Word of the Week - GOSSAN

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's close and also nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

gossan (n) rusty iron deposits often occurring where the upper part of a vein has been weathered and oxidized.

And what in the world can you do with this word? Well, you could write a sentence using it. You could look it up in another dictionary or reference book. (several dictionary searches available at the bottom of my sidebar for your use.) Use it as a jump start for a short story. If applicable, find a picture of it. Whatever you do, post a link in my comments so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Tribulations of being emotionally mature

Got this one from Richmond, who is emotionally mature, just not as much as I am. Which is why she doesn't post bug stories and I do. :)

You Are 87% Grown Up, 13% Kid

Your emotional maturity is fully developed, and you have an excellent grasp on your emotions. In fact, you are so emotionally mature - you should consider being a therapist!

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

A Roly Poly Tribulations

And you think you have problems. Part III of the battle of the bugs continues here, only this time another toddler will win the battle. You can read part I: here; and part II: here.

Those of you who know Pan {i.e. Bug and Sticks}, can attest that his can be somewhat strange from time to time. He also tends to attract strange people {i.e. Sticks and Bug}, or people who have strange parents, like poor M.

I didn't know M as a child or even as a teenager. I didn't get to meet her until Pan and I got married, but right away I liked her. That is until I found out that she use to eat Roly Polys.

Don't be silly. Not as an adult, but as a toddler. Seems one day she was in the yard and when her mother came out she was devouring the delectable little creatures. But instead of stopping M, M's mom ran back in the house to retrieve the camera and catch it all on film. Now how's that for a happy ending?

Happy Birthday Contagion!!!!

And many more to come. I'm not as creative as many but I did try and get you something to make your day special.

Thought we might start out with a bottle of Gator Lager.

(by the way the microbrewery is now closed so we actually can't get it any longer.)

And to make sure that we don't mess up Ktreva's nice furniture how about a matching coaster to go with it.

And if that doesn't quench your fancy how about one of these to show off the new beer and coaster with:

Now all you folks come join the party at Miasmatic Review and wish this great guy a happy, happy birthday.

It's All in the Family Tribulations

Part II of Bug Battle commences.

You know I actually think my real time sister, bug, started all this bug battle with her "There's a Fly in My Soup" post. If you missed part I of my post, you can find it: Here. There are also additional links below for more bizarre bug posts.

Bombshell, while not really caring for the bug species any longer, now that she has reached that ancient age of.... Okay, give me a minute. {Nuke will be 30 next year, which means Scamp will be 28, so Bomb will be 27, which makes her....} 26 years, yeah, I think that's right, 26 years, she is not absolutely terrified of any except spiders.

Still her children do take after her. The Princess, well knowing of her mother's arachniphobia, could persuade Pan or I to buy her toy spiders of any size, just so we could see Bombshell chased around the house screaming her head off. And she was not at all thrilled with having to ride home with a 3 foot spider in the car either. Nor having to take it into Ruby Tuesday's with us for dinner. The Princess sat it in a chair next to her and shared her dinner and conversation with it all night.

But her son, the adorable Indy, topped anything that we could possibly imagine. Bombshell was telling me that she had ordered pizza for dinner and while they were eating one of those dreaded roaches scurried across the table.

She was pointing it out to Indy, trying to get him to say bug, when faster than you can say flyswatter, his pizza slice came down and squished it. He turned the slice over, eyed the bug for a moment then proceeded to finish eating his pizza slice. It may not be a bug in the ear, but I think I had rather have one in the ear than to have a bug pizza.

Then T1G posted about Bugs. Or how about the fact that Bug cannot tell the difference between bugs and raisins. Then there was the post for the all natural bug repellent recipes. (Sis, if you even think of using one of Pan's beer for the lawn bugs, you may as well move out of the country). You definitely don't want Richmond's dh to take care of any bug problems you may have. Then back to Bug to actually share pictures of her bug life with us.

I release you from your tribulations

Friday Blog Prompt: Your prompt is "release". Take that word however you like, and write.

and anxieties of particle colliders (aka particle accelerators).

The largest is the Hadron Particle Collider currently being constructed at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland, the tunnel of which was formerly used to house the electron-positron collider. ~Wikipedia

...contained in a 27 km circumference tunnel located underground at a depth ranging from 50 to 150 metres [1]. The tunnel was formerly used to house the LEP, an electron-positron collider. The 3 metre diameter, concrete-lined tunnel actually crosses the border between Switzerland and France at four points... ~Wikipedia

For more information on particle colliders/accelerators or particle physics visit one or more of the following:

The Large Hadron Collider
Challenges in Accelerator Physics
General Relativitiy and Quantum Cosmology by Adam Helfer
List of accelerators in particle physics
The Particle Adventure
Particle physics in 60 seconds

Bloggers, Bugs and Tribulations

Beautiful lovely Bombshell.



Sweet and gorgeous even at 7 years of age. But she was fascinated with collections. Just about any kind, leaves, flowers, rolly polys, frogs and the list goes on. She had shoeboxes that she kept her collections in. I swear I was begging at everyone's door to donate theirs.

Happenchance, one day as I was cleaning her room, one of the shoeboxes was moving. Yes actually moving. First thought was that she was starting to collect lizards. I just knew I was going to have to put my foot down about that one. I love lizards and want them free to eat all the wood roaches that accumulate throughout a house in the south. Those critters get to be 2+ inches long if left to their own devises.

Over I head to let out these poor lizard creatures that my darling daughter decided would be better off in a box than in nature. I don't scream easily but when hundreds, and I mean hundreds of those 2" suckers (and I don't mean lizards) came flying out of the open box, I know I could be heard a mile a way.

My sweet, beautiful daughter had been collecting wood roaches, which means she had been picking them up, playing with them, probably getting whispering in the ear close to talk to them.

Now my blog sis, Sticks, let me in on that there is an unofficial battle of the bugs going on in our extended blog family. Seems that Bou, Sissy and T1Guy have all added their two cents worth to Sticks tale, but I think I have just raised them a roach or two.

Tribulations of a Famous Person

Thursday Blog Prompt: What famous person would you like to meet? Why?

Seems we had a similar questions a month or so ago. But maybe not and more likely my answer will have changed in that space of time. And it was not specified whether the person was living or could be dead, so I am going on the assumption that it would be someone alive we should like to meet.

With that being the case my answer would have to be Stephen Hawking. Both for his insight on the universe and some extra help with that particle collider I'm going to buy for Pan when money and reality are not a factor.

A Gift of Tribulations

Wednesday Blog Prompt: What gift do you wish you could give (if reality was not a factor) to the most important person in your life?

If money and reality were not a factor I would give Pan a particle collider.

Nope, not going to explain. I know why and so does he and that is all that is important, right?

Decorating Tribulations

Tuesday Blog Prompt: If you could have a designer come into a room of your house and redecorate it for you, which room would it be and what would you ask them for?

Easy (or hard?). Right now I guess it would be the kitchen, since Nuke has started redecorating for me anyway. He has replaced the particle board and lanolium backsplash with stone tile. Woo Hoo. This was desperately needed and the original was coming apart and rotting.

But if money was not object I would have stone tile put on the floor; take down the wall paper and replace with a matching stone tile to the backsplash. I would move the oven/stove over by the fridge and make the counter where it is currently strictly as a work surface and storage. (I have a very tiny kitchen.)

I would redo the countertops with real marble or possibly that new substance they have come out with that is suppose to be germ resistant. A new sink and faucet would be a must as well. I have already picked out the faucet while Nuke and I were getting the backsplash yesterday.

Families & Tribulations

Tammi of Tammi's World is hosting a link of Family Day posts and I definitely don't want to let her down, seeing as how I can probably come up with some really good family stories here without resorting to belittling bug.

How about a Thanksgiving or two memory....

I normally did not have to cook for Thanksgiving (and still don't), but occasionally did have the chore fall to me. The kids were little and my boss (an attorney) usually gave me a smoked turkey breast or two (which left only the side dishes to fix). But instead of giving the children turkey, I always bought them cornish hens, stuffed them, cooked them and served them on their plates. They were so excited to have their very own "turkeys" to eat.

And thinking of those little turkeys, reminds me of (I don't know why there is nothing comparable in the stories) to the Thanksgiving that dad decided over dinner we were going to drive to Omaha to visit some friends. So that is what we did. He was rather spontaneous like that.

And since we are celebrating family day, how about a couple of pictures of a beautiful granddaughter to make it complete.

Sleeping Tribulations

Monday Blog Prompt: Are you a night owl or a morning person or something in between? Do you know when this habit began in your life? Do you think people’s sleep patterns are really a part of who they are (like hair color) or can be changed with circumstances?

Night owl, morning person, an all around "I don't want to sleep" person. Although I have gotten better about wanting and realizing the need for sleep, I still find that I don't want to. I have been this way since I was a toddler and probably before. And I know why too. I don't want to miss anything. While you are sleeping there are things still going on. I wanted and still want to know everything.

As for sleep patterns being a part of who they are? Well that is a yes and no. I think you are predisposed to sleep a certain way, but that your sleep habits can be changed and probably do change over the years whether you want them to or not. As I have found out. :)

Word of the Week - ABIOGENESIS

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's close and also nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

abiogenesis (n) same as spontaneous generation (the theory now discredited) that living organisms can originate in nonliving matter independently of other living matter.

And what in the world can you do with this word? Well, you could write a sentence using it. You could look it up in another dictionary or reference book. (a search box from Merriam-Webster is available at the bottom of my sidebar for your use.) Use it as a jump start for a short story. If applicable, find a picture of it. Whatever you do, post a link in my comments so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

UPDATE You can find posts with the word of the week here:
Digi Scrapping by Carinc who has a interesting if somewhat unusual post about it.

Children, Food, Roaches & Tribulations

Okay, I'm behind in reading... But I have been trying to catch up, that was until I ran into Bou's Children Eat the Strangest Things in response to Eric's Stains post.

As you well know by know Indy has a definite taste for pennies. Apparently the Operation did nothing to detract from that infatuation and has in fact led to a taste for push pins, tie tacks and buttons. But only buttons which have a staple in them where they were attached to the card. It's a metal thing apparently.

Still for a two year old he has a strange sense of taste. He loves and I mean loves jalepeno cheese dip. Forget the chips, give him a spoon. When he got a Whataburger today, he opened it to eat all the onions out then finish the burger. Did the same thing with the onion rings this evening too. Takes after his Uncle Nuke who has loved brussel sprouts since he was about 1 1/2. I have to be careful to watch him when I open the fridge as he will try to sneak the onions out. Yes to eat.

Then there was Bou's Contest in conpetition with Sissy's Drowning in a Puddle of Raid and All-In

Nuke has been a great help since he's been here and yesterday there was just the two of us. We were working on the kitchen when I mentioned that we had a leak in the pipes under the sink. I have had my fill of fixing things under the sinks, I want you to know. I know how and have done it plenty, but have decided that now it is up to someone else to fix them. So for the last two or so years I have not looked under the sink (either bathroom or kitchen). But Nuke is brave and sure enough there is a leak. We head off to the hardware to get the parts we need and when we get back Nuke fixes it. Then decides to clean out under it.

Still no big deal until a cockroach comes out from nowhere and heads straight for him. Being resourceful he squishes it. But I'll be darned if the thing just keeps on running. It disappeared only to reappear this evening. I was prepared and sitting here with a bottle of bleach next to me. Out it comes and I squirt it. The darned thing started chasing me down the hall, while I am requesting help from Pan or Nuke to kill it.

Finally Pan comes to the rescue. He had to slam it with a shoe at least six times, then ground it into the carpet. Well that patch of carpet is now bleached.

Tribulations of a Visit

Weekend Blog Prompt: Tell 5 things to do in the state/province/country you live in that a visitor "must see."

1. In NW Florida, you must see the white sand beaches. They truly are the whitest around.
2. In southern Florida, Disney World is a must. But go in the off season.
3. In Pensacola, the Naval museum and IMAX theater.
4. In NW Florida, a dinner cruise or a day cruise on a pirate ship.
5. Restaurants: in Pensacola, Yamato's; in Destin, Destin Chops; in Tallahassee, Julie's; in Orlando, Margaritaville or Big River Brewery.

Power Color Tribulations

Oh my, I think Roses was right, this is just too eerie and too close to home.

Your Power Color Is Red-Orange

At Your Highest: You are warm, sensitive, and focused on your personal growth. At Your Lowest: You become defensive and critical if you feel attacked. In Love: You are loyal - but you demand the respect you deserve. How You're Attractive: You are very affectionate and inspire trust. Your Eternal Question: "Am I Respected?"

What's Your Power Color?

Are there Tribulations in Guilty Pleasures?

Friday Blog Prompt: Meg is stealing today's prompt from Jamie's blog. She blogged a couple of days ago about guilty pleasures and I thought it a perfect topic for a Friday! So, what are your guilty pleasures?

Another admit it post.... Oh well, I guess I would have to say being married to Pan has been a guilty pleasure. He lets me get away with just about everything, and if it is something I want and it is in his power to get it or make it happen he does. He really does try to accomplish my every whim, whether it just be a new set of lights for the bedroom or a trip to Hawaii.

But we both do share a guilty pleasure. We both love to collect dvds. Not all of them, of course, but entire series of those we like; cult classics, etc. He is rather fond of spaghetti westerns, whereas I like getting the old silent film movies. In fact, last night he got "Paint Your Wagon," while I purchased "Ben Hur" 4 disc set which included the 3 1/2 movie with Charlton Heston and the 2 1/2 hour 1925 silent version. Now to find time to watch them, lol.

Tribulations of a Pack Rat

Thursday Blog Prompt: Do you prefer to collect and save things or live sparsely, getting rid of things regularly?

Okay, I admit it. I'm a pack rat. I save everything. Everything my kids or grands have written or drawn, every card I have received. Books, dvds, coffee cups, plates, boxes, scrapbook supplies, cross stitch supplies, cameras, you name it, I probably have gazillions of them. I am getting better about throwing away grocery receipts though.

Tribulations and Tagged Music

Boy, send a bunch of people over to a friend's house for a surprise party and what do you get? Tagged for a meme of course.

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your LiveJournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

Gaelic Heart - Michael Atkinson
Healing Through Kindness - Nawang Khechoy
La Sonadora - Enya
Mystic Mood - Michele Ippolito
Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict - Pink Floyd
Sleepless - Marconi Union
You're the Inspiration - Chicago

Bug of One Happy Dog Speaks
Grizz of eclecticmusings by grizz
Roses of Ack! Thbbbt!
Sissy of And What Next
Oddybobo of Oddybobo 2.0
Bonnie of Scrapping till the cows come home
Meg of The Pages Of Our Crazy Life

Worthwhile Tribulations

Wednesday Blog Prompt: Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

My mom and dad taught me kindness, loyalty, what family means and to love life.
Pan taught me to trust again after a failed marriage and that there really is magic in the world.
My kids taught me that I can do absolutely anything.
Larry Behrens taught high school science in such a wonderful way I grew to love it.
Barbara Allen taught me the love of Latin and ancient history.

More Pirate Tribulations

Hey couldn't let Arch-Pirate Buxom Betty go Arrggging alone so I found my pirate name too. (Doesn't Arch-Pirate mean you aren't a pirate? or that you're against pirates?)

Your Pirate Name Is...

Bloody Ladyfingers

What's Your Pirate Name?

A Pirate's Tribulation

Who in the world thinks up these things? Surely not me. Did you know it is Talk Like a Pirate Day? Well it is. I learned it from none other than bug, who heard it from MaryBeth at Random Thoughts, who I understand would have had to walk the plank if she did not mention.

I have an aversion to walking planks so I'm going to post this photograph of my very own pirate:



Pirate Indy vs. Capt. Hook
Now playing by
reservations only.

Heroes & Tribulations

Before I get started on the prompt, if you haven't been by Grizz' lately, you need to head on over and read his Sunday post.

Tuesday Blog Prompt: Do you have a hero in your life? Why would you call them that?

So many heroes. If you did as I suggested above and read Grizz' Sunday post, you will know some of my heroes are the men and women serving in our military. And why do I call them heroes? Well if you read this blog on any kind of basis, I think you know why.

Another is my mom. Not only is she a hero, but a saint. She is always there for me, offering advice, providing a shoulder, just listening.

Pan... He is so smart, sometimes scary smart. He is also patient, kind and understanding. He is not quick to anger and is the first to apologize. How did I get surrounded by saints?

My kids. When I grow up I want to be just like them. Oh wait, that would be a paradox wouldn't it? I am just so proud of the people they have become.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. WHO

I heard that today was Mrs. Who's Birthday. Well you know I couldn't think of anything to get her so I stopped by just to make my congratulations well-known and guess what I found?

A Party was being held in honor of this special day and some of her favorite characters showed up to help HC out in installing the curtain rod in the dining room and the oven vent in the kitchen. Better yet I got pictures.



First of all who should I see, but Kosh taking a peek into the dining room window on his way up to the door. As you can see curtain rod is up and sitting at the table is none other than Sheridan and Zathras.



Is that an oven vent I see? Well I do declare I think it is. But, Mrs. Who, you may want to take a look at the installation first, as it appears that Londo and G'Kar are celebrating and they may have started the libations before the installation. Oh and look who just walked in.... Charles Wallace, Meg and Calvin.

And here's to, not getting another year older, but another year better.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Fragmented Tribulations

Monday Blog Prompt: What fragments of your past stay with you even though they seem insignificant?

There are several and most seem to involve my sister, ddpup, for some reason.

I remember sitting at a kitchen table with my dad as he fixed me a cup of "coffee." It was milk with just a tad of coffee added to give it color. In the same house I recall seeing a Christmas tree, that I swear must have been 20 feet tall. It wasn't but it sure looked big to me.

I vaguely remember the two of us painting the trailer we were living in at the time with turpentine.

Then there was the time she fell off her tricycle and broke her arm. Of course, the time we were terrorized by a turkey while picking up our toy poodle.

There are plenty more, but I may have to save them for blog fodder.

The Tribs of Being Punk

Pan and Nuke worked so hard in the yard yesterday while I took a walk with Indy and then got to sit in an air conditioned house with him, that I thought it would be nice if I took them to dinner at the restaurant where Bombshell is the waitress.

Indy's dad was suppose to pick him up, but as usual that didn't happen. So we ended up taking him with us. Actually it was quite fun to have him there. He stole the show and I am going to have to do several scrapbook pages of it. Here is the first:


Polaroid frame by
Andrea Rascaglia

Isn't he just the cutest? And before you even go there, I did not subject the child to this torture, his mother did. But he didn't seem to mind it. In fact, you could probably say he reveled in it.

Materialistic Tribulations

Weekend Blog Prompt: What has been the greatest gift (apart from life itself and if you have children, apart from them!) that you have ever received? It doesn't have to be of great worth or cost, but is of greatest worth to you, and why do you treasure this gift? Who gave it to you and under what circumstances? Was it expected, if so did it meet expectations or was it a complete suprise?

The first real surprise gift I got was a negligee I received from my father for Christmas when I was about 15-16 years old. I was so surprised because I never thought he thought of me as being old enough for something like that.

The second came from Pan. My dad had given me a black pearl and white pearl ring for my birthday one year. I loved that ring, but my ex sold it so that he could buy a fishing net.

Pan knew how much the ring I lost meant to me and one Christmas I opened a box to find a black pearl and white pearl ring. Several years later, the white pearl fell out and Pan had it replaced with another black pearl. Then bought me a matching black pearl necklace.

While it may seem pretty materialistic, I love these two pieces of jewelry.

Word of the Week - INTUMESCE

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's close and also nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

intumesce (vi) to swell, enlarge, expand or bubble up, as with heat.

And what in the world can you do with this word? Well, you could write a sentence using it. You could look it up in another dictionary or reference book. (a search box from Merriam-Webster is available at the bottom of my sidebar for your use.) Use it as a jump start for a short story. If applicable, find a picture of it. Whatever you do, post a link in my comments so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Acrostic Tribulations

Friday Blog Prompt: Using the first letters of your name, write an acrostic that describes yourself. For example: Pat: patient, adventurous, tender.

T - Tender
I - Ingenious
N - Nice
K - Kind

And I can also be Ambitious, Ornery and a Rebel.

Blue Tribulations for Harvey

Happy 40th to my Blog Grandfather who is of this date 10 years younger than I. While I cannot even hope to come close to what vw got you, I hope that a glass of Romulan Ale and a game of
table tennis on a blue beach under a blue sky will suffice.


Images courtesy of
Morgue File and Flickr

Happy Birthday Harvey.

Happiness or Tribulations

Thursday Blog Prompt: What is your happiness today?

My Happiness today, is being able to see Nuke, to spend time with him, watch movies we like together and just talk.

It is also seeing Indiana B eating again. Although he went from protein drinks to things like quesadillas, corn dogs and jalepeno cheese dip. He will still be on prilosec for the next month and considering what he has decided to start eating it may be a good thing.

Consequential Tribulations

Blog Prompt: If you could live one day without consequences, what would you do? Would you get a tattoo just to see what it was like? What other things would you try?

Ewww... no tattoos for me. Could never understand why anyone would have needles stuck in them just have a picture put on themself. Maybe the boys could explain it to me, but then maybe not.

For me, I think I would try sky diving. My grandmother and I were going to do it (I was only about 13 or 14), but my mother nixed it. Still I think it would be interesting to try once or twice, if I could be sure there were no consequences.

My Tribulations are at Bay

Yeah..... NavyNuke is home. Well almost. He is at mom's house, just about an hour and a half away. He got there yesterday and stayed the night, but he will be home today. I am so excited to see him, as is the Princess who has been asking about her uncle Nuke since she heard he was coming.

It is strange though, hearing him yesterday, brought back another 9/11 memory. His. I remember where he was at on that fateful day. He was in a restaurant in Guam. I remember him telling some Japanese businessmen came over to offer their condolences.

But for at least today and tomorrow I will have him home with me before he starts on another journey in his life.

Alarming Tribulations

You know, it might just be worth having my daughter move back in just so I can buy a Grenade Alarm.

I sent the link to my mom and ddpup as well, as they may want to purchase one just to keep handy. You see, when Bombshell goes to visit either one of them, the first place she heads is for an empty couch with a pillow and falls asleep. Bear will probably just like to play with it as will Pan.

Next time you are unsure of what to buy someone with teenagers this may just be the ticket.

9/11 Memories, Tributes & Tribulations

I know I should have, but I didn't partipate in the memorial taking place on the blogs this day. (side note: You can go to the memorial page to get a list of all those who have placed a memorial on their blog, but be advised that it is temporarily suspended so you may have to check back periodically.) I should have, but I kept being interrupted by memories of that day. Still that is no excuse...

I did not know anyone who so tragically lost their life that day. It doesn't mean I don't feel it. I was working when it happened, I was in with the boss when the news came through. There was a scramble to redo the paper to include the event.

But my first thought upon hearing and seeing it was for my sons. No, neither one of them were in New York. Both were in the military. One was in the Navy; the other is a Marine. Scamp has already served a tour in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.



So while my heart goes out the families of those lost that day, just as much of it goes out to the families of those lost defending our country from that travisty and from future ones.

There is no way to thank the men and women who serve so tirelessly for our freedom; who give their lives to prove those who died on 9/11 did not die in vain.

Since the memorial page is currently down below are some of those who posted in memory of 9/11 or for the 2996 project:

Ack Thbbt
ArmyWifeToddlerMom - in Memory of Ramzi Doany
ArtcMom
Babalu - in Memorial of George C. Merino
Bobo Blogger
Boudicca's Voice - in Memory of Don Simmons
Brandon's Puppy
Cecli Digi Scrapping
Creative Triplet Mom
Decrepit Old Fool
Digital Scrapbooking
Eclectic Musings by Grizz
Elizabeth's Book of Me Journal
Ex Scrap O Late
From Chaos to Serendipity - in Memory of Patrick O'Keefe
Heather's Blog
House of Zathras - in Memory of Maria Jakubiak
Lee Ann's View
Letters from NYC - in Memory of Allison Horstmann-Jones
Letters from NYC - suggested reading: From a Firey Tower to the Heavens; Into the Fire They Went; Words; and Breath.
My Life & Chaos! - in Memory of Michael Theodoridis
On being a scientist and a woman...
Ordinary Days
Quality Weenie
Scrapping Till the Cows Come Home
Tammi's World
Technicalities - in Memory of Carol K. Demitz
That 1 Guy - in Memory of Rahma Salie
The Pages of Our Crazy Life

And from Sticks a link to a Virtual Memorial.

Men & Tribulations

This was just too good to pass up. Here are some links to "10 Things You Don't Know About Women" by several well known women as presented by Esquire.

Alyssa Milano
Ana Gasteyer
Charlayne Woodard
Cheryl Hines
Saira Mohan

I found Alyssa's to be the most amusing, with Charlayne and Saira probably the most accurate, for me at least.

Word of the Week - ABECEDARIAN

This is the word I told bug I was going to post last week. okay, so it is a week off.

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's close and also nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

abecedarian (n) 1. a person learning the alphabet; beginning student. 2 any beginner or novice. ─adj. 1. of the alphabet. 2. elementary.

And what in the world can you do with this word? Well, you could write a sentence using it. You could look it up in another dictionary or reference book. Use it as a jump start for a short story. If applicable, find a picture of it. Whatever you do, post a link in my comments so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Personality Tribulations

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

A Comment of Tribulations

Weekend Blog Prompt: Take a book, close your eyes and open it at a page (with your eyes still closed) point to any sentence in the book. Open your eyes and then write down the sentence/paragraph you pointed to. Write your thoughts on this sentence/paragraph.

Interestingly enough, the sentence I got was a quote within a book. I used Robert Heinlein's Expanded Universe as the source and the sentence I pointed to just happened to be:

I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
~Thomas Jefferson, 1800 a.d.

Interesting and maybe a little pyschic in light of the date?

Appropriate as well since in just a few days we will be remembering one of the most tragic days to have taken place in the United States.

It should also be noted that even our forefathers were of the mindset that tyranny should be abolished. If they believed that, should we not do so again in this time and space?

Activities or Chores or Tribulations

Friday Blog Prompt: What activities and/or chores will you NOT do?

I will not watch "How the West was Won." I don't really know what it is about the show, as I enjoy all the actors in it. Just not the show. It is one of Pan's favorites and when he watches, I leave the room.

I will not do the laundry. At the moment that is Pan's chore. At least until the garage gets cleaned up so that I can get to the washer and dryer (once the dryer is fixed). I don't have anything against doing laundry. Sometimes I even enjoy it. But not if I have to maneuver through an obstacle course to get to it.

Bou's Birthday Tribulations

Today is someone special's birthday.... Give a big hand to Bou of Boudicca's Voice. Here are a collection of cards to make your day somewhat different.












Stock photos from MorgueFile
Tubes from Serenity Arts

Have a wonderful day Bou.

Psychic Tribulations

Thursday Blog Prompt: You can write your own fortune or tell a story of one that came true or didn't. What comes to you? What are your fortune cookie memories and imaginings?

I know somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind are some fortune telling stories, but at the moment I just can't capture them. Maybe it is just a lack of sleep.

Although it does seem that there have been occasions when mom and I have been humming or thinking about the song "Amazing Grace" at the same moment. Then there was Sunday at the ER when Bombshell was talking about a show she had seen in which a guy had swallowed something and it was making him throw up. At the time we were still in the "he's got a stomach virus" stage of things.

Dinner Tribulations

Wednesday's Blog Prompt: Where do you like to go to eat out? What do you order?
Any stories of a special night out?

I love to eat out at different restaurants. Each has its own unique dishes. I love Olive Garden's salad and if going for lunch, that is the only thing I order. Outback has outstanding steaks. But the ultimate has to be Yamato's, a Japanese restaurant similar to Beni Hana's. Only better.

I almost always order the shrimp, though will vary it with the filet from time to time. I love the vegetables, salad with ginger dressing and the sticky rice. Yummmmm. (I'm making myself hungry).

Pan and the kids (Nuke, Scamp and Bombshell) took me there for dinner one birthday. We had a new chef that night and he had eyes only for Bombshell and kept tossing green pepper pieces at Pan. Then there was the night we took Bombshell and J1 to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. Bombshell loves sushi and ordered it as an appetizer. J1 had never had it before, so she told him all about it. J1 picks up a piece of sushi and adds about a tablespoon of Wasabi to it. I was going to stop him when Bombshell signaled for me to leave it alone. I felt so bad for J1 as he turned red in the face and was drinking anything he could get his hands on.

Loving Tribulations

Tuesday's Blog Prompt: Consider what you love about your child RIGHT NOW. What are his/her unique blessings and talents TODAY? How has being in this particular child's life changed YOUR life?

NavyNuke: I love his sense of adventure, his creative eye and his ability to roll with the punches. Nuke is one of a kind. He can be happy when he is alone or in a crowd. He knows what he wants in life and is willing to work for it.

ScampMarine: He is so charismatic. People just fall in love with him. I remember when he was dating he always made a good impression on the parents. He spends time talking to people, getting to know them and what their interests are so he can find a common ground.

Bombshell: Okay, she is gorgeous. Knock down, drag out gorgeous and most times has a good head on her shoulder. I have always been impressed with the fact that she didn’t and doesn’t feel the pangs of peer pressure. She has her own mind and doesn’t go with the flow unless it was on her agenda anyway.

How have they changed my life? I don’t know. I can’t imagine my life without in them in it. They have been a part of me since my early 20’s. Prior to that I was a kid myself.

100 Words of Lasting Tribulations

Monday's Blog Prompt: It's challenge? Write 100 words. No more, no less. Any subject.

Why not on what children swallow? That seems to be what has been on our minds around here the last couple of days. Mom said that when she was 6 or 7 she swallowed a nickel and was afraid to tell anyone. Vw bug swallowed a little jiggle bell. Seems that would be almost as bad as an earring and somewhat worse than a coin. But she came out of it okay. I took it upon myself to swallow a pink Barbie shoe. You know the one with a spike. I managed to regurgitate it instead of completely swallowing it.

A Cutting Tribulation

What scrapbooking item are you?

You are a pair of SCISSORS!You're cutting edge, baby! You cut through life with ease, always keeping others on the edge. You have the power to simplify things by just cutting them out. But scissors beware - you may cut some of the important things out of your life without realizing it, in your need to keep trim!
Take this quiz!








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UPDATE: Penny Ante Tribulations

Well I said I would post some pictures on the Penny Ante Tribulations.

And while we do have pictures of the interior of his stomach, that is not what I had in mind. Below are pictures of the front and back of the penny removed from his stomach and a diagram of where it was located.

Anyway this is what a penny will look like after a minimum of 5 days in your tummy.

Penny Ante Tribulations

Well folks, it is over. Indy is doing fine. Mother and grands exhausted. It was not, I repeat, not an earring. It was a penny. It is amazing what a minimum of 5 days in a stomach can do to a penny.

The way the doctors were talking I though it got lodged in the lining of his stomach. But when said and over with, it was lodged in between his small intestines and stomach. The area in which it was lodged has ulcerated and he will be on prilosec for the next month. He will also be on a liquid diet today and tomorrow.

He was released from the hospital last night. Considering what was going on, he was one of the best behaved two year olds I have ever seen. Of course, this may have contributed to why they did not catch on earlier that he had swallowed something.

I will get some pictures posted later in the week after they are developed.

Surgery Complete

Indiana B came through it all ok. I'll let Tink tell you the rest... she even has pictures. But everyone is doing well...

Punny Tribulations

Story of a happy dog

Trouser was normally a happy-go-lucky dog. He would chase tennis balls, play with other doggies, and eat his dinner without a fuss. He was a dog without a care. But on that fateful autumn afternoon, it was to be different. Trouser's owners were walking him along a trail at the park, when suddenly from out of the bushes jumped a man all dressed in black. He had white paint on his face, and was gesturing annoyingly at Trouser's masters.

This strange person spoke not a word, but proceeded to pretend that he was trapped in a box and that he was pulling on a long rope. Seeing the sheer horror on his masters' faces, Trouser took it upon himself to rectify the situation. With a low growl he jumped and sank his teeth into this annoying pseudo clown's leg. Trouser immediately got a sickened look in his eyes and began to vomit wildly. He then dragged his tongue all over the ground in an effort to remove the man's foul essence from his mouth. For Trouser had learned that .... a mime is a terrible thing to taste.

side note: This is vw bug posting for Tink. See THIS POST for details.

Troublesome Tribulations

This is VW Bug. I would like for you to send your good thoughts and prayers to my sister and her family. Seems that Indiana B swallowed and got stuck in his stomach an earring. They are not positive of the identification of it being an earring until more xrays are done. No matter what it is, it is not good for a 2 year old. He was admitted to the children's hospital today. With Mom (Bombshell), Tink and Pan in tow.

Tink asked me to post for her over the next couple of days. I will be trying to keep it light. Just be aware that she and I do not exactly have the same sense of humor. Hopefully you will hear from her soon and until then I will keep you updated.

Eclectic Tribulations

I have added an new blogger to my list of those I like to read. Grizz is a wonderful writer and I really enjoy just popping over from time to time to see what he has posted. He even has his own Blog Book started - The Madawaska. You mountain men out there could probably give him better praise or constructive criticism than I can, as I am not a mountain fishing type person.

And for all of those who are mothers, have mothers, are contemplating motherhood or preparing for motherhood you need to check out out what he has written on Mothers are Forever. Thanks Grizz for making all mothers feel so special and for reminding me just how special my mother is.

Interview Tribulations

For those who asked the questions and those who just want to know the answers, my interview is now posted at Basil's.

Actually that was kind of interesting. You might even consider it yourself. Just head on over to Basil's Blog Interviews Page and sign up.

Word of the Week - VICTUALS

I lied to bug. I told her about another word I was going to use and then I changed my mind. I think this was one of my mother's favorite words.

I'm going to change this a bit this week. I'm not going to put in the definition.... yet. What I would like is for you to tell me how it is pronounced (without looking it up first).

Come on now. No Cheating.

Talents & Tribulations

Blog Prompt: What do you think is your talent that you are the best at or that sets you apart. I know for instance there are many who can sing, but no one has the same voice, so it can be something that someone else can do to, but tell us details about your talent.

While I may have numerous talents, like most of us do, the one thing I do extremely well is cross stitch. I have been cross stitching for years and need to start doing it again. But what sets mine apart from most others?

To begin with I work backwards and upside down (the piece not me). I don't know how else to explain it. But when I have finished the piece the back of it is almost identical to the front. One of my sisters almost had a piece done for her framed wrong because of it.

Years before Mirabella started altering their patterns to include over 1 on linen for the face and hands, I had already been doing it.

I have been told that until you get right up to one of my cross stitch pieces that they look like paintings. Quite a compliment, I think.

UPDATE: Bonnie asked for me to post one. Here is one that I had been working on for my mother. Now I just need to get it finished.



I really need to get Bombshell's things out of the way so I can get to this. The finished size will be about 3'x3'. Other than a few more flowers, the only other thing I need to get on it are the wings.

Summer & Water Tribulations

Didn't get yesterday's blog prompt done so here it is first in line:

Blog Prompt: What did you get out of summer this year? Did you learn anything? Do anything new? Wrap it up for us!

I realized I was getting older. That it isn't as easy to chase after children when you are 50 as it is when you are 25. We don't normally "do" anything different during the summer unless the boat is in the water, which it wasn't this year. But then that brings us to today's prompt.

Blog Prompt: Tell how you feel about water - playing in it, seeing it, using it. Talk about various bodies of water you have seen and an experience or feeling.

I like water, but prefer to swim at the pool. I'm not a big fan of swimming in the ocean. To many things in there. I also don't like going to the beach during the summer or school vacations. There are just too many people who are not watching what their kids are doing and it stresses me out to see them in the water without supervision.

I love it when we have the boat in the water and can take it out to the Bayou or Crab Island for the day. Just sit back read, rest and relax. Yep that's the life.