at your first dinner party in your first apartment? Is it a recipe from a famous chef that you've mastered?
I'm going to share a recipe for summertime...it's very simple, sweet & cool and new to me...but I love it so much I want to tell the world!
Cucumber, Mango and Black Bean Salad
This is the original recipe, I'll add my changes as I go along!:
1 cup chopped seeded cucumber [I used 1/2 an english cuke, peeled, too]
1/2 cup chopped mango [I used a whole mango]
1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained [I used a whole can of black beans]
2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeno pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stirring gently. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)
I love adding this to some brown rice and tofu or grilled chicken. Ooooh yum! Nutritional info (which applies to the original recipe) follows...
This is Lia's first task for Photo Thursday. She says:
"Dear Friends: My name is Lia Kent (aka Art Junk Girl) and I'm thrilled to be your Photo Day host for the month of JUNE! Traditionally, June is a month of many celebrations: weddings, graduations, and don't forget summer vacations [ed. note: and birthdays!]! So, this weeks photo prompt will be entitled, "Celebrations". Please take a photo of a celebration you will attend this week."
Now, I'm a rule breaker bender from way back...and I really wanted to share this picture I took at a wedding last summer.
This particular shot was taken during a celebration of their two cultures coming together as one. They separately collected a jar of sand from their favorite beaches, hers from Maine, his from his hometown in Spain. The woman in charge of the ceremony had them pour the jars of sand into a single jar, signifying their joining. Then they both took hold of a sand dollar, broke it in half, and emptied all the "white doves" inside the sand dollar into their single jar of sand. It was one of the most lovely celebrations I'd ever seen, and I loved the significance.
I hope you don't mind that I bent the rule a bit!
This is Charlotte's forst week as the Getting To Know You hostess this month. She says: June 2007!!! Can you believe it? Time passes so quickly, Our lives are so full of family, work and community activities that the days fly by in a blur sometimes. Now and then I stop to think about where I am in life,where I've been and where I want to go.
So these questions are geared toward the past 2 decades, the present and the future. Share your life with us!
Ready? Here we go!
Where were you in 1987? In school? Working? Single? Married? Attached? What was important to you? What were you doing creatively? Tell us a bit about your life then. I realize some of you were children then...all the better! In 1987, I was working at Hanscom AFB, living with my first love, Michael in Lowell, and thoroughly enjoying life. We had two cats, Toy & Cameo, and I'd just met my friends Betsy, Diane, Maureen & Kim. Creatively, I was, as now, into photography. Toy & Cameo were often my subjects, as was Michael and his nephew Jason. Michael and I often took trips to VA (where his sister & nephew lived) and NC (where his mother lives). These trips were always in the form of loooong car rides, and I loved them! Michael usually drove and I got to read...for miles and miles and miles. And often I'd ask him to pull over so I could photography this abandoned farmhouse or that old church. I discovered all sorts of things dating Michael; love, orgasm, chiltins, sweet tea, the novelty of being the only white person in an all black church. For a northern girl, that was quite interesting, and I have to say, those folks were so nice to me!
Where were you in 1997? What would you like to share about the nineties? At this time in 1997, I was living in Somerville, MA with my cats, Molly & Jasper. I was dating He Who Shall Not Be Named (no, NOT Voldemort) and working at the company I'm at now. I met some new friends, Julie, Megan, MaryEllen among others.
The nineties were a time of huge change for me; after splitting up with Michael (I can still remember the day it happened; I was devastated) I went through a promiscuous phase which continued until 1992; when I married Lou. Shortly thereafter, the Air Force moved us to Japan, I met Gaylen, worked for the best boss ever and split from Lou, which did NOT cause me any sadness at all (SFSSDMF).
Where did you plan to be or think you'd be in 2007? Have your realized your goals? What is one thing about your present life you love and one you'd like to change? In 2007, I thought I'd be the mother of a 6 or 7 year old, possibly twins, from He Who Shall Not Be Named. Nothing could be further from the truth; I will be 50 this year and childless, altho if fur kids count, I have two of those! I also have a great group of friends, and that's one thing about my present life I love. The one thing I'd like to change would be to have a significant other to go through life with. If it happens, great. If not, that's fine, too.
How do you see your life in 2017? Do you have any goals or dreams for your future? It's hard for me to imagine what life will be like then. First of all, I'll be almost ... 60!!! Hopefully healthy (I'm working on making that so now), hopefully financially ok (working on that too) and hopefully in a place of my own. But...if Dad's still alive and healthy, so much the better! In 2017, Max will probably be gone (he's 10 now) and Wolf...well Wolf might be around...he was born in 2001 and who knows! We (that's the royal we) won't think about that, will we, precious?
Great bunch of questions, Charlotte.
Today is Ninotchka's last Thursday as Photo Thursday hostess this month. She asks: "...share with me your "water" pictures. I know some of you already did and you left me hungry for more. :) I can't wait to see what (more) you have to offer!"
Here you go, Nino!
Water! I love water; frozen water, still water, rushing water, pool water, water that reflects the things that surround it...but most of all I love sea water!
Ninotchka is the Photo Thursday hostess this month. She asks: What's something that's useful in your home that you have come to really love? That's easy!
I absolutely adore this Keurig coffee maker! Ok, it's not even mine, it's Dad's, but...I use it every day! It makes a quick cup of coffee that tastes good. What more could I want?
Yum!
Ninotchka is the Photo Thursday hostess this month. She says: I thought it would be fun for us to post our favorite pictures of the year thus far.
Oh, easier said then done, Ninotchka! I went though all my photos and settled on these 16:
I'll have you notice Max is included but not Wolf! See! It can happen ;-)
***updated***
As Julie kindly pointed out: "Isn't that Wolf on the beach?" Wolf IS represented in these pictures....OMG I'm losing it!
DebR is the Thursday Photo Day hostess. She says: This week I want you to give me a hand - one of yours. Oh, not permanently, of course, because I'm sure you need them both to do all the creative things you do. Ahem. But I'd like to see everyone post a portrait of their hand or hands - alone or with someone else, at rest or at work or play. I think hand photos can be amazingly expressive.
Deb, this is my favorite picture of my hand. I was driving to work one day and stopped at a red light. I glanced into the side view mirror, saw my hand...and thought WOW! That would make a great picture! And it did :-)
More hands for your viewing pleasure :-) Enjoy!
Tammy is the Getting to Know You hostess. This week, she says: I thought for this week, I would pick questions from this book (The Conversation Piece) and see what you all think! I am not following a theme, but rather, picking questions which interested me and things I want to know about YOU!
1. question #255 - If you had to change your first name, what would you choose as your new name? I always liked the name Beth; it's part of my middle name, and for awhile in my very early 20s, I insisted that everyone call me that. Didn't work out for long! My boyfriend at the time, Chuck, would call the house and ask for Beth, my mother would say, sorry, you've got the wrong number and hang up on him :-)
2. question #158 - What is your favorite saying, quote, or expression? "A [wo]man can stand anything except a succession of ordinary days." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
3. question #49 - If you could buy any rare collection in the world, which would you choose? Why? Rare collection? Hmmm...um...I don't know! I'm not much of a collector anymore. Perhaps a collection of signed first editions by favorite authors...yeah, that's it!
4. question #1 - If you could fly in a hot-air balloon over any city in the world, what city would you choose? Why that city? Have you visited there before? Oh, Paris! So much to see, such beautiful architecture, and it's laid out so well. Yes, I've been to Paris twice, and hope to go a few more times.
5. question #221 - What is an item you own that has a minimal monetary value but has such sentimental value that you would not sell it for $5,000? That's a good question...and I'm not sure I have a good answer to it! Maybe my LOTR trilogy book that Sean Astin signed? Or the latest Colleen Gleason book, Rises the Night, signed by the author herself (thanks, Colleen & Megan!!!)?
Jennifer is the Saturday Try Day: Finding Art in Nature hostess. This week, her last, she says: Today I'm asking you to take a look outside- find the art in nature, the tiny details. Take a picture, or create a work of art with some other media to share your bit of nature with us. I've shared one of the photos I took this week on my blog. When I have a chance later today I'm going to add some more images. Be sure to post your creation on your blog and share the link here!
I'm a little late, but here's my Art in Nature Shot:
Wolf and I had a great walk this morning with my friend Lauren; when I got home, I dropped off Wolf and took Max for a walk, taking pictures both times.
It was a quiet, very nice weekend. How was yours? Get in any good April Fools Day jokes?
Jana is the Getting to Know You hostess. This week, her last, she says: After a month of giving you all nice themed questions, my inner ADHD child rebelled and insisted that we ask questions that we REALLY REALLY wanna know about our fellow bloggers! So here are our completely and totally random questions for you:
What did YOU eat last? I just had a cherry starburst and it was yummy!
What about YOUR love life? Anyone special? Tell us about him/her! No one special, not in the sense that you mean...but that's ok!
What is it like where you live? I live in a little, VERY old house (1800s), with a big back yard, lots of trees and a garden, on a busy street.
What are YOUR favorite features about yourself? Hmmm...my knack of not getting my feathers ruffled easily...and being up for just about anything!
What deep thoughts have YOU been pondering upon? Mostly things to do with finances; how I feel I'm FINALLY on the right track and that I'm considering purchasing a vacation home with a friend.
List 2 random things you love about life: I love the unexpected, and I love brussels sprouts!
How did YOU find out about CAC? I found out about CAC thru DebR; she's always got such cool things on her blog!
What do YOU love most about spring? All the flowers in bloom!
Swampgrrl is the Thursday: Photo Day guest host. She says:
It is possible that some of us will never get to drop over to each other's houses for a cup of tea or coffee. We see each other in cyberspace where the window dressing gets to be whatever our imagination or technical know-how can create.
So here's a different way to connect beyond the screen.
Get your camera. Walk out your front door. Snap a photo to the left. Snap a photo to the right. Include something that may have begun to sprout or something that may any day now come to life...
Post a link here, so we can share in what's going on outside our doors.
Here's what I saw outside my back door just a couple days ago!
EEK! Look at poor Wolf!
Jana is the Getting to Know You - Your Life as Art. She says: To participate, just post these questions to your blog, along with your answers. Then leave us a link here so we know you joined the fun!
List your favorite(s):
Continue reading "Create a Connection: Favorite Things"Swampgrrl is the Thursday: Photo Day guest host. She says:
So here's the theme for this Thursday: 1) Post a photograph from a favorite vacation; 2) And/or locate one from a future vacation spot. Say why you loved it or why you will love it. Post a link back here, so we can connect in our travels.
On the left, we have a picture inside the Great Hall of the Musee du Louvre; top right is a garden at Stirling Castle in Scotland, in the middle...an alligator from the Everglades in FL and on the bottom, a setting sun at the beach in Waikiki. I've been to all these places, but they're the places I'd go again in a heartbeat!
I loved Paris with all my heart, and the funny thing is...I didn't expect to like it much at all. There was so much to see and do and experience there! I've been twice and will hopefully go again :-)
Scotland, I felt that I'd love and I did. The scenery, the accents, the kilts, even the haggis! LOVED it!
The Everglades in FL was someplace I'd always want to go to, and finally, after a cruise one year that MaryEllen got lucky on (gambling, not sexing!), we ended up vacation with a airboat tour. Fantastic!
I've been to Hawaii 3 times so far, and I would go back yearly if I could afford it! It's like going to Japan, only everyone speaks english!
I didn't include a picture of Japan, because I don't want to vacation there, I want to LIVE there!
Jana is the Getting to Know You - Your Life as Art. She says: So today, let's think of our lives as artwork, shall we? (You can be as long or short winded on these as you choose! My answers will all be long-winded, because I am just chatty that way!)
If your life were a DVD, what would "The Making of Fondofsnape" reveal about your life behind the scenes?
* I love to laugh alot
* and read
* and take pictures, so there would be a lot of those 3 things going on
* I have a problem with low self esteem
* Alone is not lonely :-)
If your life were a collage, what would be a few of the most important images displayed?
* Canon cameras, 35mm and digital
* Family and friends
* Places I've visited: Edinborough Castle; a cafe in Paris; a beach in Hawaii; a picnic under the cherry blossoms in Japan
* Captain Jack Sparrow, Professor Snape and Legolas from three of my favorite movies
* My pets through the years, ESPECIALLY Wolf, Max & Molly
* My tattoos
If your life were a comedy, what would be your funniest moment?
Driving around in Japan, not 10 miles from my house, but HOPELESSLY lost...and with NO money. This was before cell phones, so I couldn't call anyone...nor could I stop and ask directions, cause I'm directionally challenged at the best of times and I didn't speak much Japanese. I finally got home 3 hours after I left it to get a can of chicken soup for my sick husband, and boy was he pissed [ahole].
If your life were a book, who would be listed in your cast of characters? Holy MOG there's alot! But then I've been alive a long time. I'm only going to list folks I've met in real life, cause if I start listing bloggers this'll go on for DAYS!
* Mom - The first person I met, not including a doctor or nurse :-) She passed away 12/17/05, I miss her alot!
* Dad - The second person...and he promptly dropped me! Dad's like me, a unique person :-)
* Larry - My brother. He can build a computer from scratch and is great at getting good deals on electronics!
* Grandma - Dad's mom; she was SO damn funny and kind and caring...and a bit weird!
* Nana - Mom's mom; she was strict, but I enjoyed her company
Tammy is the Photo Thursday guest blogger at Create a Connection; the topic this week is Fun. Tammy says: For this week's Photo Thursday, I needed a light and airy topic. I've had a rather heavy, difficult couple of weeks. I decided, what better way to let myself (and YOU!) lighten up, than a topic of FUN? Wide-open - just the way I like it!
Fun! I love fun! I try to make fun a top priority in my life. Some people look down on me for that..."Fun's not very important" they say...to which I reply, Pshaw! It's MOST important!
You might have to click on the picture to read the text; at the bottom of the box, it says: "For Fun and Prophet" So irreverent...but funny!
A SCARY fun house! Even better than just a FUN fun house :-)
And finally, what's better than a bride with a sense of humor:
My friend Betsy set up this shot, she has the best sense of humor of anyone I know! I'm in the picture, too, can you tell which one is me?
Tammy is the Photo Thursday guest blogger at Create a Connection; the topic this week is Family. Tammy says: I thought it would be fun to share photos of the people you love if you want to do that! Or if you're not comfortable with that, share things that make you think of family, traditions you have, etc.
Well, today is Dad's 82nd birthday, and I snapped a quick picture of him this morning to commemorate the day:
Happy Birthday, Dad!My only other immediate family is my brother, Larry, shown here with one of the furry, 4-legged members of the family, Wolf.
Here's a picture of Larry when he was younger with Babydog, who belonged to our cousin's:
I was struck by the similarity in the two pictures!Last, but not least, here's Max.
That's it! Small family, eh?
Swampgrrl is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she says: So this meme is a chance to practice snap decision making. Here are your instructions: Answer the following questions by intuition ... whatever comes to you immediately. If you spend more than 2 seconds on the answer, leave it blank and move to the next question. Ready?
1. You run into a friend who has just chopped off all her long hair (or suddenly has an Afro). What do you say? If any of my friends made a change to their hair, especially something drastic and quite different from what they'd had before, I'd comment on it (if I noticed it LOL). And then we'd have a conversation about it, I guess.
2. You walk by a well dressed man with manicured hands who smells like a gin martini. He asks you for money. What do you do? Not sure why I would be able to smell his hands when I'm walking by him, but generally when someone asks me for money, I keep on walking. Of course, most people who ask for money aren't well dressed, so that might stop me in my tracks, and I might ask if he was ok...
3. Your brother or sister or best friend falls madly in love with someone you think is a jerk. What do you do? HA! Can't fool me with this question. I ignore it, cause the quickest way to lose a sibling or friend is to comment on their choice of dating material.
4. You get a terrible present from your husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend. Do you let it show? Tough one. If it's from someone that knows me extremely well, then I might say something. Generally, I've been lucky in the presents I get from loved ones.
5. Who's your favorite Beatle? George! No, John! No, George! Argggghhhhh!!!
6. You walk by a disheveled man wearing soiled & tattered clothes. He politely asks you for money. What do you do? Keep on walking!
6. Skinny Elvis or Fat Elvis? Skinny Elvis.
Bonus: Good job! Next, go find an outrageous picture of your Elvis on the net and post it at the bottom of your answers. Be sure to give credit to the photographer. (Give yourself bonus points for velvet).
This is the most outrageous photo I could find :-)Credit to opmden
DebR is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she says: We're going to explore our reactions to the world around us, as experienced through the five senses.
1. What are some of your favorite smells? What's a smell that many other people seem to like, but you don't?I love the smell of cinnamon, of apples, of spices of all sorts. The ocean, the air before a storm, oranges when they're being peeled. I love the smell of lilacs and roses, but NOT in perfumes, I do like honeysuckle in both it's natural form and perfumes. I don't know what other people like that I don't...the only thing that comes to mind is I DON'T like the smell of food on my hands, specifically hamburgers or fried foods. YUCK!
2. What are some of your favorite tastes? What's a taste many other people seem to like, but you don't?A better question is what's a taste many other people seem to hate, but you don't LOL! My favorite tastes are fresh watermelon, blue cheese, salty chocolate, vinegar chips, ume paste. I could go on, but I won't.
3. What are some of your favorite textures? What's a texture that many other people seem to like, but you don't?I love the feel of flower petals, so soft! Wolf's fur is pleasing to me, as is Max's. I love soft grass and smooth pebbles. Again...I don't really have an answer to the second question...
4. What are some of your favorite sounds? What's a sound that many other people seem to like, but you don't? Ahhh, rain, I love the sound of rain! Thunder, too, but it scares me at the same time. Led Zeppelin, Alan Rickman's voice, the wind in the trees, chimes. A sound other people seem to like that I don't is the sound of their voices interrupting my movie watching ;-)
5. What are some of your favorite sights? What's a sight that many other people seem to like but you don't?Horses, ocean waves, dark purple lilacs, a field of multi colored flowers, pumpkins are some of my favorite sights. Something I don't like but other people seem too are accidents.
Bonus: If you could greatly enhance just one sense - say for instance see as many colors as a bird, or smell as many distinct scents as a dog - which sense would it be and why? I'd enhance my memory...cause I have a serious case of CRS!!!
DebR is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she says: Imagine you've made a connection with another blogger who lives in a completely different part of the world than you do. This blogger is about to take a trip and the connection you've made is so strong that she is going to make your house one stop on her trip. (Yay!) Unfortunately she can only stay at your place for 24 hours (boo!), but she'd like to see some nearby sights while visiting with you.
Keeping in mind that time is quite limited, so you have to stick pretty close to home (although not necessarily right IN your town - just anyplace you could go as a day trip), try looking around you with the eyes of someone who has never seen your area and tell us some things you'd share with...
1. Your visitor wants to see something historical. Where would you take her and why? Well, living in the Boston area, there are MANY historical things to see! Given the time contraints, I'd probably take her to Boston and weather permitting, we'd walk part of the Freedom Trail, and check out the Paul Revere House in the North End...stopping, of course, for a cannoli and a coffe.
2. She wants to see something hysterical...well, mildly amusing anyway. She'd even go for cute, quirky, odd, or unique. Where would you take her and why? Hmmm...I'd take her to Salem, MA, home of witches, goblins & ghouls. There's enough odd & unique things there to satisfy anyone.
3. She wants to take some beautiful and/or interesting photos to fill her albums when she gets home. Where would you take her? I'd take her to Newburyport, MA. It's gorgeous, on the ocean and a quintessential New England town.
4. She'd like to buy a souvenir that will remind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it? I'd take her to Faneuil Hall, where there are many, many touristy souvenirs, and I'd look for something to do with the Swan Boats ... that's so Boston AND I have many good memories of my Grandmother taking me there.
5. Wow, it's been a long day and you're both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get the flavor of your area? Legal Seafood, without a doubt. Fresh New England seafood, delicious chowdah and well made drinks.
DebR is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she says: We may not have Dickens telling the tale of our lives, but we can tell our own tale of two cities (or two countries, or workplaces, or many other things) by revealing some of our bests and worsts to each other. And if you tell everyone a bit about why you chose the things you did, so much the better!
1. What's the best place you ever lived? the worst? Wow...I'd have to say the best place was Japan. I lived in a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom brand new condo with my own washer, dryer and dishwasher. I had a balcony off the living room and off the master bedroom. Man, I loved that place! The worst? Here. And that's all I'm saying about that. Except...I want to move SO BAD!!!
2. What's the best place you ever visited on holiday/vacation? the worst? Paris! I was shocked beyond words that I loved it so...didn't expect to in the least. Belize City was the worst...I didn't feel safe, and I felt so sad for the people I saw living in abject poverty.
3. What's the best job you ever had? the worst? The best job I had was secretarial in nature...it wasn't the duties that made it the best, rather the man I worked for. He was amazing, kind, fair and funny! He went on to be the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The worst is the current one. 'Nuff said.
4. What's your best talent or ability? your worst? Photography? The worst, by far, is my awesome talent for putting myself down.
5. What's the best decision you ever made? the worst? Hard to say...agreeing to watch Wolf for the co-worker who joined the military? The worst is probably ending my marriage to my first ex-husband, Blake.
Bonus (so we can end on a positive note!): What's one good thing about you that isn't covered in the questions above, but that you'd like to share with the world? I'm a damn good friend. Or not...depends on your point of view I guess :-)
Saw this today and it amused me:
(you'll have to click on it to read it to see why)Hope you had a good weekend! Do anything interesting?
DebR is the Wednesday guest blogger at Create a Connection and I'm playing along. This week, she tasks us thusly: Imagine you're going to organize a dinner party for yourself and seven guests. You can invite anyone who ever lived, whether they're world-famous or someone whose name only you would recognize.
1. Guest one must be someone who is/was creative with words - a novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, journalist, etc. Who would you invite? Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain! Think of the entertaining, lively conversation that would flow!
2. Guest two must be someone who is/was creative with images - a painter, photographer, sculptor, fabric artist, collage artist, etc. Who would you invite? This is an easy question for me...I'd invite the photographer Joel Meyerowitz. He does the most amazing things with light and I'd love to pick his brain.
3. Guest three must be someone who is/was a performer - an actor, singer, musician, comedian, acrobat, etc. Who would you invite? Oh poo, just one? I think I'd have to say Ruth Gordon. She was an phenomenal actress, strong willed and such a character.
4. Guest four must be someone who is charting/charted new territory - either in the physical sense, like an explorer, adventurer, or astronaut, or someone like a groundbreaking scientist or inventor. Who would you invite? Leonardo da Vinci. The list of things he created or invented, the ideas he came up with were just mind boggling and way ahead of his time.
5. Guest five must be someone who is/was a leader of other people - perhaps in the area of politics, like the literal leader of a country, or perhaps a leader in the area of religion, military, business, or even a great philosopher or teacher, or an inspiring athlete. Who would you invite? Malcolm X. He was someone who changed so much over the course of his life...he could have done wonderful things!
6. Guest six must be someone from any field who you believe is/was underrated and under-appreciated by most people, but whom you admire. Who would you invite? Um...of course, that would be Professor Snape (ok, technically, he's not a REAL person...but...Alan Rickman could come dressed as Snape!)
7. Guest seven is a wild card - your choice! Is there someone you'd like to invite who didn't seem to quite fit into any category, or was there a category where you'd have really liked to invite two different people? Then this is your chance to add the person you missed to the table. Who would you invite? Robert Plant! That way we could end up "sitting 'round singing songs 'til the night turns into day".
Bonus: Uh Oh! The dinner party is just about to end, all your guests are about to disappear, and you realize that you've forgotten to ask one important question of one of your guests. You just barely have time to squeeze in that last question, so quick! - what was the question and who did you ask? I'd ask Robert Plant what he thought about the LOTR trilogy. Simple, I know...but hey!
