Monday, February 26, 2007

Travels & Tribulations

Monday 2/26 Blog Prompt: So, I'm getting ready to fly across the country on Friday and start driving back the other direction on Saturday.... What's your favorite way to travel? Car, plane, train, boat? What do you do while you're traveling? (Assuming you're not the driver!)

I guess that would be by plane. No offense to families with small children out there, preferrably in a seat with no kids around. I like to sleep on planes, must be the low hum or vibration.

But we almost always travel by automobile. Pan drives. I usually nap, read or cross stitch, if I remember to bring something along. Sometimes I will do cross word or logic puzzles. And I talk to Pan.

A Bloggers Week of Prompts and Tribulations

Mon 2/19 Blog Prompt: I promised Compooper Teacher an easy week, here's the first prompt! 10 things you want, but don't need.

1. A new computer
2. A new camera
3. A new television
4. Nice outdoor furniture with a firepit
5. A $2500 stove
6. To have my backyard completely done in flagstone with a pond and sandbox area
7. Another trip to Germany
8. Another trip to Hong Kong
9. A new computer monitor
10. To be able to finish something without being interrupted.

Tues 2/20 Blog Prompt: Let's get personal! Personal Hygiene -

1. How often do you typically shower/bath?
Daily. Ugh, can't even imagine getting in bed without a shower.

2. Do you prefer showering or taking a bath?
I prefer baths but take showers.

3. What's the longest you've ever gone w/o a shower/bath?
Maybe, just maybe 24 hours.

4. What's your favorite personal hygiene product?
Jergens bath soap.

5. Do you shave your legs? If so how often?
Yes, and as infrequently as possible.

Wed 2/21 Blog Prompt: The Colors in the Box -

1. If you were a crayon, which color would you want to be?
Periwinkle

2. Which color do you think you would be regardless of what you wanted?
Maize.

3. Would you rather be used and get blunt, broken and lose your wrapper, or not be used and stay pristine?
Get blunt, broken and lose my wrapper...... :)

4. Would you rather be in a small set of crayons or a large set?
Small set of unique colors.

5. Would you rather be Crayola, or a different brand?
There's a brand besides Crayola?

Thurs 2/22 Blog Prompt: Here's a long prompt that I found a while back. Use it word for word or just pieces of it, it's up to you! What kind of care do you take of your books? Let's review, shall we?

1. Are you careful with the spines? Or do you crack your books open to make them lay flat?
Crack them open and lay them flat. I want to be able to enjoy reading them.

2. Do you use bookmarks? Or do you dog-ear the corners? If you do use bookmarks, do you use those fashionable metal ones? Or paper?
Both actually. Toilet tissue comes to mind as a bookmark in this house, but we use a variety of things... yarn, letters, aluminum foil.... can't say we actually use a bookmark made for that purpose though.

3. Do you write in your books? Ever? If you do, do you make small marks, or write in as much blank space as you can find? Pen or pencil? Highlighter? Your name on the front page?
Depends on the book. If it is a reference book that I am using for "reference" then yes I write in it and highlight passages too. Same with dictionaries and with college books that I had purchased.

4. Do you toss your books on the floor? Into bookbags? Or do you treat them tenderly, with respect? They are usually on my dining table, side table by my bed or on my couch. Periodically I round them up and put them on the bookshelves in the spare room.

5. Do you ever lay your book face-down, to save your place? Yes.

6. Um--water? Do you bathe with your books? Hold them with wet hands? Read out in the rain? Anything of that sort? Don't usually take books in the bath with me. I don't like getting them wet and having the pages stick together. Although if it is a quick read and I am doing a relaxing soak, I might.

7. Are your books lined up on a bookshelf? Or crammed in any which way? Stacked on the floor?
I try to keep them lined up but they end up crammed in any which way and stacked on the floor.

8. Do you make a distinction--as regards book care--between hardcovers and paperbacks?
No.

9. And, to recap? Naturally, you love all of your books, but how, exactly? Are your books loved in the battered way of a well-loved teddy bear, or like a cherished photo album or item of clothing that's used, appreciated, but carefully cared for?
Loved and well read in the teddy bear sort of way.

10. Any additional comments?
I need a library of my own.

Friday 2/23 Blog Prompt: What do you do when you have trouble sleeping? Any special techniques for counting sheep or secret family recipes for warm milk?

Trouble sleeping? Me? You have to be kidding? Of course, I have trouble sleeping. The best technique for getting to sleep though it for Pan to play one of his x-box games. Within 15 minutes I am sound asleep. But I do wake back up when he finishes, so it is not a realistic approach to sleeping I guess. Most times I just end up getting back up and reading a book or something until I am tired.

Weekend Blogging 2/24 - 2/25: Do you have any pets? What are their names? What kind of animals are they? Why do you like them?

Do Indy and the Princess count as Pets? If so, then I have two. Okay, not really. Right now we don't have any pets. Since Mini Mutes died (our purebred Persian), we have discussed getting another cat, but we travel so much that it seems unfair to have to board a pet out that much. Or even have someone come to the house to feed and water them. Pets deserve as much quality time as humans keepers do; so we won't be getting another pet anytime soon.

But I can tell you about the Mutes. For a Persian, she was tiny. Less than 5 pounds fully grown, so she could be bred. But that was okay, we loved her just the way she was. She was a shaded silver and fluffy, but didn't have quite the pug nose that most Persians do. But it was like having a kitten around all the time. Although she was my cat (Pan bought her for me for mother's day the year after we were married), she preferred the kids and Pan and would not have much to do with me. We had our moments though.

Star Wars, Legos & Tribulations

Any guesses as to what I have been up to lately? Yep, that's right. Entertaining Indy with Legos Star Wars. That and a gazillion other things, like working, babysitting, buying a new garbage disposal, buying a new kitchen faucet and supervising the replacement of the same. Taking it step by step, I won't end up with the kitchen of my dreams but something I will like a whole lot.

Even in the midst of writing this Indy came in and drug me away to play Legos SW with him. Luckily right now Dora the Explorer is on and has grabbed his attention, giving me just a moment or two.

Nuke is coming down this weekend to take the Princess to a Ren Fair. She has never been but it has been a trial trying to figure out who had her princess dress that we spent bocoodles of money on at Disney World. Turns out her other grands had it and they returned it last night. Finally, after what, 4 months of trying to get it back. Oh well..... Will be an interesting week after all.

Just wish I had some cute quips or tall tales to leave you with. Later this week, maybe. Maybe I just see what the past week of blog prompts were and do somthing on them, don't you think?

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Penny Arcade has a handle on this kid's tribulations

Yesterday, I wrote about Dove. Today I give you Penny Arcade's blog. Scroll on down to "A rare opportunity," which is dated February 17. The blog is for gamers written by a gamer and while I do not count myself in their genre, I do like reading his blog and I like watching my gamer husband and son play.

Having no knowledge of the families involved, I cannot speculate whether the email is a hoax or not. All I can do is relate to my own personal experiences, which are such that bad things can happen to good people. Bad kids can be just bad kids no matter what you do for them. I do speak from experience. Fortunately mine has a happy ending as my juvenile delinquent grew up to join the Marine Corps who was able to instill qualities in him that I just couldn't seem to do. My other two didn't have to go that extreme, :).

I do happen to believe that 90% of the time it is the family, parents and extended, that determine how a child is going to behave and how they will grow up. But there's always that 10%. And even within that 10%, some of it has to do with the family, i.e. divorce, abusive spouses, drinking, etc., which for some reason people don't think of as problems. Oh well.

Now I have to go help the Princess play Star Wars Legos.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Monitors of Television and Tribulations

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from DOVE, apparently a child's advocacy group, to get television "cleaned" up.

Now before I step on any toes, let me explain, I fully support groups like CAC. There are a lot of children who need more than some group telling them what they can and cannot watch on television. If DOVE really wants to help children then let them spend their money helping to provide medical treatment for children whose parents fall below the poverty level, fix a meal and take it over, or better yet, take a spin babysitting while these parents work.

I happen to believe parents have the ultimate responsibility for what their children watch. I don't want any group telling me I can't let my children (or in my case, grandchildren) watch Harry Potter, Charmed, or for that matter Stargate. And do you have children or grandchildren in school now? If so they are probably being bombarded there with what is real and what is not real. I know Princess Z can tell the difference between a real life story and a fiction. AND if she is not sure, she asks.

I know that I am being a bit sensitive about this, but I have always made certain what my kids were watching, and if I wasn't sure about it I watched it with them.

So the question is: Where does it stop? And I bet the people who work this group like "Wonder Pets" too. And you don't even want me to get started on that one.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Weekday Tribulations

Today is Monday. Know how I know it's Monday? Pan is at work and was thrilled to be going there. Nothing like a weekend with a 2 1/2 year old to make you appreciate the work environment.

Today is also President's Day. No school. But this was the weekend that the Princess spent with her daddy. So Bomb drops off Indy at a little after 9 a.m. and tells me "J1" will be dropping the princess off within the hour. Okay. I was going shopping but I can wait an hour. 10:30 a.m. comes and goes, I call, no answer. 11:30 comes and goes, I call, and a very sleepy "J1" answers the phone. He will be bringing the princess by just as soon as "L2" wakes up from his nap, which should be soon. 12 noon comes and goes, I call and ask if I can just pick her up. I have to go right by his house to get to the grocery store. That works. Boy is L2 getting big.

Go get groceries with a 2 1/2 and a 7 year old in tow. No big deal except Indy wants one of the baskets that looks like a car. Tough luck. I'm not pushing it. $150 later I get to leave. Home we come and I have been informed that the Princess has not finished her report on bats.

She gave me the directions: a topic sentence paragraph; what bats eat; bats and echolocation; hibernation and how we can help bats. Each (except the topic sentence has to be at least 3 sentences long). She has already read two stories about bats and can use the information from those stories; and we gathered information from the internet (batconservation.com and more). Darn, I just reread the instructions and realize that she left a paragraph out. (call Bombshell and tell her to have the Princess add the paragraph. I'm sure the books she has will have enough to cover it).

Anyway, we started out with an outline. I wrote each of the subjects (except the one on bat wings) and then had her list what needed to go into each one. Then she took each one and wrote a paragraph using the outline as a guide. I'm really proud of how it turned out and I think she is too. And will I freely admit to helping her by being her secretary and writing it down as she talked, I didn't do much otherwise. Except to occasionally suggest that another beginning word in a sentence might be a better choice. Darn, I think the paragraph on echolocation got left out too and it was on the outline. Another call to Bombshell, who said she would call back immediately after dinner to get the specifics.

So without the bat wing or the echolocation paragraph, here is what my Princess had to say about bats:

In this report I hope to show you what I have learned about bats, their habits and what we can do for them.

Most of the bats eat insects, such as mosquitoes, grasshoppers and moths. Some bats, like the fruit bat, eat fruit and flowers. Other bats eat small amphibians and mammals, which includes salamanders and mice.

Before winter arrives, the bats start eating and storing food as fat. As hibernation starts, their hearts start slowing, as well as their breathing. During hibernation, they use the stored fat to stay alive during the winter.

One of the ways we can help bats is by protecting their home with gates. We can also make or buy bat houses. But the most important way to help bats is to teach others.
I was impressed with her use of amphibians. Not one that I would have thought about and when I asked her to name one, she came up with salamander instead of the more well-known lizard.

Today has been a bad day. But I'm going to like school; I always loved writing reports.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Word of the Week - COMETHER

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.
comether(n)
1. an affair, circumstances
2. friendship; friendly relations
.
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 in 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.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Tribulations of a Career

Your Career Type: Investigative

You are precise, scientific, and intellectual.
Your talents lie in understanding and solving math and science problems.

You would make an excellent:

Architect - Biologist - Chemist
Dentist - Electrical Technician - Mathematician
Medical Technician - Meteorologist - Pharmacist
Physician - Surveyor - Veterinarian

The worst career options for your are enterprising careers, like lawyer or real estate agent.


What's weird I was a legal assistant for nearly 9 years and loved it.

Half a Week of Blog Prompts and Tribulations

Wed 2/14 Blog Prompt: Well, it's one of those days that begs the question: How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? (Or do you?)

Easssyyy... We go to my favorite Japanese restaurant. Best way I know to celebrate. Besides, I don't care for chocolate, I don't wear much in the way of jewelry and only if the day falls on one of the days I work, I prefer not to get flowers. I think Pan has it too easy, LOL.

Although this year he also bought me the 2nd season of NCIS. I got him Legos Star Wars II for his x-box. Will have to do a separate post about that one.

Thurs 2/15 Blog Prompt: “If you ask me what I come to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ~ Emile Zola ~ What does “living out loud” mean for you?

What does it mean or how do I live it? What it means to me is that you are noticed. People know who you are and presumably in a good way. At least that is the way I would want to be noticed, known and seen.

But have I lived it? That really depends. I have been known to be "LOUD." Especially when talking to Indy, but that is not what this is really about. Yeah, I think I have lived out loud in my work, by being conscientious, working to the best of my ability and trying to get along with my co-workers.

Have I made a big dent in the scheme of things? I doubt it; but then that's what I had kids for.

Friday 2/16 Blog Prompt: List the qualities you prize in yourself. Is there one quality that you consider essential to your sense of your self?

Let's see... I'm trustworthy, honest, loving, loyal, patriotic and kind to a fault. Do I sound like a boy scout yet? While all of the traits listed I would consider to be essential to my sense of self, being trustworthy would probably be at the top of the list.

Explaining the reasoning seems to be eluding me at the moment though. I guess it could be because it is 5 a.m. here and that I have a sore throat and cold. But the more I think about this, the more it seems that each of the qualities I have listed are tied to one another in a tangle so that one is not really more important than another. And here a tangled web we weave in qualities that make up me.

For if I am trustworthy, does this not imply honesty? And where you have trust and honesty, loyality lays its head down. With loyality comes patriotism and love. Finally, kindness appears to be a by-product of love.

So can I, with impunity, state that one is more important than the others? I think not.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Changing Tribulations

Tues 2/13 Blog Prompt: List five things you’d like to change about yourself. Then list five things you wouldn’t change.

I would change:
1. my weight (working on it)
2. my eyebrows (always a work in progress
3. my short fuse (it is getting much longer)
4. that foot in my mouth (I think it has been superglued in place)
5. my weight (really, I'm working on it)

I would not change:
1. the way I think (worked for me for 50 years why change now?)
2. my outlook on life (life is good, life is grand.....)
3. my cheerful attitude (hey, I understand there's a bridge for sale in Brooklyn)
4. the love I have for my family
5. the love I have for myself.

Methinks I should read what others posted before posting this. But then where is the fun in that.

No Call List and a Tribulation

I got a call from a mortgage lender wanting to discuss lowering our mortage interest. First I start out with the standard, I'm not going to be making that decision without consulting my husband so you might as well wait and call him, when in mid-sentence I recalled that we are on the "no call list."

Umm... where did you get this number from? Well ma'am from your lender. Oh, guess I will have to talk to my lender then, because we are on the no call list and you shouldn't be calling. Write if you want our business.

You know, I really think lenders (who are getting paid to disclose these numbers) should have to pay us for every unwanted call we get. I mean what is the purpose of being on a no call list if your lender can sell your number to whomever. Yep, I think $100 for every unwanted call might suffice.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Meandering Tribulations

Things I have been meaning to post but forgot to during the tribulations of an uncooperative computer:

1. Remember that ad where the little boy was pushing his car up and down his mother's leg and going "bump, bump, bump"? Well Indy was not doing that. What happened as I lounged on the bed watching Pan play his X-Box game was Indy pushing my pj bottoms up, rubbing his hand up and down my lower leg, going "ow, ow, ow." Okay, unless the boat is in the water, I wear pants, jeans, or slacks. I do not wear dresses, skirts or shorts, hence I do not see the need to shave my legs every single day. Once a week or two should suffice.

Now before you guys go off about this, just remember, the only man's opinion that matters to me is Pan's. And let's face it, he isn't going to looking at my legs the majority of the time.

2. If you have been reading, you know I have had some major computer problems. This weekend Pan figured out that it was the motherboard. He has it jury-rigged in the hopes that it will last a couple more months at least. You know and I know, it is not his fault that I'm having this problem. Just with everything else (see below), it was like the straw that broke the camel's back. As he was trying his best to work on it yesterday, I came over to hug and hold him while he was waiting. I asked him why he could fix everyone elses computer but could not fix mine.... He told me that I have one of the most complex computers in the country. I believe him.

3. Things that have gone wrong: computer; Vista (which btw I do like); television; garbage disposal; Pan's lingering illness; Indy's stuffy nose; the Princess' stomach problems returning; I now there are more because I told them to the bug, but because I told her I didn't retain the memory. Maybe she can enlighten me. Then again maybe not.

4. I have been writing in journals to the kids (my kids, not the grands); but since I have started doing the "Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron with an on-line group to fiqure out where my creativity took a vacation to, I have only been writing in Nuke's. Of course, I will have it full before long and will have to switch to one of the other kids. But then they will have swap the journals around to get the full story. Wow, that would be cool.

5. I am so tired of hearing "noping." I think I need to put tape over Indy's mouth just to make sure I don't hear it one more time. Of course, the Princess has taking to saying nothing... which is where I am sure he gets it from.

6. And just, pray tell, where did he learn to fold his hands together, hold them up to his cheek, look at me with great big eyes and say Please when he wants something, especially to watch Star Wars for the 10 millionth time today.

7. The Princess wants to learn to knit. Wish her luck. I'm not a good teacher. I get to frustrated when I have to explain the same thing 20 million times. Probably why I ended up resenting the receptionists at work. Degrees in history and they think they know everything, everything except how to pay attention, apparently.

8. I would really like my daughter to get home on time. PLEAAAASE.

Are You Kidding Tribulations

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out.
Your heart is open to where ever love takes you!

Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out

Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking

What turns you off: fighting and conflict

Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love


Blatantly swiped from da bug.

Manic Monday Tribulations

Mon 2/12 Blog Prompt: “It’s just another manic Monday…” Write about why you like (or don’t like) Mondays.

Mondays, um. Mondays; you say? Is it any different than Tuesday? Well, yes, I have to say it is. Tuesdays I work as a bookkeeper, take care of toddler & 7 yo at night; Mondays I take care of a toddler. What about Wednesdays? Oh, isn't that just another name for Monday? Back to taking care of a toddler again. Definitely different than Thursday; but Thursdays are Tuesday all over again only no kids at night, followed by another Monday (but I think the rest of the world calls it Friday). Saturday and Sunday are kid filled too, difference is Pan's here.

So what do I like about Monday? It helps me keep the days straight.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Word of the Week - USTULATION

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.
ustulation (n)
the act of burning, scorching or searing
.
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 in 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.

More Computer Tribulations

Good morning. At least I hope it is a good morning for all of you out there. This is being posted from Pan's computer, because mine is neglecting to cooperate again this morning. So if you don't hear from me for a couple of days (which is unusual how?) it's because I can't use my computer and trying to type on Pan's is giving me one heck of a back and shoulder ache.

So have a good rest of the weekend.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Tribulation of a Bad Meal and More

Wed 2/7 Blog Prompt: What was the worst meal you ever had? Describe it in detail! Make us taste it!

I guess that would be the meal that we had at the Chinese Dinner Theatre in Hong Kong. But it wasn't the entire meal, just portions of it. The one's that stood out most were the 100 year old eggs, which were shaped like squares that had yellow and brown spots all over it. But when you cut into it, it was runny and tasted like dirt. Yuck, runny dirt. The next thing we had was a soup, and even though I had never had it before (in any form) I knew immediately it was shark. I know alot of people who enjoy it but it just didn't appeal to me. Then the last course of the meal was again a type of soup. It was pink and tasted just like Pepto Bismol. Yuck.

Thurs 2/8 Blog Prompt: What adages, mottoes, or phrases of advice were common in your family when you were growing up? (e.g., "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." "No use crying over spilled milk." "Do what I say, not what I do.") Write about a specific incident when the phrase was used. Do those words still have any power over you?

Will have to think on this one, because I cannot recall any specific phrases or adages that were used in my family while growing up or even any that used with the kids while they were growing up. Wait, maybe it "Because I'm mother, that's why!" And yes, I have used that one on my children as well, LOL. But I can't think of a single episode where it was used. Mainly it would come out when I would whine about something.

Friday 2/9 Blog Prompt: Yesterday we talked about phrases from your past. Now let's jot down some phrases from your present! List some phrases that you hear your spouse (or other family member) saying a lot. Or, for something different, take note of some of the funny things that come out of the mouths of the kids in your life!

Right now Indy is in that toddler stage wherein most ask "Why" to anything you tell them. Not Indy though. His favorite word of choice is "Noping" (translation: Nothing). Then again he doesn't hear statements like "stop that," "come here," etc. We are constantly having to ask him what he is doing.... Noping.

Friday, February 09, 2007

valentine tribulations

Sigh. Tink is still having pc issues. And while I had a ton of things I wanted to post over here, I have not had time. Hence, I leave you with a question or two and Tink can read the responses when she gets back online (and answer them herself as well):

1. Do you like to celebrate Valentine's?
2. What was the best experience you ever had that was in some way related to Valentine's Day?

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Humorous Blue Screen of Death

Way back when I use to do IT work, there were always pranks being played. Running a background job that would have roaches come out from behind a window that you moved and they would run to be behind other windows.

And of course in 2006 came the Blue Screen of Death screen saver. Straight from Microsoft you too can cause your IT friends and anyone else to go crazy...

From ZDNet news this is quoted:

But antivirus vendors are not impressed with the spoof screensaver software, which is named BlueScreen v3.2.

McAfee, for one, is actively preventing users from downloading the software. The company's security research team told ZDNet UK this week: "This is not a false positive. We are intentionally detecting this as Joke.Bluescreen.c, as it's meant to scare people."

Microsoft declined to say why it had chosen to keep offering BlueScreen, but a company representative said: "It's intended to be lighthearted."


Go ahead. It's not that hard to do.

Tink's Troubles

Seems Tink is having a few issues at home. Something about a blue screen of death. Not sure why that should stop her from blogging. Geeze, Sis, you ought to be able to do this via psychic waves!

Along with some other special items happening... like the mysterious glass that appeared on top of the fridge and then proceeded to jump off to it's death. Must have sympathized with the PC and it's blue screen of death. She said she thought a gun shot had gone off in her kitchen. While this was going on and she was trying to get the vacuum cleaner, Indiana B decided that pulling out the toys out of the toybox and trying to put them in her way was the best thing to do. Ohh... and Princess Z sat at the table and moved Tink's bottle of ink... by lifting it from the top... which proceeded to come off and dump the ink all over the table. Yaa... makes for an interesting day at Tink's house.

She'll be back as soon as things settle down. Guess I better get a couple of posts together since she might not be back for a day or two... Anyone have any suggestions? Other than I will call and get updates daily.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Artsy Tribulations

Tues 2/6 Blog Prompt: The first thing I made that I considered art was . .

my cross stitch. I'm going to toot my own horn here, I really do beautiful cross stitch pieces. Most, if you see them from across the room you really can't tell if they are cross stitch or paintings.

I normally work on linen and several years ago had gotten a Mirabella angel pattern that I made for my uncle. It was an extremely lovely pattern, but I thought there was more that could have been done. So on the face, hands and other small areas, I started stitching over one thread rather than 2. I liked how it turned out so much I started doing it with other pieces. Then about a year later, I noticed that the new patterns coming out had instructions on how to do it. Oh well.....

The other thing, is there is not much difference between the front and back of my pieces. I have to be careful when framing them or having them framed.

This is the one I made for my uncle:

Image Uploaded by ImageShack Toolbar

I need to get a better picture of it one day.

This is the one I have been working on for my mother (and maybe now that I can get to it, I can get it finished). By the time I bought this pattern they were putting the hands and face over one thread in the instructions. I still need to put the wings on and have a feathery type thread to use instead of the recommended one.

Image Uploaded by ImageShack Toolbar


I have never been one who could think of something off the top of my head to draw, paint, etc. I work better with a pattern to follow and put the effort into making it just enough different that it is still my creation. And I have sold several of my pieces, so I guess I have done alright.

It's just that I am a left-brain thinker, I am more comfortable with numbers and calculations than with a pen or paintbrush. I think that is why I like cross stitch so much, it's a counting thing......

Monday, February 05, 2007

Happiness is What Kind of Tribulation?

Mon 2/5 Blog Prompt: Let's start the week off right! My life is happy because...

I got up this morning;
Indy fell asleep in my arms tonight;
I had a weekend with Pan, even though it wasn't just the two of us;
I get to talk to all three of my children now;
I can laugh, joke and talk with my mom and my sisters;
I have a home, not just a house;
I have plenty to eat (sometimes to much of it);
Pan loves me and I love him;
Pan and I don't have to talk to share our feelings, we are comfortable in our silence;
I can still tease my kids and get away with it, sometimes, they even think it's funny;
I have people around who really care about me and who I care about;
And let's face it... mainly because I got this morning :)

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Weekends, Weather & Tribulations

Here the weekend is almost gone and I have not posted anything except my word of the week.

It has been somewhat chilly and rainy here for the better part of the week and this weekend Bombshell had to work Saturday and a double today. Though she got off early tonight, around 10:30 instead of the midnight-1 a.m. times. Nice.....

Well with the weather as it was, we really didn't feel like going out anywhere especially since Pan is still trying to recoup from bronchitis and Indy has a cold. The cold does not diminish his staying power though, let me tell you.

Pan and bug got a kick out of him yesterday, while I was talking to bug on the phone. Indy was running his hand up and down my leg saying "ow, ow, ow." So'k kid, I know I have to shave. Pan and bug were coming unglued, I tell you. Oh yeah, haha. They had just be looking over their shoulders; I'm the expert at paybacks.

Got to talk to Nuke, Scamp, Scamp's cellphone and the Ballerina. Nuke is locked up in one room of his house so he doesn't have to heat the rest (did I tell you he is miserly?). Scamp called to ask about cost of living in South Dakota (Hey, Glynis, this is your department isn't it? Any notes I should pass along); although I can't seem them giving up their condo in Hawaii to move to SD. The Ballerina was "ironing" the next time I talked to Scamp, he had to hold the phone up to her blouse so I could tell her whether it was hot or not. I screamed out "ow, ow, it's hot." She started laughing and told me I was right.

Oh I guess you are wondering about the call from Scamp's phone. So am I, matter of fact. Apparently (according to Scamp) it fell of their bed at 5:30 a.m. their time, managed to speed dial my phone and hang up before I could get to it. What I want to know is what the cellphone was doing "on" the bed and how it got bounced off. I take that back, that may be more information than I want.

Indy has been a pure terror this week; guess I am looking forward to another week like that with him. He has taken to pulling the soft tires off his small cars and putting them in a cup. Okay nothing wrong with that except one day he handed me three. Asked where the 4th was and he said "Ate it." No, no, no, no, no...... At least it was a fourth the size of a penny and very soft to boot. I still haven't found it, so maybe he really did eat it.

Then he "found" a pair of scissor and promptly cut up my measuring tape while I was in the bathroom. Knocked the glass top off a small side table and pitifully says "sorry." Found the Princess' wheat thins on my next bathroom break; poured them all over the sheets of my bed and rolled over them. I took the vacuum in to see if I could get them out at least until Pan got home to help me change the sheets (you think I was going to change them while Indy was still here?); the phone rang, so off I go to answer it and couldn't find, in the meantime, he turned the vacuum on and scared himself silly. Finally found the phone, but whoever it was hung up. Next trip to the bathroom, I came out to find him trying to put Reader Rabbit cd into Pan's computer (funny thing is he was doing it right). But I have decided that bathroom trips are out.

Word of the Week - A PRIORI

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.
a priori
1. from cause to effect or from a generalization to particular instances; deductively.
2. of such reasoning; deductive.
3. based on theory instead of experience or experiment.
4. before examination or analysis.
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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 in 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.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Weathering Tribulations

Friday 2/2 Blog Prompt: Happy Groundhog Day! I know you Down Under types are thinking, "those crazy Americans!" But I've done some research, and we can actually blame Groundhog Day on the Romans, or the early Christians, or European Celts.... Groundhog Day is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2. It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox. In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for six more weeks. [from Wikipedia]. Some of you are just now getting winter weather, while others are right in the middle of summer. Are you looking forward to a change in season or are you enjoying it as it is? Let's talk about the weather!

Weather, we want to talk about weather? I am so hating weather right now. If it would just make up it's mind what it wants to be here. One day in the 70's and by that night in the 20's so that the next day is in the 40's and by that night we are back in the 60's again. And so on it goes. No wonder everyone here is sick.

Whether (pun intended) the groundhog sees his shadow or not, I just hope which ever way it falls that the weather stays consistent here. If it rains it gets cold, if it rains it gets hot. Arrrggghhhhh...... I just want consistency. I don't even mind the rain. Like yesterday when it was so bad that it was dark all day. I had to work but it was great to get home, change clothes and curl up on my bed with a good book and watch Amazing Planet narrated by Patrick Stewart.

Last night I had to turn on the A/C; this morning the heater. So please Mr. Groundhog, don't waver on this, either see your shadow or don't; but don't sit on the fence about it.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Blog Birthing Tribulations

I just heard I am a new big sister to my blog mother's, vw bug, new daughter, Maranda Under Stress, who just happens to be the real life wife of bug's blog grandfather, Frizzen Sparks, and as you will recall, I am the real life big sister to the bug. So if this doesn't spin your head a couple of times, I want what your on.

Now Ms. Maranda has been blogging but has now been adopted by the bug. Goodness knows why she would want a bug for a mother is beyond me. I really didn't have a choice in it. :)

But now just hover your cursor over her name... right here: Maranda Under Stress, oops you just passed it, go on back, that's it, now click; and head on over to wish her a warm welcome into the Bad Example Family.

Technological Tribulations

Thur 2/1 Blog Prompt: What technological discoveries are bridging the gap between generations in your family? Are you teaching your parents or are your kids teaching you?

We are definitely the bridge between the generations with both kids and parents calling for expertise. We can always tell when the call is about technology, because instead of small chitchat with me, they always ask for Pan. Although I must admit my mom always asks me first before she asks for Pan's help. She has a list she goes through: ddpup, me, bug and then finally Pan. But then again Pan is a computer engineer. Scamp called last night with a problem about his hard drive... It was toast. That's all Pan could tell him, lol.

Around the living room, you can find two computers, 1 laptop, a television with dvd player, a combination vhs/dvd, surround sound system and a cable box. The bedroom has a hi-def tv, cable box and x-box. The lighting in the house is wired to a master box. And lots and lots of remotes.

Currently not in use are two or more dvd and/or vhs players, several Apple IIe's and an Apple IIgs.

So I think it is safe to say we are the bridge.