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May 29, 2004
Photoblog Work in Progress
I've finally gotten around to creating a photoblog where I can deposit images on a more regular basis. I've yet to work out the kinks and links, and I welcome your feedback, suggestions and recommendations!
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May 27, 2004
A Hunk 'o Nerdly Love
Propeller head, computer freak,
he's the super-alpha-uber-geek, GEEKMAN!
http://www.happyworker.com/geekman/
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Greetings to the Following (Interesting) Visitors
U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, California
U.S. Air Force - Ramstein Air Base, Germany
U.S. Marine Corps base/Quantico
U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis
U.S. Navy
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Disney
[Revised Love Note]
If you're from any of the places listed above, thanks for stopping by and taking a break from your busy day. Before you depart the premises, why not say howdy and leave a comment? You might take a gander at the comments box anyway, in case
some of my regular visitors are saying howdy to YOU. :-)
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Spanky the Clown Arrested
Spanky, a clown with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, has been arrested on charges stemming from a child pornography investigation. He faces 10 counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Spanky is 23 years old and from Jacksonville, Florida. Source: CNN
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Current and Upcoming Events
MAY 19 - June 6, New York City
Motorcycle Show
Five decades of motorcycle design and technology at
The Concourse, Rockefeller Center.
Free and open to the public.
www.motorcycles.org
www.rockefellercenter.com
May 26 -June 1, New York City
Fleet Week 2004
Open for free public tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, from May 27 - June 1.
www.intrepidmuseum.org/foundation_fleetweek.html
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/programs_fleetweek_2004_schedule.html
May 24- June 6, Paris
French Open
Tennis at Roland Garros Stadium
www.fft.fr/rolandgarros/fr
May 26-31, Aruba
Soul Beach Music Festival
Chaka Khan, Wyclef Jean and others entertain.
www.aruba.com
May 27-30, Rome
International Horse Show
Piazza di Siena, Villa Borghese.
www.piazzadisiena.com
June 4 to 26, Montreal
Montreal Chamber Music Festival
Most performances (some of them jazz) at Chalet de Montagne, on Mount Royal.
www.festivalmontreal.org.
June 8, Providence, Rhode Island
Federal Hill Stroll
Sampling cuisine at 20 restaurants and shopping with discounts at nine boutiques.
goprovidence.com
June 17-20, Key West, Florida
ChickenFest Key West
Recognizing the local free-roaming chickens with competition (among humans) for best-looking drumsticks, the
Poultry in Motion Parade and a "Tastes Like Chicken" chickenless cook-off.
www.ckfw.org
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May 26, 2004
The Kiss
"The only phrase I can think of partly to describe what the kiss did to me
has become a bit of a clich�. It sung my body electric. My mind is, of course,
completely blown."
- Nick @ taliesin's log on The best life has to offer.
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You Can Help Too
It doesn't take much to support a worthy cause or take a moment to be kind toward another human being.
Tom the Tough Guy
On July 25, Dragon @ headCleaner( ), also known as Tom, will take part in Tough Guy 2004. He writes:
On July 25th this year, I will be taking part in Tough Guy 2004. On that day I will be subjecting myself to an 8+ mile cross country run across rough terrain followed by an extreme 3 mile obstacle course. The obstacles themselves are made up of such challenges as crawling under barbed wire, diving through underwater tunnels, navigating a zig zag corridor of electric fences, climbing over walls and running, walking or crawling through hundreds of stinging nettles!
Why on earth would I voluntarily put myself through all this agony and pain? Because I have a choice. Because this is just one day of suffering. Because it will be, at most, three hours of testing my endurance, both mentally and physically. But if I had cancer then not only would I not have a choice but what I would experience would not be for just one day. That's why I hope that by taking part in this event I can raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief, a charity that works to improve the quality of life for people living with cancer.
I left a comment on his blog that I would do something to help him promote his efforts, and decided to add a linked image (see the left sidebar on my main page) that takes you directly to the sponsorship page where you can contribute some money for a very worthy cause.
Daisy and the Meningitis Trust
Daisy @ Chasing Daisy requests donations to Meningitis Trust. She has a relative who suffers from meningitis. Daisy writes:
Should you have any spare cash left over at the end of the month (yes, I know it's not likely but...), why not send a donation? Trust me, if you had ever sat at the bedside of a child with meningitis, wondering if they'll live to see the next hour, you'd be digging deep into your pockets.
The Meningitis Trust image I've added to the left sidebar on my main page takes you directly to the sponsorship page where you can contribute.
Susan and her Niece
Susan @ Spinning has been experiencing rough times, as her niece recently underwent surgery to remove a golfball-sized brain tumor. It is times like these that words of support mean the most. Years ago I wrote about my father's terminal cancer on my Web site. It meant so much when friends and strangers who read my writing sent supportive and kind words to me. If you've got a spare minute, why not stop by Susan's blog and leave a virtual hug or two.
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May 23, 2004
Desktop Mosaic
I have a table in my home that I've stared at for a long time. It was given to me by a friend, and at one point or another I thought of throwing it out or giving it away. About a year ago I decided to paint the table white, and then I was bored with it. The table needed something to jazz it up a bit. The top is removable from the base, and I decided to cover it with some cloth which provided hidden storage space underneath. That get-up became boring as well, and after moving the furniture in my home around (something I seem to do every six months out of boredom,) I decided to tile the tabletop.
My original idea was to use ceramic tile, the same type used in showers or countertops. After pricing them and not finding color combinations that would work, I opted for glass tile used in mosaics. While out of town a few weeks ago, I came across packages of glass mosaic tile that fit my budget and color preferences.
The last time I worked with mosaic tiles was in high school. When I decided to give up my dream of pursuing a career in art, I tossed my entire art portfolio and art pieces in the garbage. The only item salvaged is a mosaic tile piece that resides at my mother's house. She uses it as a cover for an old radiator she has in her kitchen. This one valuable masterpiece from my teenage years is all that is left. It's not exactly an ideal location for one's art pieces, but I suppose it's a better location than the bathroom.
One of the things I neglected to do before glueing and placing the tiles was design. Design, one of the main components of the mosaic tile process, became an afterthought for me. I'd begun to place tiles in rows, and before my internal alarm system yelled STOP, you have NO design, -- well, it was too late.
Overall, I think it took some 2000 glass tiles to cover the entire tabletop. Despite the lack of design, I'm pleased with the result.
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May 22, 2004
Snippets from the Blogroll
Wendy @ allseasons has found her next vacation spot in Canada.
(Mar)Tine @ tine.blog-city has a yummy photo as her submission to the Photo Friday/Macros challenge.
Ozg @ G'Day Mate deals with the misinterpretation of his writing in Am I Racist?
Horst @ The Aardvark Speaks is mourning the temporary loss of comments (see the post "Lonely") due to problems with Movable Type and a server move.
Zoe @ MBIAT is cracking the whip in an effort to get her three offspring to clean up.
Dave Pollard @ How to Save the World provides a "potopourri of helpful hints and links" to Help Yourself.
Al @ Fulton Chain's site has been ripped off. He writes about it here.
Adam Curry and crew are headed to Las Vegas for for a week of shows and marital ministering.
And on the topic of marriage proposals, Kat @ Mostly Fluff responds accordingly.
Greg @ Mr. Helpful writes about the 9/11 Hearings.
From Dale Keiger @ Scribble Scribble Scribble: The deadline for the Microstories Project, Volume III: Statistics, has been extended to June 15.
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May 20, 2004
Color to Black and White
Each time I use Photoshop I learn something else about it, some new way of altering images. In this example, I took a color photo and changed it to black and white. As mentioned previously, I'd encountered difficulty getting the blacks to be as deep as I wanted and the whites to appear brighter. Click on each image to enlarge.
I like the black and white effect for this image. It gives the fence an eery, spooky look.
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May 18, 2004
My Photos Pale in Comparison
Al @ Fulton Chain's photographs of flowers just make me want to vomit. After seeing his most recent photos, I should stop taking pictures.
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Slip 'n Slide
A Virginia man has been charged with felony criminal mischief for damaging a Motel 6 room in upstate New York. He was nabbed for slathering Vaseline on every single thing in Room 205--mattresses, pillows, sheets, furniture, carpeting, blankets, the TV, etc. A motel clerk discovered the damage after the man had checked out and called the Broome County Sheriff's Office. The same man also apparently slimed a nearby Super 8 Motel and was subsequently arrested at an Econo Lodge. When arrested, he was "smeared from head to foot with Vaseline." - via The Smoking Gun
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Happy Birthday!
From the Right Coast to the Left Coast, Happy Birthday Joanie @ Da Goddess!
Even though Joanie is having surgery this week and her birthday most likely will not be as happy as it should be, here's hoping that all goes well.
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May 17, 2004
Audio Fluff
A while back I mentioned how much I'd enjoy hearing audio posts from the folks I've listed on my blogroll. Kat @ Mostly Fluff has done a few, and when I say that her audio posts are a must listen, I can't emphasize it enough. Outside of Kat's lovely Southern belle accent, the content of her posts, coupled with her ability to tell a story, will leave you begging for more. Go have a listen! Here's a list of the posts she's done.
1. The Dog
2. Stupid Names
3. Yes, M'am
4. $50 Cigarettes
Keep 'em coming, Kat!
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May 16, 2004
Are You Happy With Your Ass?
That's today's spam inquiry.
Well geez, I never thought about it before. Is this something I've (obviously) overlooked all these years? Should I be standing in front of my full-length mirror, twisting my upper body like a pretzel just to look over my shoulder and check it out? Maybe it would be simpler to go and ask people, "uh, excuse me, should I be happy with my ass?" Hmm. My ass: a veritable smorgasbord of dairy products. The padding I constantly fall on, the tarmacadam for my clumsiness.
A long time ago there was a photo of yours truly that one of my family members took of me at a beach. The two-piece bathing suit I was wearing had bottoms featuring a striped design that made my backside look like the ass of a horse. Needless to say, the photo was quickly destroyed along with the negatives. I immediately went on a diet and, well, that was the end of the horse's ass.
Of course, my interpretation of the spam question might be incorrect. After all, the sender could have meant, "are you happy with your horse's ass, jackass, smartass, pain-in-the-ass ...?" If so, my response would be that I can't say, as I've none of those present at the moment.
Since I didn't open up that piece of email, I'll assume that the content reflected dietary recommendations or some new smart pill for ass-size shrinkage (Can't you just see the copy for it -- "Don't delay! Shrink your ass today!") Then there are those comments I've heard ever since the horse's ass departed -- "nice ass!" -- and other backside-related descriptions. Uh huh. Me and my ass: happy, happy, happy. ;-)
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Creatures of Habit
I've just returned from my stroll to get the Sunday newspaper. I couldn't help but notice the four people standing in front of the newsstand sifting through The New York Times. The "flip-through" is a mandatory, fail-safe method to make sure that you have every single section of the Sunday paper before returning home. I've learned this routine the hard way by not stopping first and inspecting my copy, only to return home to find I've got two Money and Business sections and no Metro section. I used to think folks were actually reading the paper on the street corner but now I know better.
After fetching my paper, I walk past H&H Bagels, the round-the-clock, 24-hour get-your-starch-fix bagel store. H&H is bustling with activity on the weekend, and a line out the door spills out onto the Broadway sidewalk. Cross the street and you're at Zabar's, the gourmet food store here on the Upper West Side of NYC. Zabar's is ... well, the place to go for fresh bakery goods, your Sunday morning fix of lox and cream cheese and other delectable goodies. It's also a popular stop for tourists, as evidenced by the busload of folks standing outside waiting for the doors to open.
It's just another typical Sunday morning in my neighborhood. What's it like in your neighborhood on a Sunday morning?
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May 14, 2004
What Contest ...
... would you have the chance of winning?
For me, I'd have to go with name that tune. I've surprised myself more than once with guessing song titles and artists just by hearing the first few notes. It's just one of those weird quirky things I seem to be good at.
So that's mine. What about you? What contest would you have the chance of winning?
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May 12, 2004
Pardon Me, Have You Seen My Submarine?
Missing runaway U.S. mini-submarine found by a beachcomber in Norway. - CNN
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Oh, Deer
Writer's block is always a great excuse to pick up and leave; to dust the brain, to concentrate on proposal writing, and of course to check on the deer in Pennsylvania. My trip was seat-of-the-pants and completely unplanned, but I don't shy away from traipsing elsewhere when I can do it.
While en route I passed four deer carcasses laying in the grass on the side of the road. Though I've seen this before, I've never seen four of them, one right after the other. I had high hopes that I wouldn't encounter more after that. After a few hours of travel time, I arrived, settled in and began the work on my to-do list. There must be something about being out of my day-to-day surroundings that helps remove the writer's block. Later on I went outside to survey the state of the deer population.
I grabbed the plastic container and filled it up with corn, then spread the corn out for the deer. The last time I was in Pennsylvania I had 9 deer that stopped by for a visit. This time around only 3 of the 9 showed up to eat. I left them to their meal and decided to go for a stroll. A walk around the neighborhood brought a sad reality. I saw the remains of three deer in the immediate area, just a pile of deer hair left, not even skeletal remains. Even though I know that deer jump out into roads and in front of passing cars, it doesn't make seeing remains any easier. This sorrowful moment did, however, have a bright side to it. In the group I fed, there among the hungry animals, heads down deep into the mud, was one of the first deer I had fed - some 4 years ago. It's easy to spot her; she has a bum leg and walks with a pronounced limp. She's a tough chick, that one. By the time I left Pennsylvania, 6 out of 9 had stopped by for a meal, and that's not too bad, all things considered.
Did I mention that the bears are out of hibernation?
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Snappy
I think I've exceeded the deer photo quotient for this decade and should really try to find something else to occupy my lens. Flowers continue to catch my eye and I don't think I'll ever grow weary of them.
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May 11, 2004
Jaffaholics Anonymous
As mentioned previously, the very thoughtful Daisy @ Chasing Daisy offered to send me some Jaffa Cakes to try after I noted that Dragon @ HeadCleaner() had consumed an entire tube of them.
My care package arrived today, not only with a tube of cakes yet to be consumed, but also an egg carton full of cakes to eat. Hey, I don't refer to myself as miss piggy for nothing -- though I could share, I'm not going to! I'll be saving my exciting new treat for after dinner, though I fear what will happen if I become addicted to them. Nevermind the calorie count displayed on the packaging; my guess is that if one devours too many of these treats that one may as well slap them on each hip. :-)
The notice on the side of the tube reads, Jaffaholics Anonymous: If you think you've got a problem call in the strictest confidence UK: 0500 011710, Republic of Ireland: 1800 409 317 Mon-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Store in a cool dry place or consume within minutes! Made lovingly in the UK. Per Cake 46 calories 1.0g Fat. ... I'll have another then!
Update: I've tried one. After experiencing a mind-numbing orgasm of the palate, the taste was not that far away from that of my all-time favorite black and whites. A black and white, for those who are unfamiliar, is similar to a jaffa cake in the 'cake' part -- but topped with one side vanilla icing and the other chocolate icing. Black and whites are loaded with calories, (bakery black and whites are 20 times larger than a Jaffa cake,) and I've weened myself off of them, indulging in one every 3 months. *sigh* Why is it that everything that tastes good has to be loaded with fat, fat and more fat? Calorie-wise, the Jaffa Cakes are a good substitute for now. Thanks again Daisy!
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May 7, 2004
No Pants/Trousers Day
Today's the day for wearing skirts, dresses, shorts, kilts and what-have-you. :-)
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May 4, 2004
New Additions
Some new links have been added here. Wendy at allseasons was the lone Canadian blogger on my blogroll for quite a while, and I finally got around to giving her some company. I've been reading Dave Pollard's blog, How to Save the World, for a long time. I kept forgetting to add his blog here and finally remembered to do so.
I've added Heiko Hebig to the Germany section. His blog is written in English and he's always on top of the latest happenings, not only in Germany but also worldwide. Heiko's blog is well-written and informative.
A UK blog I keep forgetting to mention is Digital Detritus. I'll just quote the writeup that Nicholas has about his blog: "Deep links, data and other detritus cached by Nicholas, a laconic webgeek with a penchant for football (Chelsea FC), books, modern and contemporary art, indie/alternative music, wine, Moleskine notebooks, the Internet and minimal web design. He currently resides on the south coast of England where he lives in his mind."
Next up are some USA blogs. I begin with David St Lawrence and his blog Ripples. I found David's blog via Susan @ Spinning. Outside of David's writing style, which I love, he's also endeared me to his blog through the knowledge that David and his wife feed the deer whenever they stop by for a bite. (My regular readers know that that is something I love do whenever I get out of NYC.) David is working with Wayne Hurlbert of Blog Business World on an initiative called Bloggers Helping Bloggers (helping other bloggers become gainfully employed), an effort I recently became involved in and will write more about in an upcoming post.
Rob @ words*images*life is a graphic designer who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. I ended up spending a long time on his blog and read everything!
Remy @ NewYorkish is doing a superb job with his blog. Outside of his witty repertoire, Remy is the soon-to-be published author of a novel and has recently finished his first screenplay.
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May 3, 2004
Quotes
"When are you going to update your site? I feel like a junky needing a "DMB" [Dusting My Brain] fix." - via email from a friend in the Army National Guard.
"Sometimes you just have to feel like shit until you're through feeling like shit, you know?" - Kat @ Mostly Fluff
"I looked the same as I always had in these outfits; like a highly artistic, colorful graffitied inner city fire hydrant." - Susan @ Spinning on What to Wear
"People love me wearing shorts. I have great legs. Don't want to seem arrogant and whatnot, but my legs rock. My legs were made for wearing shorts. Yes, I've considered becoming a leg model, but I'm not sure I want to get into that scene. The leg modeling world is such a meat market. So I've decided to share my glorious gams with the world without some marketing tie in. You're welcome. And when the weather turns warmer, like it's just about to do, I breakout my legs and all the children sing songs and make lovely, quaint crayon drawings about them. So you can see why I'm so excited about the impending summer weather." - Christopher @ Utter Wonder
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Yup, That's Me
From today's horoscope:
You're incredibly persuasive. You could charm the spots off a leopard or sell ice water to the devil.
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May 1, 2004
Daisy, the Goodwill Ambassador
Nurturing International Relations
I read a post over at Dragon's blog, HeadCleaner(), about these things called Jaffa Cakes. Evidently he'd eaten an entire tube of them in 3:47 minutes. This rapid inhalation of some sort of food did not go unnoticed by yours truly, but I had no idea what exactly it was that he'd eaten so fast. I decided to inquire within.
Hours later, in strolls the lovely Daisy of Chasing Daisy. She had popped into Dragon's blog and read my inquiry, then came over here and provided links to information about these mysterious cakes. Talk about a quick education! Not only did Daisy point me to two separate sites that helped to sell me on this sweet sensation, but she's also offered to send me a box so I can join the countless fans of Jaffa Cakes 'round the world.
Now if that isn't nurturing the international relations, I don't know what is. Thanks, ambassador Daisy!
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