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From this site: The color red spectrum is beautifully vibrant and has high energy. It is the most intense color of the rainbow. It is a brave, bold, hot and intense color. People who prefer red usually have an energetic and dynamic personality.
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Well, the long holiday weekend is over...in a way, Summer has begun. LOL....lots o' vacations for some, the warming days, the longer daylight, school out for a few, things like that. We didn't go anywhere, we cleaned house and just sat around. There was a marathon of BOYS of SUMMER on USA cable. When our work was done, we both had some fat free vanilla yogurt. Later in the evening, Bud grilled some hot dogs and we just lazed around. We figured the beaches were packed with BBQ'rs and Picnickers, and swimmers and perhaps a bit of para-sailing and such. Better for us ol' folks to be safe indoors....let the highways be crowded with the 'revelers'. I wasn't online much at all in the last few days, so I'm hoping to catch up and visit those who've visited me. Hope y'all had a great weekend.
I have a lot of patchin' and paintin' to do!! These little yard elves are in dire need of repair work!!
See?----
...But, of course, I love doing this kinda work. Thing is, while adjusting one of the sprinkler heads on our sprinkler system, I notice the disrepair work more so when we cleaned out all the winterkill earlier. And, now it's way too hot to do the needed paint and patch job, as it's a job of work that needs to be done outdoors, on the picnic table. I'll plan on doing it this Fall if all goes well. It'll be something to do, and look forward to doing later in the year when it's a whole heckuva lot cooler!!
Well, it's that time o' year again. This week, in our newspaper we had the usual [but always updated for the year] pull-out segment for Hurricane Preparedness. I noticed while readin' it, that this year there'll be the name Irene if the number of named Atlantic storms gets to the letter "I". Our daughter, Irene, will love that. NOT! Especially if she's a strong, catastrophic type. Y'know, this makes me remember long ago that each year the names were all ONE GENDER; with the following year being the opposite. Now it's boy girl boy girl for each newly formed storm. Oh and of course, being the society that we have become....the names are politically correct also. With the likes of José [hose ay] and such. Oh my goodness! Which brings me to movies, tv, and commercials even these days. 99% of the time you'll see at least ONE female, one male, one black, one caucasian, one oriental, one older person, one younger person, even one hispanic. Not to mention occasionally you'll have a disabled. In our household it's become quite a game to see if we can find 'em all and point 'em out!! I've often wondered what Hollywood would do about close-ups of a movie about Tibetan Monks or some such theme. In any case, I got side-tracked on what I began talking about here. Hurricanes. Well, this week, we began getting our food stock piled up for the next 6 months. We take our sweet time doing so. Tho the season begins June 1st, the worst storms are usually between the end of August through mid-October. But we bought our gross of canned foods the other day. And we'll stock up on bottled water and canned sodas and boxed fruit juices in a day or two...then on to the paper products and pet supplies. Oh ya...:::making a mental check list:::...batteries for flashlights and radios. Then, of course, I'll be moving the live hurricane link I keep on my sidebar, up to the top of my blog for my personal use...so I can check it out daily for building storms off the African coastline. Bud and I spent TWO days getting this bush [the pyracantha photos above] trimmed out. And we have war wounds to prove it. You see, this bush climbs to all time heights. It's between a duranta bush and a tree in the corner of our back yard. BUT....the bush has lethal thorns!! And getting in amongst the branches, trying to avoid the thorns, they sneak up behind us and grab ahold of our body parts!! What with climbing in and around the tree branches and ladder used...it was a challenge once again. Every year we both state we'll have some tree surgeon come out to do it for us, but then we figure as long as we're able to do it; no money wasted. It's still..... Nasty! But, it's cleaned out finally. We didn't do it this Spring 'cause the mockingbird family had a nest so nearby we didn't want to disturb 'til after they 'flew the coop'. On Monday, I had completed my newest watercolor painting and framed it, hung it up on the living room wall....I posted the finished photo on my Tuesday blog. One morning this week, we drove to the island and took several short walks around the birding areas. I must say, for the most part, the drought has played a big role in so little bird activities in the refuges. Paradise Ponds, a favorite 'swamp' was completely dry! Sad. But, it is giving the city parks and recreation department a huge chance to clean it out --- that's what they were doing when we arrived. There was a crew in there and they were cutting down a lot of overgrowth...which is good!! The 2nd stop was another inland sanctuary. There, Bud and I were witness to a couple of VERY friendly babies!!---Baby Herons. So cute. I got some really GOOD close-up photos. After that we ended up along the Corpus Christi Ship Channel coming in off the Gulf. It's rather a new area that is cordoned off for birding. Some 1200 acres. And there are two paths that go out into the water---boardwalks---each, over a mile and a half. With several observation decks. This area also was quite dried up since we've had not a trace of rain since February. Or VERY LITTLE. Being so hot and so humid, we try to get out very early---another day we drove over to the Asian Market and we perused the shelves for imports to cook with; we both like Oriental foods!! The only thing I bought was ginger candy [healthy treat for cardiovascular health] and a huge package of Green Tea. Being imports they are costly, but well worth the extra 'cause they're better in taste. Guess the old adage holds true in some instances..."you get what you pay for". The 'special' food I made this week isn't Oriental tho...more home-town cookin'!! I made a large batch of mustard potato salad and Bud BBQ'd a huge mass of fileted chicken breast tenders with his special hickory sauce. We tossed up a green salad and really enjoyed being in front of the TV, watching the games and having an extra amount of napkins to swipe off the yummy sauce that dribbled down our chins. Oh, and one day I became obsessed with real time air traffic. Erik, as I mentioned on his birthday last week, was on vacation. Going and coming home it was a 13 hour flight---both ways and layovers; to South America. And in one case, being that some of his connection flights was out of American air space, it was a challenge to find any info online with flight tracker. But, all in all--------I'm relieved to say he's back home on American turf without any terrorist threats in the huge airport hubs of Miami, Houston, and Rio de Janeiro. No matter how old the kids are, I'm always a worry-wort type mom. Speaking of being that way....I'm in constant contact with Irene and the boys---they live in Tornado Alley and killer storms have been touching down all around them [close, but not close enough]---scary every time I open online news to see new massive storms and the damage and lives lost!! Oh one more thing....the past five days we've had temperatures in the high 90's with the heat index nearing 105°-110° range!!! Hot and muggy. [thorn photo from Google photos]
Also... get out the tissues. See this amazing tale of survival... Meet Mason, a mixed breed dog that was swept away by a tornado, only to CRAWL home on two broken legs - over two weeks past the storm hitting his neighborhood. It's incredible!!
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WEEKEND FUNNIES
A man goes into the confessional at church and says, "Forgive me, father. I have sinned." The priest recognizes the man's voice. It is Charlie Smith, one of the most loyal, devoted members of the church. The priest says, "Charlie, I cannot believe that you, of all people, could possibly have committed a sin." Charlie says, "Well, father, I am ashamed to admit that I did. My wife and I have been married for 42 years and for the last ten, we have been unable to have marital relations. And you cannot imagine what that is like, father. It just creates unbearable tension and causes my dear wife to believe that I do not love her, which is far, far from the truth." "I understand," says the priest. Charlie goes on: "Then, last Saturday evening, I looked at my wife and she was bending over a sack of potatoes. There was something about her at that moment...I suddenly experienced feelings I had not felt for a decade. I was suddenly filled with love and passion for my wife and I grabbed her and ripped her dress off and we made love, right there on that sack of potatoes. And that is how I have sinned, father." The priest is puzzled. "That is not a sin, my son. The two of you are married...it is not a sin to express that love for your wife..." There are tears in Charlie's voice as he gasps, "You mean it, father? You really mean it? We won't be thrown out of the church?" The priest laughs. "Of course not. Why would we throw you out of the church?" Charlie says, "Well, they threw us out of the Safeway."
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If you are Obsessive-Compulsive, please press 1 exactly 4 times. You will be told you didn't do it quite right. When you finally get it exactly right, we may help you develop and perfect a new compulsion.
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If you have Attention Deficit Disorder, press any numbers you can in rapid sequence. It won't matter what the response is since you wouldn't remember it anyway.
Thanks for calling the help hotline!! We're here for you.
REMEMBER: ..... It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician, Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag,
...and...
It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag.
[the Marine flag draped casket it not my photo...it was in a Memorial day 'forwarded' email. Remember those who served. Somehow over the years, Memorial Day has become more military orientated....but we too must remember our loved ones who have left us behind....serving the country or OTHERS. If traveling, buckle up, drive safely and have fun]
This is the 'book cover'. Upon viewing this, the challenge for this meme is to write a blurb [the inside cover flap] that will entice the reader to drop down their VISA on the counter and purchase the book and enjoying it. It's to be either fiction or non-fiction.
Here goes---
book title: *:*:JOSEPHINE'S DOOR:*:*:
1959. A black car slowly pulled to the curb. Outside, a blizzard played havoc around the city. Inside, alone. The roaring fire warmed the room. Background music from the 40s played. A fireplace log rolled and crackled. Josephine placed her ivory hands on the chair, briefly glancing at her golden wedding band hesitating for only a second as a picture of her late husband came to memory. Upright, she stirred the blazing logs. The doorbell chimed. She glanced through the lead glass panel to see a dark silhouette of a tall man; shivering. Josie turned the knob. Staggering momentarily, she knew right away who he was. It was instant recognition. During WWII, in 1945, men in uniform knocked on her door on such a night like this. Her husband was shot down over the English Channel; his body was never recovered. This stormy night became a haven of wayward love, Jeremy returned---- [149 words - Word Counter Tool]
Would you purchase my book? New, published May 2011 US -$24.95 Canada -$34.95 This week only 10% discount for Bloggers! [insert wink here]
I didn't feel like cooking dinner. Nor did I have the gumption to even take anything out of the 'fridge to defrost, so I did an unthinkable...I bought a frozen pepperoni pizza from the grocer's freezer section. To me, that's a thing unheard of. Afterall, I'm perfectly capable of cooking. In other words, I have two good hands, the knowledge and know-how...yet, laziness took over!!! Frozen pizzas?----Lordy have they ever improved in taste. Either that, or I was so lacking ambition ANYthing would have tasted good. LOL But I gotta tellya, I bought a large Pan Pizza by Red Baron. Wow. Truly impressed. I know now that that'll be a pizza choice if ever we feel like it again someday. Actually, in my estimation, this product was better than restaurant style pan pizzas. The crust was so crispy and just the right amount of garlic...and the big seller....the extra thick crust was cooked...ALL the WAY through! [restaurants have crust that is too doughy for my taste when it comes to deep dish pizzas].
pizza graphic borrowed from Red Baron site infringement not intended
Song You Tube Link: HERE From Willie Wonka [Gene Wilder singing]...what better way to 'depict' this song than to use the imagination of movie makers? All but the play, "Cats" these are toys in my movie room. :o)
[Spoken] Hold your breath Make a wish Count to three [my hand]
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[Sung] Come with me And you'll be In a world of Pure imagination
Movie: CARS
Take a look And you'll see Into your imagination
Movie: KUNG FU PANDA
We'll begin With a spin Traveling in The world of my creation What we'll see Will defy Explanation
MOVIE: CORPSE BRIDE
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Wanna change the world?
Movie: ALIEN
There's nothing To it
There is no Life I know To compare with Pure imagination
Movie: SHREK
Living there You'll be free If you truly wish to be
Movie: ALICE IN WONDERLAND
If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it
Play [harbor playhouse theater]: CATS
Wanna change the world? There's nothing To it
SILENT MOVIE STAR: Sir Charles Spencer aka: Charlie Chaplin
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On Sunday's post I showed the beginnings from the sketch to getting it up on my easel and working on the background...today, it's finished as best I could [the bird being so small, and the hard copy I had made --well, let's just say a lot of times I found myself looking through a magnifying glass to see more detail---never COULD see his feet clearly] and I matted it and framed it---
Let me expand on our movie going this last Friday. We did go see Pirates of the Caribbean "On Stranger Tides". The movie, tho some professional critics graded it mighty low, was super fantastic. Some say that Capt. Jack Sparrow was the same ol' same ol'!! Well, yes indeedy folks. The fans EXPECT him to be just that...the witty, goofy, sometimes child-like...yet, so awesome in his own way...we EXPECT him to be Jack Sparrow. CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW that is. And, I love the idea of having a long lost love interest. It was good to have Penelope Cruz in the plot. I enjoyed watching her and Jack's camaraderie throughout...tho, in a twisted way to make me think the writers perhaps have a fifth edition of Pirates in their minds. That would please me if it turns out as good as this fourth segment in the series. In fact, I enjoyed this one more so withOUT Kiera Knightly and Orlando Bloom. Really, I did. But my whole point in this post is all about Corpus Christi this time. You see, Corpus Christi is one of the few cities that opened their new IMAX theater with........get this....D-Box Technologies! The new theater with IMAX and Starplex have seats now that MOVE with the movie's action---computerized theater seats. If you've ever been to Disneyland in Anaheim, and if you've taken the ride on Space Mountain...where you sit in the seats and watch the video...your seats tilt, jilt, jump, sway...along with the trip through space!! I for one would really ENJOY the 75 foot IDX screen!!! But the moving seats while trying to hang on to your drink and popcorn?!!! I don't think so!!! Besides, after filling my stomach with popcorn with EXTRA butter [yes, I always ask them at the counter to 'layer the butter and add more'!!] Then...try to keep all that down while digesting the snacks....ummmmmm, regurgitation comes to my mind! Especially if the movie is filled with non-stop action and lots of motion in the D-Box. It'll be quite like what you see strewn across the grounds at an amusement park so near the rides that you try to avoid, if you know what I mean. Yep, that is the first thing that came to my mind! Besides, I go to see a movie to be thoroughly entertained while enjoying and keeping my concession food in my innards!!! Perhaps for the younger generation, this is tops!! But for us 'older folks'....no way. While interviewing, the hostess of the theater said: "state-of-the-art entertainment experience for our guests". And "Stadium 16 in Corpus Christi will be the first of the two to feature the motion technology, debuting 25 D-BOX MFX Seats in time for the May 20 release of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." I can almost see the headlines in the near future: "Patron files lawsuit with D-Box Technologies for injuries at the theater"....I'm wondering, with the lawyers and ambulance chasers that are abundant these days, with lawsuits for just about EVERYTHING...there's bound to be this soon---the theaters should consider posting in the lobby that they're NOT LIABLE for injuries...or maybe even have the patrons sign a waiver. Oh, and matinee tickets for the special seats are a mere $14.50 a piece, and AFTER 6 PM...$16.50. Let's see, my math...$33 dollars for tickets for two, two drinks for $8.50 and a large popcorn for $6.75....ummmm, that's $48.25 right? ...that is 2 hours to sit in a moveable chair for nearly $50 smackaroos. With that price I think I'd rather keep the change and not have my stomach churned this way and that way only to probably LOSE the $15.25 down the theater's drain/floor/thunder mug!
It's time for my annual VALENTINE HAND OUT!
It's from me...
to YOU...
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January 4th, 2012
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THOUGHTS & PRAYERS!! My son, Erik, has sent in an application to the private, highly prestigious, Rice University... for his PhD degree....He has to be accepted!! PLEASE KEEP POSITIVE THOUGHTS and pray for him that he is honored to have his lifelong dream come ture. A PhD, and from Rice University!! He won't know the outcome for a few months...he needs all the support he can receive.
Retired, living in the coastal area of the Gulf of Mexico. -enjoying the sand and surf. I'm a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother of two grandsons. I enjoy music, movies, beach combing, pencil sketching, crocheting, and dabble in watercolor painting. Recently, a new obsession: learning photography skills.
"The trouble with theocracy is that everyone wants to be Theo".
~ James Dunn
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MY POLITICAL SOAPBOX So many times, I've read comments posted by our own citizens under political articles about USA. And these citizens [the ones that vote for our leaders] keep referring to our country as being a Democracy!!! Let me tell you...... THE UNITED STATES IS NOT a DEMOCRACY...it's a REPUBLIC! There is a difference. You recite, and/or read "...and to the Republic, for which it stands..." In a Republic, the sovereignty or 'power' resides in the people of this country themselves, whether one or the majority of the populace. In a Republic, one may act on his own or through his representatives as he chooses to solve a problem; for instance elected politicians. Further, we, the people have no obligation to the government; instead, the government, being elected officials and paid salaries by the people, is obliged to its owner, us - the people. So, when you go vote: remember, YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGNTY or power of the dominion - The United States of America, and YOU LIVE IN A REPUBLIC ---oust those who make you believe otherwise.
~Hootin' Anni
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