Random Writer

2008-09-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Tolorance V.S. Love

2008-09-01T22:34:00.000-07:00

Photo by ilker .

Maintaining the difference between tolerance and love can be a terrible ordeal. There are many things is this world that are not to be tolerated, period. But there are many people in this world to be loved. So how do you love someone even when what they do is wrong without actually tolerating what they are doing?

So you work at a bar. Working there and serving drinks isn't wrong. But being there and watching out for the people who's lives might be a bit
tougher than yours is right and may even help a few out of the substance abuse they can't help.

The best example is the greatest prophet the world has or ever will have loving a whore without tolerating her practices.

By seeing the person on the inside and loving them into freedom, you are not tolerating their practices, you are loving the real person out of the wrong they are living in.

Terribly Sad Puppies

2008-08-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

So, we went back to the shelter to try to adopt the puppy (no, that's not her picture). There was only one other couple there to try to win the raffle for her as well. The other couple won. We went back into the rest of the shelter to see the adult dogs (yes, there is a darling in there I would like to save, but we'll see, I'm hesitant about an adult dog I have no knowledge about). When we were on our way back we passed the puppy room while a staff member was posting a sign on the door. "Quarantined"! Very startled I asked the woman what the illness was, "parvo virus". I was shocked, none of these puppies will have been vaccinated because this shelter is still in the contract process with a local vet for the shots. Meaning that the little darling we'd been trying to adopt was very likely infected. So sad. Puppies can survive and often do when treated correctly, but in a shelter with low funding there is no gurentee of treatment being given. I'm pretty sure the couple who had won the one puppy were keeping her, I hope they did. So, we were protected in the end from huge vet bills or even a tragic loss. But now we must keep our distance from all dogs who are 6 months and youger unless they have been vaccinated because we are likely carriers for 9 months! Well, guess we won't be getting a puppy any time soon.

Writing again!

2008-08-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

It has been so very very long since I was last writing my book, but I am finally back at it. So, here is an excerpt, hope you enjoy.

Violent silence. The sea swelled and boiled angrily as the salty wind ragged against the water's surface. She knew what she was supposed to hear as she watched the scene below her, but her senses were confused. There was no sound. The air felt as dry and hot as the scorched desert, yet it was also frigid and heavy with the salty dew of the sea. Her limbs were heavy and ached, yet she felt she was as thin and light as air. And from one minute to the next she was never sure if she smelled the spiced fragrance of blooming airbortai, or the sharp scent of the sea soaked granite cliff she was standing on. Then she understood. A dream.

'Kate, you’re in a dream, just relax.' She told herself. 'Just receive the message and then wake up.' Her dreams had become rather extraordinary of late. As a lohairmin, a future seer, she should be used to such extraordinary things happening. But the gift had never affected her dreams in such a manner before.

Her attention was abruptly drawn back to the scene before her for she had been unexpectedly flung from the cliff and out over the angry sea. She was frozen in mid air for a full second then dropped to her doom with more force than a lead covered stone pulled by gravity. She released an anguished scream with eyes closed, but a minute passed then another, and she hadn't felt the sea engulf her or the jagged rocks beneath its surface tare her to bloody shreds. Opening her eyes Kate was stunned to see that she was in fact soaring above the roaring silent waves. She looked to where she was being taken and saw that she was approaching a distant spit of land. She recognized this storm ravaged place. It was the main land, the nation her ancestry had descended from. Cyghlehi. It was the name it had been granted for what it had once been hundreds of years before, a place of light. Now it sat uselessly wealthy, lonely, and forgotten by what had once filled it with that light. Kate shook her head as a few tears for what had been lost fell from her cool silvery blue eyes and dropped to the blackened sea far below. She was startled by the suddenness of a voice like that of distant rolling thunder in her silent dream as it spoke a familiar prophesy to its young lohairmin.

“What was lost may still yet be found. Light is coming again, though it will be every increasingly shadowed for a while before. You know The Light is never lost forever, if only a choice is made. Look to the Miyahlin, there a way has been fashioned.”

Kate smiled for she had heard these words spoken before, though it had been nearly ten years before during her eleventh summer, and she had forgotten them till now. She still did not understand what a Miyahlin might be, but she knew she would when the time came; she always did. Hope flowed over and through her like warm honey; there was still a way, and it was coming swiftly.

Oh my!

2008-08-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

So puppy feaver has struck! Joe and I have been looking for some time for a small puppy to add to our home. Unfortunatly the breaders are hard to find out here and so many of them are for labs and chihuahuas. We love labs, but their energy and size are to great. chihuahuas...I don't want to step on the tiny thing! Plus we'd like a bit more inteligence. So we looked at Boston Bull Terriers. Very cute, sweet temperment and good size. But...$350 each?! Wow! So then we went to the local animal shelter. They have been full for some time and now must euthanize some of the older residence. We found many great dogs, but most too big for our appartment. But then there was one puppy that, oh my goodnes, really caught my attention. Clearly contains boxer (in her face and color) but her chest is narrow, her feet tiny and skinny like a terrior, and her ears are rounded and drooped like a beagle. She is only 1 month old and fits in my one hand. She instantly needed snuggles when I picked her up (I think the noise from the other residence was too scary for a pup that small without her mommy) and when I got her outside to walk her she was instantly ready to play. Unfortunatly too many people want her and so come Tuesday she will be raffeled off. I'm going to try it! If we are not ment to have her we won't win and I will take it as her Creator saying, she needs to be with a different family. Not entirely sure, but if we get her I think her name might be Mimi, which means wished for and spiritual passion.

See Beyond Now: I Love you, Dad..( 1923-2004, a life well lived )

2008-08-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

See Beyond Now: I Love you, Dad..( 1923-2004, a life well lived )

Better Be Appreciative

2008-08-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mikkolo of sxc.hu

I am in a world of appreciation/thankfulness. Life can and usually will be not so fun. It is far too easy to view life through a vision dimmed by the black haze of everything wrong. Coming out of this haze has been a tremendous and somewhat thrilling experience. I am just now coming to recognize that I was in the haze in the first place. Though while in it I could recognize parts of it, most was far too thick for me to even be aware of how dark things had become.

What started the exodus? A new (and sure to become very excellent) friend obeying their creator. I think this person is likely unaware of how profound their words really were and of how powerful the impact was because they were fully open and ready for the creator to use them. They said something like this:

"You cannot carry the others pains or battles for them. The creator must carry these. But you can support them with your love and allow them to lean on you. Just focus on the creator's plan, the future you know is there, the future you know is perfect. All you can do is love and make your focus right, the rest is up to the creator, and he knows what he is doing."

Severely re-phrased, but the point is clear. I've come to realize (though I had thought it wasn't true of me) that in the midst of another's battles, I've lost sight of the one who allowd the battle to exist in the first place. I've lost sight of the things I have because of the things I don't have.

No, life is not easy, but it is not hell, no matter how close we may think we are to it.

I have an amazing husband with a mysterious and powerful destiny on his life that I get to share a piece of. I have just recently been able to purchase a laptop and Wacom tablet that will allow me to continue helping a ministry and expand on my graphic work. The budget might be tight but my creator made a way for us to have these tools. We have a car, how, I don't know, but we do. I have a gift for creativity that not only allows stress reliefe, but also lets me see a glimps of what my Creator can do through us mere humans when we say "yes". My Creator loves me and saves me. He is a very gentle a patient teacher.

I have so much to be appreciative for, its about time I start opening my eyes.

Praise our Creator! He makes all perfect ways open!

A New Blog!

2008-08-08T15:37:00.001-07:00

Check out this new blog, See_Beyond_Now at
http://see-beyond-now.blogspot.com/

Author: Mom!

What Makes You...?

2008-07-31T20:25:00.000-07:00

Photo by Craig Jewell

I don't know how many people actually read this blog anymore,
but for those who do, I have some questions.

What makes you sing?

What makes you happy?

What makes you paint?

What makes you write?

What makes you dance?

Frozen Grand Central

2008-07-14T12:27:00.001-07:00

This is very fun to watch.

Computer Generated 3D Ball Music Machine Complete Version

2008-07-13T20:30:00.001-07:00

Very cool simulation concept for a modern instrument. Not in actual existence, but it'd be cool if it worked.

Current Work

2008-06-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing that I've working on for a little while now. The photo reference is called
"The Cylinder" by deviantart.com artist =edlyn.
I intend to draw the entire photo, but the hand has been my start focus.

Red - Wasting Time

2008-06-10T18:24:00.001-07:00

This is song may be a bit too intense for some, I'm sorry. This is a song that I very much enjoy, speaking about the battle we fight everyday to stay in the light and out of the grip of the dark.
Very passionate song. Sorry for the slightly poor quality, this is someone else's YouTube.com video from a long time ago.

A New Image: Drawn With Pencil

2008-05-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

So I've been asked again what I've been up to in my art. Here it is. This is a miserable photo of it, but it is as good as I can get. There is actually red blood in those wounds, but it will be difficult to see in the quality of an image.

There is no title for this image. But, it is still rather self explanatory.

Enjoy!

(Please if this is something you want a copy of, let me know before
you try swiping it from the blog. I'd be happy to find a way to get you a copy.
Plus I'd like to know who likes my work that much : )

Waiting for HIS Response

2008-05-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

Princess

2008-04-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Photo by Heather Ruff

She stands in the window,

Staring at what might be.

Will she be the princess,

Would someone hold her key?

The jewels have been placed,
All eyes drawn to the newly crowned.
Hopes and fears ready to be faced,
Will she fall?

Are there arms to hold her,
A kiss to free her?
Will there be gentle love,
Or a passionate adoration so pure.

Will the silks tatter and fade,
Or the raiment be unshaken love.
Swept away by his waltz, a maid,
Saved away, her dragon slain.

The mind locking away her dreams,
Her heart the only entry.
Carry her in a powerful hold,
He takes her home as he whispers-

Love.

Red: Pieces

2008-04-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

Photo by Scott Snyder

This is one of my favorite newer groups to listen to, Red. They have only one album out so far called "End of Silence". This song always gets me, it says just what I think on a regular bases.

"I'm here again - A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess - just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard - thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face - I know I'm finally yours
I find everything - I thought I lost before
You call my name - I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand

When I see your face - I know I'm finally yours
I find everything - I thought I lost before
You call my name - I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I tried so hard - so hard - I tried so hard"

Then I see your face - I know I'm finally yours
I find everything - I thought I lost before
You call my name - I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole"

Cliff Hanging

2008-03-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Image by Vladimir Fofanov

Some of you may have noticed the new image in my profile that has replaced my face. The photo was taken in China, and not by me, though I wish it had been me there. This is a country and culture that regularly fascinates me, though I know very little of it. I suppose it would be the romantic side of me coming through.
After using this picture I've seen it several times when I log in to blog and it has gotten me to thinking. I unintentionally used a photo that describes life as it is right now. I feel I've buried my roots in a somewhat precarious place and that the mists around me are doing a frighteningly wonderful job of hiding the details of what might be near by.
And yet, this is not a bad place to be.
I don't mind that my roots are in this place because I know they are hooked into solid rock. And I don't mind that the rock so happens to be a cliff, I know Who put the cliff there. And as for the mist? Well, I wouldn't mind seeing just a bit more of what is close at hand, but then again if I knew what was really there I might panic at the sight and loose my roots a bit too far.
I like being on the edge of the next phase of life sometimes, less time to think and more of an adventure. Granted, there are some things I would like to have known before hand, but for now, I am content to cliff hang.

Then Thunder

2008-03-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

For anyone who might be interested, this painting is now on display at the Three Rivers Bridge in Kennewick. You are more than welcome to view it there along with many other artist's work.

Hot Bites

2008-03-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

Image by Igor Badalassi

So, we all know what it is like to take a bite of something too hot. You take that bite and wow! You start to draw in cool air as fast as you can (something a viewer might mistake for hyperventilation), in an attempt to cool the food. It doesn't work and food continues to slightly sear the inside of your mouth. Eyes tear and strange noises are emitted from you. Finally, the food having not cooled down, you resort to a hasty swallow. Not a good idea. You may or may not feel the effects of the hot food going down the esophagus, but damage can sometimes be caused. You could have spit it out, but, eew.

There is no need to sear the esophagus with what the mouth cannot handle.

This said, I want to know what you think that last sentence means metaphorically. And you are NOT aloud to read the other comment(s) before giving your answer, ignore them while you type : )

KITTY!!!

2008-03-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

So, this is mostly a photo posting this time. I know I told you all about my kitty when he first came home (and was at the time mistaken for a she). Well, now he is nearly done growing and has finally begun to calm down (though he still has his moments). And his official, not been changed in three months, name is Sepheroth, called Seffers (AKA: monkey, by my hubby).

Out bathroom sink was his favorite place to sleep,
but I just couldn't stand it anymore, so he's no longer sleeping there.

His first Christmas was a blast!

When the Christmas tree was there: Oh what a hassle!
But when it was gone: Somebody looked guilty.

The "Night Elf Cat" has had enough of the camera flash!
(Night Elf: referenced from the game World of Warcraft)

This is a favorite sleeping spot during the day on our bed.
(I'd disturbed his sleep here once again with the camera flash, ha-ha-ha)

Playtime with a favorite mousy toy (thank you Lisa).

Sleepy time with another favorite toy; paper towel tubes.

Seffers discovers catnip.
(the catnip was sprinkled over the scratcher to attracted him, he was attracted, but still doesn't realize its for scratching, not licking or passing out on)

I redecorated our couch with birthday money this year, he greatly approved.
(this is now his favorite blanket to sleep on)

Zzzzzzzzzz...

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

2008-02-29T11:22:00.001-08:00

Soooo, cute!

Inspired

2008-02-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

Today has been a day for inspiration. My creative tendencies have been been so crazy that it seem as though no outlet is enough and so much of what I am seeing and hearing are all increasing my thoughts, ideas, and imagination. This photo did not help. When I found this on a Google image search for "heavenly" I instantly had a song writing itself in my mind and I wanted to cry. I still want to cry when I look at this and I do not even have all of the words of the song, let alone the melody. And then I start to think of all the natural phenomenon in this world and how everything points to The Creator.
When I look at this moon I think of how clear an image it is of how our creator wants us to be. It is not just an incredibly beautiful part of creation, it is an instruction that He so wants us to obey that he displays it all the time. The moon reflects the suns light, it has no light of its own. This reflected light shows down on the globe when it is dark. We are supposed to be reflecting the Creator's light in a world gone dark.
The clouds gather water till it is time to release it on the dry earth. We are supposed to soak in His Spirit and release it to the spiritually dry.
And have you ever thought about heat naturally rising and cold sinking? Our spiritual temperature should be rising and as it does it brings us naturally higher and closer to Him. The lower the temperature the further we sink from Him.
When you are thirsty your body is telling you that you are already dehydrated. You are supposed to drink water regularly whether you have a thirst or not to help maintain your health. It is not wrong to "drink" in more of our Creator when we are in a state of apparent need, but we would be much healthier if we made a regular habit of "drinking" Him in all the time.

Paintings

2008-01-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

I've had some questions lately concerning a series of paintings I've been working on. So I thought that my blog would be a great way to share these three paintings with everyone. Sorry for the low quality photos, I don't have the proper studio equipment for taking pictures of these paintings. But this should give you a good idea.

#1 - Spirit and Soul Dance

#2 - Surpass

#3 - (Then Thunder)

So these are the three paintings. I began these painting wanting something to help out my sad empty walls in my apartment. I had no intention of painting a series and I had no pre-conceived ideas as to what I would paint. These paintings came about by my not paying any real attention to what I was doing; in fact my mind was rather racy with other things when I painted these. I guess for me these paintings were kind of like worship in the midst of my "mind storm".

Graphic Design

2008-01-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

So, it has been asked if I created the image at the top of my blog. No, I did not, but I would have liked to have. Its what I would have done for a living if I could have. I went to college for graphic design but never finished my degree. I'll try to find some of my old stuff from when I actually had a computer that could handle the software that will let you do this kind of art. I'll display it when I do.

Excellent Post!

2008-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

OK, so this blog is not about anything I have to say. Its about totally loving what someone else had to say on their blog.
This man and his wife and son are extremely close friends of my husband and I.
Please read this blog "Deity Masturbation" at shadraq.blogspot.com

C.S. Lewis

2008-01-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

Reality:
"We should never ask of anything 'Is is real?',
for everything is real.
The proper question is 'A real what?'"

C. S. Lewis
Letters to Malcolm:
Chiefly of Prayer, chap. 15, para. 12, p. 80

Image by Patryk Buchcik

Resolutions? Nice try.

2008-01-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

As is tradition, people across the globe are making their New Year's Resolutions. I never could get into this weird little habit we humans came up with to make ourselves feel better about the crap from the old year. Really, it is just another 365 days, what makes the first 31 of them any better of a time for change in your life than the other 334? Very few people ever even make it past the first 14 days of the new year with their resolutions in tacked, let alone the first 31. Now, if you are one of those who has made it past the 31 days mark, I congratulate you, you are among the few. If you are one of those who has made it past the three months mark I applaud you and give you a hearty hand shake, you are among the rarest of them all.

This last year has been one of the most "interesting" I've ever experienced in my 20 some years of existence. You might say it has been a year of smelting. (no, I didn't fast showers). I have been like a lump of nasty looking ore that needed major purifying/smelting. Looking at the lump you could see that there was likely a bit of silver, maybe gold, and maybe the rare chance of gem stones. But for the most part all that could really be seen was the dirt, rock, tar, and filth of something recently pulled out of some ground from the depth of some mountain no one knows about. You might be saying right now, "wow, you have a pretty low self esteem issue". Well, I can not say that I have a very bright and pretty view of myself. But I am very happy to be seeing this "lump of ore" in all its ugliness. I much rather have my ugliness revealed to me here while on earth rather than after its too late and I've failed to accomplish what I should have in my time here because of a blindness to my hindrances. Last year was a year that was difficult to live through, but now I see that this year will be much more difficult to walk through seeing what I do that needs to be purged before the next phase of life (what ever that phase might be).

So, I don't have a new years resolution, I have a new phase resolution. And really, the resolution came about before the new year was even here. This hunk of ore has been in the furnace for a long time and its finally ready to start letting go of some of the crap that has been hiding the precious things underneath. I think it might hurt less letting go than it hurt to hang onto the junk (or so I hope).
Grace grace.

I'll leave you with a bit of encouragement if you are one of the thousands that has chosen to make those new year's resolutions. I have noticed time and again that the resolutions most often to fail are those made out of guilt or of fleshly desires. The resolutions most often to make it for a good long while are those made out of the heart. If you have a desire to work your trouser size down by two or three sizes, that's fine, but you could have done this last year too, good luck. If you have a desire to make amends with certain people, or to change your attitude, or to make life easier for those who have had it harder than you; you have a real fighting chance because these are works of and in the heart.

The heart can give your will power a far better boost than your mind or stomach.

Back in Business

2007-12-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

I'm baaack! Thanks to the generosity of some of our friends we now have a computer for internet use at home. So we are back to blogging! Of course this still depends on the inspiration being there, but I will try.
We've just returned from a visit with our families on the East Coast. Its been over a year since we've seen any of them and we were very happy to be able to go back for an early Christmas. This trip was also thanks to some other very good friends of ours giving us their flier's miles. And now returned home we have some family staying with us for a few days.
We've had a rather rough year but it is ending with family at the very least. The tightrope walk has been very shaky and very often impossible to see the next step, but (so far as I can tell) we have not yet fallen. Our next move this coming 2008 is completely covered with no possible way of seeing if the tightrope continues on or if there may possibly be an end and landing. All that we are (or thought we were) has been stretched beyond every limit and all we can hope is that our God was the stretcher and it will all be for the furthering of His Glory somehow. We have felt our smallness and helplessness in a fully new way this year and yet we know we are still no where near being in our "proper place". There is plenty to be thankful for in all of this and God knows we would not have come even this far if it weren't for the family and friends surrounding us every second of every day.
Thank you all for your daily astounding friendships and sacrifices.
You have all been awesome examples of grace grace and selflessness in all ways.
Thank you.

No Internet

2007-10-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! Yeah, I know, I've been neglecting my blog for some time now. I'm afraid I have had little opportunity to write though. I am no longer able to use the internet at my home because the one computer I have for the internet has been infected by a root kit. Bad news! If I were to hook this computer up to the internet again I would risk the crummy little snot nose who put the root kit there getting a hold of all of my info. contained on that computer. So this means that I must "destroy" this computer and re-build it before I can safely use it again. So for now all blogging must be done at the library.
My kitty is doing well, her head finally proportionate with her body (she's been a pin head for some time now). But though she is doing well, my husband is not. He has now become allergic to her litterbox. This being the case he is usually sick when at home. So we must now find a new home for our little Gemma. Do YOU want her?

Question: If you know me (and you likely do if you even know about this blog), what career would you tell me to pursue? (Please temporarily forget that money may be an issue to gaining this career). What is the first thing that you would see me doing? Help solve the puzzle.

The Gang

2007-08-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Me Simpson-ized

2007-08-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Holding On

2007-08-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

8-12 "When the time's ripe, I answer you. When victory's due, I help you. I form you and use you to reconnect the people with me, to put the land in order, to resettle families on the ruined properties. I tell prisoners, 'Come on out. You're free!' and those huddled in fear, 'It's all right. It's safe now.' There'll be foodstands along all the roads, picnics on all the hills - Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty, shade from the sun, shelter from the wind, for the Compassionate One guides them, takes them to the best springs. I'll make all my mountains into roads, turn them into a superhighway. Look: These coming from far countries and those, out of the north, These streaming in from the west, and those from all the way down the Nile!"
13 Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead! Mountains, send up cheers! God has comforted his people. He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.
Isaiah 49:8-13 (The Message)

I hold onto this everyday. My husband and I (and many others I know) have been in a dark and hidden time of waiting. Most of us do not even know what it is that we wait for, only that it is God coordinated. Some of us do not even know what to hold onto to make the wait livable, but there is the ever un-noticed hand of God holding us from behind and causing the next step to be taken before we even notice we've taken it.
So keep marching, keep loving, grace grace, and embrace the change waiting brings. The end is near and the power, whatever His intentions are, is almost ready to break down over us and move us into the next levels of His plans. God speed, God courage, and God grace.

Prince Charming

2007-07-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

I really did find my one and only!

Names

2007-07-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

So, our kitten went through a good number of names and like my friend "In a Garden (WA)" I hope she doesn't end up with a complex. She started out as Dee, meaning dark and loving, then she was Peanut, then she was Gem. But thanks to my Mom's list of names in response to my last blog, we have a final name! Gemma, meaning precious stone, an Italian name. We both like the name and the kitten is already responding to it. No, again this is not a picture of her.
A kitten! Sheeesh! They are cute, just intelligent enough, and fun. But boy are they a nuisance at night! Our first night with her we didn't sleep, she was in a new place with no other kittens answering her calls. So she called out the entire night! We finally couldn't take it anymore and shut her in the bathroom (with the toilet lid down of course). Next night we had a pop out pet carrier that we closed her in. She meowed all night again but we didn't have to worry about her jumping on us or getting into any cords. We turned the air conditioner on high and had a good night sleep. Ahhhhh.
Today we've done nothing but torture her. We've been doing all we can to keep her awake so that by tonight she will be too exhausted to stay awake and cry. Tough job with a nocturnal animal.

Panda Sneeze

2007-07-09T15:57:00.001-07:00

Whatch this twice at least, its soooo funny!!!

Kitten!!!

2007-07-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

Crazy! You know, I'm not really what you would call a cat person, but, well, I've got a kitten. No, this is NOT her. I don't have a way to get a picture of her on my computer. But this photo is very close. She is almost all black, but has a little tiny dribble of white under her chin. Soooo adorable. Now normally I am certainly a dog person, but we can not have a dog in our apartment and I have a co-worker who has been trying to get rid of some kittens. Sooooo, we took one. She's asleep on my lap right now making left hand only typing a new talent for me. We thought we had a name for her, but Joe wasn't feeling the name. So readers, what do you think? What is a good laid back and cute name for our new dinky friend?

Dream Job

2007-07-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

What is your dream job? I know there are plenty of things out there that I would love to get paid for doing. Graphic design, costume designer, photographer, dancer, singer... Of course all these things are creative things and we are rarely ever lucky enough to be paid to do creative things like these.
But really, I'd like to know, what would you do if you could do anything in the world and call it a living?

www.sxc.hu

2007-07-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

OK, all these photos I use, none are mine because I don't have any of them on my computer, so I can't take credit. But if you would like a great source for royalty free photos go to www.sxc.hu , type it in just like that, NO .com. You need a log in to download any of them. You also need to pay attention to restrictions. All the images have some statement on what its restrictions are underneath them. Some only want credit when you use the image, some don't care at all, and very few require written permission to use.
This is a site that allows artists to get there work out there at no cost and to see others as well. The only catch is you never know when or where or how you art is being used.

Writing Again

2007-07-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

Writing for me can sometimes be a very challenging task while at other times it can be very easy and enjoyable. Of late it has been somewhat of a challenge. I suppose when stress levels are high it affects the creativity and so this may be my explanation. But last week, sometime, I told Joe (my wonderful hubby) that I was going to start writing my book again. This is a book that I have been working on for about seven or eight years. It has been written, re-written, and re-written again and again, probably around five times. I am now finally on what I think may be the last re-write (basic editing excused since that never ends), but I have not touched in nearly a year. I would sit down to work on it and it would be just that, work. Last week when I told my husband I would work on it again (and he was very happy), I didn't do it, I played a computer game instead. Needless to say, he was disappointed. So I forced myself to sit down the next day and write. At first it was rather like a little girl and her bubbles, she blows, bunches of pretty bubbles float everywhere and she runs after them. I had all these little ideas floating in front of me and I could use any of them to move along with my story or I could just try to catch them all and hope it made sense and didn't become a mess. But somehow I found the one bubble that worked and the story began to flow again. So I am now hoping that this success will begin to reflect in my blogging and that I will begin writing more again.

Cherries

2007-06-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

Cherries, what is a favorite cherry recipe? Write it out so we can all see some recipes to try.

Sorry I haven't been writing much lately, every time I sit down to write my mind decides to go ..................
So, we'll see, maybe I can ooz something out of it really soon.

The People

2007-05-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever sat down in the middle of a mall or perhaps a park and just watched? All kinds of people everywhere. Most of them are not aware of being "watched" but most are aware of being noticed.
The 13 year old who's a newbie with the makeup and heals. The little boy hanging on to Daddy's hand, very animated because he's excited about where they are going. The elderly couple walking hand in hand each with an ice cream cone; you'd never know the wisdom of their years with the youthfulness of their smiles. The little girl in piggy-tails begging Mommy to let her have her ears pierced as they stroll by the jewelry store. The young man, old enough to know better, hiding the item freshly stolen from the electronics store with a security guard not too far behind.
Children laughing (occasionally wailing), young studs posing, mature men groaning behind wives, women clucking gossip, punks frowning at the dark cloud the world put over their heads. Its all there. And more.

But have you ever sat and really watched? Really?

That newbie with the makeup and heals could be an aspiring model who just needs a little encouragement in the right direction. The little boy hanging on Daddy could be going to the Discovery Store, cementing his future as a world renowned scientist. The elderly couple could be one of the seaming few in this world who have discovered the best of who they are together for the 60th year of their marriage and the ice cream was the best way to share the happy memory of their first date. The little girl with the piggy tales could, in the far and distant future, be pierced like non other just because she likes the way it looks, but it got her into a village in Africa saving lives where she would have been rejected without the piercing. The young man who just stole, could be working for the CIA in his future, gather intelligence without notice that could save the lives of many; his first job being security at this mall years before.

You never know the present or future of a stranger unless you take the time to try. You might see a snotty brat, an ADD kid, old people, an annoying whynner, a boy who needs a lesson learned. But what is the real story behind the people you see everywhere everyday?
Only God knows, why not ask.

My answer

2007-05-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so, my favorite precipitation is a crashing loud summer thunderstorm. The kind that you can feel rumbling in the ground and that lights the night sky like the light of day.
Favorite music... tough, I love music and the only style I have a lower tolerance (though I can still stand it) is rap, so for now I'll say one of my current favorites is "Go to the Stars" by my sister in law, DJ Senkai. Favorite movie, uh, well, that covers a lot of ground too. So for now I'll say "Princes Bride".
Yes, I think all of these could work together if someone maybe used some clips from the movie to make their own inventive modern movie.

Question

2007-05-21T09:04:00.001-07:00

What is your favorite precipitation, why? What is your favorite piece of music or song? What is your favorite movie?
Would your favorite precipitation and song fit together in a place in your favorite movie?

First Year

2007-05-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

My husband and I were married June 17th 2006, so we are almost to our first year anniversary. You know a large number of people claim that the first year is the most difficult, you are getting used to living with one another, learning isms of the other you never knew, finding the bad habits, dealing with joint finance, paired decision making, and so on. But I have found none of these to be difficult. Sure, there are things that must be gotten used to, but I have found the first year extremely enjoyable! And we have had more than our fair share of first year "trouble", with 7 months unemployment, one less than part time job, bill issues, moving across the country on a whim with nearly nothing in our pockets; you get the idea. But it hasn't put a damper on our love and who we are together.
I love my husband so much and it seems as though I fall in love with him more and more everyday. I find myself wonder "how is he more handsome today than he was yesterday?"
You might say, "Dear, its just the stars in your eyes, they'll fade away." My answer? Whatever! If its stars than I hope they are there for the rest of our lives! But what I really think it is, is God. He set us up, and I must say he is the best match maker there is when we listen.

We met in the same internship with Streams Ministries International. He was there a semester before me. When we started getting signals from the "matchmaker" we both said "NO!". We'd both been burned to many times and this was not the reason we had come to this internship. We had come to get closer to God, not a date. Thankfully dating was not allowed during the internship so we had to fight ourselves and God on the matter by ourselves. But by the end of May when the internship was coming to a close, God had done His work and we had both finally gotten the point. We were married one year and one month later (after a long distance relationship, he in PA, me in NH, with both going back and forth).

I love my husband so much, he means the world to me. I love his sense of humor, his creative side, his desire for adventure, how desperate he is for God, his heart for people, how he is always willing to try something new at least once and even looks for the new just to try it. I love his passion, I love the peace he can bring, I love his willingness to do anything that has a chance of bringing someone closer to their destiny. I love his all or nothing outlook, his drive for better, I love his worship dance to God. I love my husband beyond explanation or expression.
And I look forward to spending the rest of my life with him.

Question

2007-05-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

The last blog was inspired by my Mom and a place she likes to go to spend time with God as well as a very strong memory I have a place at nighttime in upstate New York where I grew up.

Lets say that you know that in exactly 3 days God is going to meet with you and that you have the choice of time and place on that day, what time of day and what location would you chose?

A little story

2007-05-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

The warm breeze whispered gently through the silvery green foliage overhead speaking hushed words no one knows. The smell of wild flowers delicately encircled her senses as she watched the long reads bow gracefully by the moonlit water's edge. The moon cast down its silvery light bathing all in its romantic glow.
And she saw.
A Rippling in the water just close enough to make out in the evening glow. Fireflies that were not, began to circle around the disturbance and a sweet melody wound its way through the air like spider's silk blown away on a breeze. No one knew this melody, and no one ever would, only her. She stood still, waiting, watching, knowing who was coming. Orbs of tender light began to appear above the water's ripples and the melody rose in a crescendoed volume. The trees began to wave their branches in a dance of graceful joy as they awoke to the sound of who was arriving. He was coming.
Then all was suddenly still as they waited. The gleaming orbs froze in their places, the silvered ripples held still in motion, the trees leaning their branches out over the water, reaching. And the melody paused, as though angelic beings held their breath for the arrival.
And then He was there, standing in the silvered night on the water as though it were mirrored ice.
The lover.
The Holy.
The Creator of all around Him.
He was the beginning and He was the end, and He had come just for her.

Question

2007-04-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Question of the day: What do you think of when you close your eyes and spin slowly around to the sound of Mozart?

JAVA

2007-04-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

JAVA. No, unfortunately not the tasty kind. It's the computer kind, a programing language. I have never touched programing, I've not a clue as to how one would start other than buying a "Beginner's JAVA for dummies" book.
Well, this may soon be my job. (or so I hope)
SCARRY!!!
Well, not too bad, but it is certainly a new frontier for me. I've grown up around computers my entire life so I am very comfortable learning most computer involving skills. But most of my computer skills involve Microsoft applications, internet, and most of all graphics design. My all favorite thing to do is go out with my camera and take all kinds of fun and unusual pictures and then transfer them to a computer where I play with them in Adobe Photoshop. This is something I have been unable to do for some time since I haven't the equipment right now, but if I get the chance again I will be one very happy individual.
But programing...sheez! I've been told by some (and agree after looking at it a little myself) that programing is learning a new language. I've never been very quick with languages other than reading and playing music so this will be all very new for me.
If I do end up with this job I'll be very very very busy (4-6 weeks basic training in Pendleton OR, then 4-6 months on site training, TX or CA). So I might not be blogging very often but I'll still try to get out those weird questions.
PS. Please don't ever put your coffee this close to your keyboard. It could be SOOOOO disastrous!

Question of the day: What is red, orange, purple, and yellow. Sings. Dances. And makes people happy? (There is no right answer, just your answer, be creative!)

Question of the day

2007-04-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Question of the day: What would be the best superhero power/gift to have if you were trapped on an island all by yourself? No power/gift can get you off the island, your going to be stuck there a while.

My Hubby

2007-04-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hey! Guess what? My husband has just started his own blog too! If you want to check out his crazy funniness go to www.joeyjoejoejrshabadoo.blogspot.com. Very Funny!

15 Years

2007-04-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I've gotten a few of you to answer my most recent question and now you're probably wondering, what is my answer?
Well, I'm one of those people who is in the midst of trying to get away from "should-a, could-a, would-a". Its not something I really struggle with all too much, but enough that it prompted the previous question.
There is plenty I think I would change if I could, but I think the one thing I would change is that I would have gone for graphics design in college with a little more focus and point to graduate with a degree in that area. I was one of those kids who changed my degree three times, once each of the three years I was in college. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life (and still don't really) and so I was trying to be smart and go with what would get me the furthest the quickest.
Oops.
Well, I can't really go back, so... live life to the fullest despite the past right?

Question of the day: What does purple mean to you? ; )

Question

2007-04-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

What would you do different if you could go back 15 years in your life?

To Express

2007-04-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

There was a time once, when I was able to take professional dance lessons. It was during a summer about ten years ago. It was one of the best times of my life. At that point I was an extreme introvert and as such kept everything that made me me to myself. Most people then would have known me as the mousy nobody. But being able to take those dance lessons was wonderful. I found a way to let "me" out. I took ballet and tap. The tap was preformed at the end of the summer and the ballet was not. I loved both, but I loved ballet the most. It's like an ultimate expression in motion, no words needed. I was unable to continue with lesson after that summer, but the experience will remain with me forever.
Ballet
Music that whispers to your heart,
"wake up"
Soft shoes to glide in,
Crimson silk to let the art in motion spin.
Ballet
A moment on toe,
time stands still,
Arms raised and graceful,
shaped by a lover.
Dance
Gliding across a sunlit room,
His Spirit flows alongside her,
Caught away to a world unseen,
two dancers fade away.

Question of the day

2007-04-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

What was the best way you ever found to express who you are?

Life

2007-04-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

Life. Wouldn't we all like to think that we have everything figured out? Or at least somewhat close. Right? We're born and for the first few years of our lives our parents have everything figured out for us. Then we reach a certain age and we begin to figure it out on our own. Eventually we begin to decide on what we want to be when we grow up, then what type of spouse we would like, how many kids we want, where we want to live, how famous (or infamous) we want to be and so on. Some even get to go through most of life believing that they have it all, but most of us aren't quite so lucky (even the ones who think they have all find they don't).
Life will always throw you a curve ball.
Why?
Simple. Life is an adventure! Now when you think of an adventure you may think, knights saving beautiful ladies, African safaris, discovering new world. "Going where no man has gone before" (John Luke Picard, Star Trek the Next Generation). Now some adventures such as these really do exist its true, but for most of us our adventure will be something a bit different. Adventure really means this stepping outside expectation, taking chances, letting love happen, making life altering mistakes. Sometimes it even means to run around in circles because of all the craziness, so much so that you can't anymore and you just have to sit down and cry. And when you do you might finally get a chance to see just how good life is despite the chaos. If you hadn't been going through that stress you would have been crying, and the tears wouldn't have blurred your focus. And if you hadn't lost focus on the craziness of it all, your focus wouldn't have had a chance to change.
Adventure changes who you are.
My husband and I have been getting into the TV series "Lost" lately. Now this is the extreme of adventure. We've only made it through the first season and twelve episodes of the second season, but it has been fun watching the incredible changes that have taken place in the people who have been stranded on the island. Talk about chaos. There is always something or someone trying to kill them, strange animals like polar bears and horses roaming around, unexplained technology confusing everything further, and so on. But if this chaos hadn't happened some of these people would never have gotten over the life long struggles they had been dealing with.
An acquaintance of mine once said, Chaos is good, anarchy is bad. Chaos is God letting certain things get stirred up so that positive change can happen. Anarchy is enemy interference stirring things up so that destruction happens. They are both very uncomfortable, but only one has a happy ending.
Sometimes life is crazy, it makes you want to scream "STOP!!!", or sit and cry till there's nothing left of you but a puddle, or even go completely numb so that the craziness of life cannot effect you any longer.
But its not all bad. Don't try to run away or block it all from view.
Embrace the chaos and let it change you. Discover the anarchy and find a way to stop the destruction.

You think maybe I've been going through this of late? Yes, of course. It may have produced a bit of rambling writing, but perhaps its a point of view that might brighten another chaotic life.

Question of the day: What is the best peanut butter combo you've ever had? Peanut butter and pickles (you may have been pregnant), chocolate, coffee, macaroni, sardines, a lemon. What was it, what was the best combo ever, anything at all.

Bust'n Brain

2007-04-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... What to write about. I'm one of those people with a racy mind who has plenty to write about. But when I sit down to actually "put pen to paper" as it were, the mind bleeps, the green cursor flashes on a blank screen, and funny colored smoked eeks from the ears. Well, no, not really, but that is what seems to happen every time I make the writing attempt. Once in a while it will actually work and that green flashing cursor is followed by a blaze of bright green letters forming into complete words and sentences; rare. I have hopes that blogging will loosen some of the clutter in the attic and hopefully some cool long lost treasure will be discovered. Stay tuned. : )

Question of the day: Where does your mind go when you listen to the 30 second clip of
"Ride" by "Bond" on the their album "Shine"? (you can find the audio clip on www.bn.com and www.amazon.com. Amazon's clip almost picks up where bn.com leaves off, so listen to both for a near full minute sample)

To Blog

2007-04-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

This is new for me. Blogging. Its a way to let the world know what you think (or don't). It also so happens to be a great way to vent or empty out the random thoughts of your day. For me? Well, you never know what I might write next, it could be amazing, or just weird, perhaps pointless, it may even put you to sleep. We'll find out soon enough.
I have an over active mind, it rarely stops and if it does, well... lets just hope my mouth is closed, you never know what might come out in those rare moments. I plan on using this blog to (among other things) find out what other over active minds exist, I'll try to post a random question everyday (even if I don't have the time to write anything else). We'll see what kind of minds are out there, heh heh heh.

Today's question: What is "a warm chill"?
Weird? Yeah, I know. : )