My Favorite Duh Moment Of 2007

"Humor is vague, runaway stuff that hisses around the fissures and crevices of the mind, like some sort of loose psychic gas."

-Jonathan Miller

2007 brought me many different kinds of moments, some poignant, some sad, some infuriating, some absurd, but thankfully, none of my many moments even can close to being as abstract and bizarre as the moment you will see in the above YouTube video. Here is my favorite "Duh" moment of 2007, as experienced by Miss Teen South Carolina, Caitlin Upton. So tell me, why do you suppose some Americans can't find the U.S.A on a world map? Ummm... could it be their tiara's are on too tight?

You can read her explanation for her answer right here.

-OndineMonet

Round Robin Challenge: Going, Going, Gone

"Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count."

-Unknown

Going Going Gone. Where has 2007 gone? LOL. When this year began, I couldn't wait for it to be over with. I was sad, and not feeling very creative, but eventually I found my way again, despite little sorrows along the way, like finding out that both Elvis and I have diabetes. Sigh. I should have known better then to try and fight the plans life makes for us without our permission, that's just what life does. I moves us ahead whether we want to go or not. All in all, when I think about 2007 on the whole, it hasn't been so bad. In fact, I think I have made my peace with the year, and I am ready, and looking forward to 2008. There are some good things coming I think... if nothing else, there is a national election to look forward to. Just that alone makes me smile. Tee Hee. Bye Bye Bush!

As a way to illustrate my year, and how it moved along through my time and creativity, I have created a round up of what I saw. Time flies whether we are having fun or not, so it's best to grab every moment of it, and save it if possible, to remind us that nothing last forever, so take nothing for granted. :) Thank you, Nancy, for submitting the awesome challenge!

January... A Little Bit Of Autumn In Winter!

February... The Queen Mary 2 As It Passed Under The Golden Gate

March... Pink Blooms In Golden Gate Park

April... Snowy Egret Wading in The Monterey Bay

May... A Dramatic Rose

June... The Beach In Pacifica

July... Mist And Painted Lady Butterflies In Half Moon Bay

August... My Favorite Rose... Love's Promise

September... The Sunset Reflects The Smoke In The Air After The California Wildfires

October... A Quiet Day Where The Ghost Of The "Blue Lady" Haunts

November... A Snowy Egret Wades Near Some Oil In The San Francisco Bay, Near Emeryville, California

December... Autumn Again Inspires Me...Even In Winter

Be sure to check out all the entries by the Round Robins. Just follow the links below. You can play along too. Just drop by the official Round Robin blog and leave us your complete information. If you can't join us this time, maybe you can sometime in the future. We will announce our next challenge this Sunday!

Linking List

Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix
POSTED!

Steven... (sometimes) photoblog
POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

Lisa... Lisa's Chaos
POSTED!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

Sandra... Strong Chemistry
POSTED!

Kim... Nekked Lizard's Adventures
POSTED!

Julie... Julie's Web Journal
POSTED!

Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Janet... Fond Of Photography
POSTED!

Chrissea... Chris-seas Corner
POSTED!

Suzanne... Living... Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

-OndineMonet
"The Watched Clock"
Lafayette, California
December 28, 2007
Late Afternoon

Odds And Ends

"You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future."

-Unknown

Just a short entry for today. Alan has been home with a cold since Christmas Day, and I have been fighting the same bug as well. It was 39 degrees in parts of the Bay Area last night, and the rain came as well. It's winter with a vengeance. That's ok, all things in their own time... right? So, while my body might be achy, my spirits are up, and Alan and I are playing a lot of board games, and drinking a lot of juice so what can be bad about that?!

In the meantime, how about some late 2007 business? There is still time to help name the mysterious man I wrote about earlier this month. He is still on my sidebar, right above the poll. So go choose your favorite name for him from the list, and let's give him an official handle for the new year, unless you happen to know who and what he is, because that would be even better! The poll ends on New Year's Eve.

Don't forget to visit the ScalziCelebration blog, and leave your comments for John. His last day as our Blogfather is New Year's Eve. I you are feeling in a playful mood, maybe you might consider playing, Where In The World Is Flat Scalzi." You can download your own Flat Scalzi, suitable for spotting, and do your own entry, but don't forget to comeback to the blog and leave us a link. Who knows where that guy will end up next?

We have a Round Robin Challenge tomorrow, "Going Going Gone." There is still time to sign up to play along. Just hop on over to the official Round Robin blog and leave us your complete information. If you can't make it this time, maybe you will be able to join us next time. Check the blog on Sunday, to find out what our next challenge will be. :)

There, that's it. That's the Odds and Ends for this now. :) How are things in your neck of the woods?

-OndineMonet
"Mr Unknownman"
Berkeley, California
December 2005
Afternoon

Your Final Photo Shoot: Goodbye!

"Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."

-Garrison Keillor

Your Final Photo Shoot: Wave goodbye! Because all good things must come to an end, but I think we can leave on a high note.

-John Scalzi, of the blog, By The Way

I tried and I tried, but I just couldn't smile. :( I am going to miss you John. Take good care of yourself. I wish you, Krissy and Athena a bright and happy future and a wonderful 2008!



-OndineMonet
"Goodbye"
Berkeley, California
December 26, 2007
Afternoon

Always, Carly

Tatiana

"There is not, in my opinion, anything more mysterious in nature than this instinct in animals, which thus rise above reason, and yet fall infinitely short of it."

-Joseph Addison

So sad. Yesterday, a Siberian tiger named Tatiana, somehow got out of the big cat enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo, and mauled a young man to death. Two companions of the man were seriously injured, but are expected to recover. The tiger unfortunately had to be killed. Sigh. She was a beautiful tiger. I got a chance to see her a year ago when I last visited the zoo. The tigers are incredible animals, and I enjoy seeing them, but I always have to wonder if putting them in cages at the zoo is really a good idea. So many questions will have to be answered over the next few days and weeks. I imagine there will be a combination of human error and perhaps criminal liability in the end. I don't want to think that someone might have let her out of her cage... I don't know... but something extraordinary occurred that's certain. The Bay Area has taken a couple of big hits recently, with the oil spill from the tanker ship in the bay last November, and now this. Sad times right now. I think I am going to try real hard to forget 2007 ever happened. Sigh.

Tiger Attack At San Francisco Zoo

-OndineMonet
"Tatiana"
San Francisco Zoo
August 22, 2006
Afternoon

Merry Christmas

May The Spirit Of Christmas Bring You Peace
May The Gladness Of Christmas Bring You Hope
May The Warmth Of Christmas Grant You Love

-Author Unknown

From Our House To Yours, We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas!

Love, Alan, Carly and Elvis

-OndineMonet
"Christmas Lights"
Berkeley, California
December 24th, 2007
Late Evening

A Christmas Sampler...

"Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance - each beautiful, unique and too soon gone."

-Deborah Whipp

Happy Christmas Eve! I love this day, and so does my little boy, Elvis. He and I will be making cookies, and getting ready for Santa to visit. In fact, we are going to track his journey by following him around the world at Santa At NORAD! Do you follow Santa's travels on Christmas Eve? And did you know that just like on my favorite holiday, Halloween, Christmas has superstitions? Well, it does...

* To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve."

* Eat a plum pudding on Christmas and avoid losing a friend before next Christmas.

* If you eat a raw egg before anything else on Christmas morning, you will be able to carry heavy weights.

Cute story...

A three year old once gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner...

"I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate."

Ways To Confuse Santa Claus...

* Leave out a copy of your Christmas list with last-minute changes and corrections.

* While he's in the house, cover the top of the chimney with barbed wire.

* Leave him a note, explaining that you've gone away for the holidays. Ask if he would mind watering your plants.

* Build an army of mean looking snowmen on the roof, holding signs that say, "We hate Christmas," and "Go Away Santa."

*Leave out a plate with cookies and milk, with a note that says, " For The Tooth Fairy."

* While he's in the house, replace all his reindeer with exact replicas. Then wait and see what happens when he tries to get them to fly."

* While he's in the house, go out to his sleigh and write him a speeding ticket.

* Throw a surprise party for Santa, and refuse to let him leave until the strippers arrive.

* Keep an angry bull in your living room. If you think a bull goes crazy when he sees a little red cape, wait until he sees that big, red Santa suit.

* While he is in the house, find his sleigh and sit in it. As soon as he comes back, and sees you, tell him that he shouldn't have missed that last payment, and take off.

And remember...

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

-Agnes M. Pharo

-OndineMonet
"Elvis At Christmas"
Berkeley, California
December 23rd, 2007
Early Evening

Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve... can you believe it? I am happy this year. I am focusing on the blessings of the year, and I am kinda like a little kid sometimes, because I really love Christmas Eve, and all the silly traditions Alan and I have. One of which is to meet at Starbuck's, late in the day on Christmas Eve, so we can just relax and enjoy each other's company. :) It's an annual date for us, and it makes me smile. :)

Now I want to share something else that makes me smile, it's one of my favorite stories of the holiday season. The letter from a little girl named, Virginia 'O Hanlon, the an editor of the New York Sun, in which she inquires about the existence of Santa Claus...

Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Dear Editor

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, Is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life it's highest beauty as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the untied strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God He lives, and He lives Forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Francis Church, Editor, New York Sun
September 21st, 1897

-OndineMonet
"Magic"
Berkeley, California
December 24th, 2006
Late Evening