Karen's Weekend Assignment #212: Celebrate Poetry Month

"Poetry is when an emotion has found the thought and the thought has found words."

-Robert Frost

Weekend Assignment #212: It's National Poetry Month in the United States, but poetry itself is a worldwide phenomenon, existing in many styles. Lets celebrate the form. How? By writing a poem of course! It can be silly or serious, haiku, limerick, rhymed verse, blank verse, free verse, two lines long, or fifty, or anything in between. All I ask is that it be a new, original poem, not something you wrote in high school and trot out occasionally.

Extra Credit: Do you have a favorite poet?

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

I looked through my archives to find some photographs to go with my poems. I like using the two together when at all possible. I think I like what I came up with. :)

New Hope (Haiku)



Alone With The Sea
The Day Slips Into A Dream
A Night Light Brings Hope

Seaside Flowers (Haiku)

Golden Flowers Bloom
As Painted Watercolors
On My Mind's Canvas

Spice Drops (Haiku)

Leaves Of Autumn Spice
Sweetly Brushes The Cool Earth
Cinnamon And Clove

Four Seasons (Haiku)

She Moves Through Seasons
Winter Spring Summer and Autumn
Now Showing Her Age

Pop! (Haiku)

Big Bubblegum Walls
Different Colors And Tastes
It's Art For Art's Sake


Extra Credit: I really love poetry, but I don't know if I have an absolute favorite. If I had to choose, I suppose I would go with John Keats, but I also enjoy Dr. Maya Angelou and Emily Dickinson.

-OndineMonet
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pescadero, California
October, 2007
Late Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Variety Show

"Variety is the spice of life, that which gives it all it's flavor."

-William Cowper

Our latest Round Robin Challenge is all about variety, and comes to us by Nancy, who authors the journal, "Nancy Luvs Pics." I liked doing this challenge a lot. The neat thing about the challenges is that I am always learning something new with them. With this challenge, I began to think in terms of photographing things going together as opposed to trying to keep my pictures simple, as with one main subject. I came up with little "ingredients" in my photos, kind of like trying different flavors to make the perfect recipe. I gave myself the assignment to come up some natural variety, as well as a still life.

I think I like the end result...

Have you ever seen a butterfly feeder?
L-R Julia, Swallowtail and Great Southern White

A Variety of Tulips

Are you inspired to join the challenge? You are certainly invited to do so. All you need is a camera, and a blog or journal to post your entry. The Round Robin Challenges are open to everyone. The more the merrier. :) You can find out all the information you need to know to play this challenge by clicking here. This challenge will be open for one week, but our next challenge will be announced this Sunday, April 20th. Be sure to visit all the Robins and leave them your support. Just click the links below.

Linking List
** Welcome New Member :)

Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
POSTED!

Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

Sandy... Myanderings


Sarah... Charish
POSTED!

Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
POSTED!

Chrissie... Chrisseas-Corner


Kiva... Eclectic Granny
POSTED!

Kat... In My Dreams I Can Fly


T J... TJ's Photo Expressions
POSTED!

Jennifer Robin... Robin's Woods
POSTED!

Whammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
POSTED!

Lisa Marie... Lisa's Chaos
POSTED!

Monica... Family Affair Photography
POSTED!

Marie... Photographs and Memories
POSTED!

Annie... Pictures of Craziness


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

Robinella... Robinella's
POSTED!

**Angela... Chocolate Syrup For The Soul
POSTED!

Janet... Fond of Photography
POSTED!

Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!

Martha... Perception
POSTED!

Jama Hameed... Sweet Memories
POSTED!

Momma... Sandcastle Momma
POSTED!

Swampy... Anectdotes, Antidotes & Anodes
POSTED!

Sahvvy... The Instantaneous Existence Of Me


Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

Kim... Nekked Lizard Lady
POSTED!

Vicki... Visions By Vicki


Teena... It's all about me!
POSTED!

Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!




-OndineMonet
"Variety Is The Spice Of JellyBeans"
Berkeley, California
April 18th, 2008
Afternoon

Looking For Peacefulness In Richardson Bay

"I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."

-Henry David Thoreau

Last Wednesday was a very good day. We began by visiting the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, and finished by doing a couple of short hikes in Marin County. First up at the Marin Headlands, then along the shore in Richardson Bay. The sun was perfect, the air was perfect and all was right with the world. But there was a moment... when not everything was so perfect.

Yes, Alan and I fuss once in a while. It is usually about the same thing. His driving, and my backseat driving. LOL. Sometimes he scares me, and sometimes I overreact and before you know it... GRRRR meets GRRRR. We usually end up laughing about it later, like we did last Wednesday. "Carly, did we take a wrong turn at the last stop sign?" To which I reply, "Yes, YOU were completely and utterly wrong!" LOL. Followed by a mischievous little grin. "Later, when I accidentally (on purpose) forget to make your dinner... it will be my turn." LOL. "That won't work my dear, I know how to cook!" ROFLMAO... and he's right, he does know how to cook. Tee Hee. It's difficult to be spiteful to a man who knows how to find his own food. LOL. It's much nicer to cuddle up and laugh the Grrr away.

Our little spat had happened early, and we had completely brushed it off by the time we had got to Richardson Bay, but had we still be grumpy, I am sure the minute we passed into the sanctuary it would have melted away due to the absolute beauty of the surroundings. The nature trail, the view of the bay and San Francisco, the wildflowers, and of course, the birds. We saw Canadian Geese, some Mockingbirds, the usual shore birds, and some gorgeous little Quail. Sigh. I want to visit here more often, and I am planning on doing some sunset photos next autumn, when the light dims early. Autumn and winter is my favorite time to do sunset photos, the colors seem a little more intense to me. Just a little more beauty to look forward to.

:)

Lyford House

The Shoreline

Quail

-OndineMonet
Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary
Richardson Bay
Tiberon, California
April 16, 2008
Afternoon

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: "C" Is For Cecropia Moth

"Between our birth and death, we may touch understanding, as a moth brushes a window with it's wing."

-Christopher Fry

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge continues! We are now on the the letter "C." Yesterday, I visited the Conservatory of Flowers Butterfly Zone, and to my delight I was treated to yet another new challenge, the Cecropia Moth. Isn't she beautiful?! To my delight, not only did I get to photograph this beautiful creature, but the little round balls you see next to her along the walls are her eggs! :) That was the first time I have been able to photograph butterfly or moth eggs.

The Cecropia moth is one of the largest moths in North America, with a wingspan of 6 inches. I was hoping she would open her wings just once, but no luck, she is a moth after all, and therefore most active at night. Maybe next month when the conservatory begins offering the night time safaris I will be able to capture one with it's wings open. It's a sure bet I will try. :)

I am lovin' this challenge. You should play along too! Thanks Martha! :)

-OndineMonet
Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)
Conservatory of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California
April 17th, 2008
Afternoon

Let's Talk About Sex Baby

"Maybe the best we can do is not quit, play the hand we've been given, and accessorize the outfit we've got."

-Carrie Bradshaw, (Sarah Jessica Parker) Sex And The City

I am a Miranda... how about you? Well, at least that is the character from Sex and the City that I am most like, according to the cute little quiz I found at iVillage. Somehow I am surprised that I am a Miranda, most days I feel more like Charlotte, although don't think that there aren't plenty of days when I would swear my name is Carrie. That's what I found neat about the show... there was a little of all of these women in most women. Of course, that was the point I think. We were somehow supposed to identify with these ladies, and just because we were married didn't mean we were left out.

Ok, yeah I know, it was supposed to be all about the angst of post 30 dating, but as I watched the series, I could see my past a little clearer somehow. Just because you marry the right man, doesn't mean you don't still love your past loves just a little... or even a lot. That's just one of the little secrets about marriage no one tells you, until one day you find out for yourself. Well, at least in my case that's true. I am an overly sentimental person. I hold on to things until the brutal, bitter end. I guess it is a weird kind of collection that I still have in my heart. Mr. November, was my Mr. Big. Sigh. I got over most of them. Life does go on. Perfectly. Happily. And yet... sigh. That man completely broke my heart.

LOL. Anyway, Sex and the City turned out to be a better show then I thought it would be. We have all dated stupid men, and fell for the wrong guy, and fell for the right guy and found happiness, and lost happiness, and dealt with the absurdities of life in general. One of my favorite moments was when Carrie was modeling in a fashion show for a fabulous designer, of course, and right as she began her sexy walk down the catwalk, she falls right off her shoes... landing right on the floor. Yikes! She was fashion roadkill. But she got back up, and finished her walk down that catwalk... head held high! She ended her strut with a high five to super model Heidi Klum. It was perfect. If you have ever fallen on your face, either literally or metaphorically, you understood her triumph. :) By the way, that was Episode #50 "The Real Me."

That's why I liked the show. It usually left you feeling a little less alone. You know what I mean don't you ladies? If you are a female, you probably have those days, once in a while, when you are just out of step, no matter how confident you usually feel. No matter how fabulous you think you are, or even how fabulous your friends think you are, there are days when you just feel like giving up. If you aren't fashion roadkill, then you are emotional roadkill or relationship roadkill. Right? Well, like Carrie, all we can do on those days is pick ourselves up, and get on with that day's strut down the catwalk and hold our heads high. Thanks Carrie, you did good! High Five!

So tell me, are you planning to see the new movie "Sex And The City?" Will you go see it when it hits the theaters on May 30th, or will you wait until it makes it to cable or DVD? Which character do you identify with most? Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte or Samantha? Who was your favorite male character? Do you have a great love you have never quite gotten over? Is there a Mr. Big in your past? If you could see them again... would you want to? Come on... share. You know you want to! WINK.

"Can you get to your future, if your past is present?"

-Carrie Bradshaw

"I am good at crossword puzzles, I am not so good at people puzzles."

-Carrie Bradshaw

Trivia Question... What was Mr. Big's first name?

-OndineMonet

Twenty-Twenty-Twenty Four Hours To Go

"Without music, life would be a mistake."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

You should have seen me. There I was, stereo up about as high as I could get it to go, and me in my bright pink sports bra and jeans, dancing around my kitchen to the soothing sounds of the Ramone's song, "I Wanna Be Sedated." I bet I was the only 45 year old woman on my block doing that, at that particular moment, which is probably why my neighbor over the back fence was watching me so intently, big grin on his face and all. Sheesh. He was fresh! LOL. Don't you just love hot days in April?

Sing it with me...

Twenty, twenty, twenty four hours to go, I wanna be sedated
Nothin to do and nowhere to go-oh-oh, I wanna be sedated
Just get me to an airport, put me on a plane
Hurry, hurry, hurry before I go insane
I can't control my fingers, I can't control my brain
Oh no, no, no, no, no...



-OndineMonet

My Ellipsis Lifestyle... My Favorite Products #1 Eating Right Multigrain Spaghetti

"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art."

-La Rochefoucauld

As I said in a previous entry, eating as a diabetic takes a bit of creativity. That's a good thing. Putting a little extra thought into what I eat has made me feel better about living with diabetes. The days that I struggle most, have nothing to do with my Type 2 diabetes and more to do with my Fibromyalgia. There isn't much that can be done with that, but try to eat right and get as much exercise as I can when I am feeling up to it. Fortunately, I have more good days then bad ones. When I do have a bad day, it is a comfort to be able to make a decision about my nutrition that I know will be good for me, and not complicate my diabetes. I am a happy girl, and I am somewhat of an adventurer. So, meal planning for me is kind of fun, like a big experiment. What will taste really good, make me feel satisfied, and still leave me with some healthy post meal blood glucose numbers? To my amazement, I have found a ton of products that do just that.

One of my favorite new finds is Safeway's Eating Right Multigrain Spaghetti. I have tried other products in the Eating Right line, but this is the first time I have tried one of their pastas. It was a big success in our house. At first I shied away, thinking it would have that wood taste that a lot of multigrain products do, but then I thought about how much I liked their other foods and I went for it. It was really good. Not just tasty, but it also cooks up really nice. Firm yet tender. I added the dry pasta to a pot of rapidly boiling water, no oil, and it didn't stick together the way other pastas do. I only needed to do a little bit of stirring with a folk a couple times. Now of course it does have a slight multigrain taste, but it is flavorful, not dry and woody.

I served 3 oz. of the cooked spaghetti, with sauce made with 1/4 lb. hamburger (97% fat free) and 1 cup of Ragu Original flavored with meat pasta sauce, and 1 tbs. Kraft Parmesan cheese. On the side was 1 1/2 cups mixed salad with 2 tbs Kraft Fat Free Catalina dressing. My blood glucose reading before my meal was 111 mg/dl and 2 hours later my reading was 126 mg/dl. I was thrilled! Now that's more like it. I ate all I wanted, I knew exactly what I was eating, and my blood glucose numbers were great. Now I have to try some of the other pasta in this line, I think I am hooked! This stuff is good for everybody. Give it a try and let me know how you like it. :) Diets don't work, but eating creatively does. Make eating an art.

-OndineMonet
Eating Right Multigrain Spaghetti
Berkeley, California
April 13, 2008
Afternoon

How Do You Make A Diabetic Girl Smile?

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."

-Harriet van Horne

The answer to the title of this entry is... Give her 4 straight days of amazingly warm, beautiful weather, put some of her favorite music on her stereo, and bring home all the ingredients for making a diabetic friendly pie. Sugar-Free Strawberry/Peach pie to be exact. :) Alan is a very smart man sometimes, he knows how much I love to... ahem... bake. ;)

-OndineMonet
"Fixin's"
Berkeley, California
April 12, 2008
Afternoon

Karen's Weekend Assignment #211: What Color Is Your Thumb?

"My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plants point of view."

-H. Fred Ale

Weekend Assignment #211: How are your gardening skills? Do you plant flowers and trees and even shrubberies, or do you settle for weeds or concrete? Do houseplants die or do they grow and prosper?

Extra Credit: Is there someone you know who is better at gardening stuff than you are?

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Welcome To My Garden...


"Norwich Sweetheart"

Since I recently showed a wide angle shot of my garden, I thought it would be nice to show you the flowers using the portrait and macro settings. I am scaling things down from last year. I was very ambitious with my flowers a year ago, but I am feeling my limitations this year, so, I am concentrating primarily on my mini-roses, with a few pots of Nemesia and Stock thrown in for color and scent.

"Green Ice"

Both the Stock and Nemesia did so well last year, that I didn't have the heart to just pull them out of the containers, and I am actually quite happy to have something a little nice to put next to my roses. The scent of the stock is almost intoxicating... imagine a flower that has a strong scent of cinnamon and clove. It makes me crave Pumpkin Pie sometimes. LOL. All of the mini roses I have chosen for the garden, have a spicy scent, but it is much more subdued compared to the Stock. The Nemesia doesn't have much of a scent, but it's unusual color combination of orange and purple, looks really great next to the roses and stock.

Nemesia

Purple Stock

I am a happy gardener right now. And with the ladybug's help, the roses that had been infested with Ahpids, are beginning to perk up. I will be giving the roses their first dose of rose food at the beginning of June, and then again at the beginning of September, which should give me one more big burst of color in early December. I love roses in December. :) It's a lot of fun to make my own centerpieces for the autumn holidays, and maybe even have some fresh roses for Christmas morning.

"Sweet Diana"

Extra Credit: I don't actually think it's either, helpful or healthy, compare myself to others, especially when it comes to hobbies like gardening. I have all the information I need at my fingertips with the Internet, so I just do my research and then proceed accordingly. If I have a little bit of luck on my side, well, that never hurts either. I don't compare myself to others... I am just me.

"It is good to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy prescences may haunt you and possess yo in a reverie of suspended thought."

-James Douglas

-OndineMonet
"With A Little Luck From A Ladybug"
Berkeley, California
April 8, 2008
Afternoon

The Behavior Of Gossamers

"Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic."

-Rosalind Russell

I love butterflies. All butterflies. That's just a fact of my life. The afternoons I spend photographing them, at the Conservatory of Flowers, are usually some of my favorite moments out of my week. They are so beautiful and so graceful that I cannot help but feel completely at peace as they flutter about the room and when one happens to land on my shoulder to hitch a ride, I am especially at peace inside. This week's visit was especially enjoyable. There was a wonderful variety of butterflies. Zebra Longwing, Julia's, Monarchs, Queens, Red Admiral, Great Southern White, which is the one featured in large photo above, and a new one to me, an Orange Sulphur.

As I was walking into the exhibit, I saw the tiny butterfly resting up against the glass window at the front of the building. I was just thrilled. Yes! A new challenge. The first thing I learned from visiting the exhibit in 2005 was that not all butterflies behave the same. Some are very shy, some are constantly moving, almost as if they suffer from ADD, while others are more then happy to come over and almost strike up a conversation with you. The Orange Sulphur butterfly, is tiny, very active butterfly. It is a difficult butterfly to catch with it's wings open. Some butterflies spread their wings as they drink from a flower, not so much with the gossamers, which is the class they come from.

My photography goal for this year is to capture a photograph of the Mission Blue butterfly in the wild. The Mission Blue has been on the endangered species list for a number of years, but fortunately their numbers are coming back, thanks to some dedication an effort to help them repopulate here in the Bay Area. I am thankful to be able to get some insight to their behavior by getting in a little practice with the gossamers in this exhibit. The weather is warming up around the bay, beginning tomorrow, and we have been promised, by the weatherman and weatherwoman, to be in the lower to mid 80's by the weekend. With the warm weather come the butterflies, so, next week I am heading for either Mt. San Bruno, or the Marin Headlands, with my camera, to hopefully find my goal, the Mission Blue.

On my way, I will of course stop in for a little time with my favorite friends, and with a little luck, there might even be yet another type of butterfly I haven't photographed yet. Crossing fingers. I had a wonderfully relaxing time getting to know the Orange Sulphur. As I approached her for the first time, she was sitting in a window, looking outside, and moving her limps across her face as if she were applying her make-up for the day. She turned my way, smiled, tilted her glasses, I swear she looks like she wears glasses, and just that quickly I was smitten. It was difficult to leave at the end of the day. But I will be back... I promise.

-OndineMonet
"Great Southern White"
Conservatory of Flowers
San Francisco, California
April 8th, 2008
Afternoon

On My Mind... The Olympic Torch Relay

"Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it."

-Albert Einstein

Last Monday, Students For A Free Tibet, held a nonviolent protest on the Golden Gate Bridge. The three young people, climbed 150 feet and unfurled a banner which simply read, "One World, One Dream Free Tibet 08." By the time the news showed the demonstrators, there was no time to get out to the bridge to photograph their amazing feat. I wish I could have been there. Not only do I admire their dedication to their beliefs, but I am forever grateful that they made more then one statement that day. Homeland security, at least in my neck of the woods, is pretty much nonexistent.

The question on every ones mind kept being asked by the local media. "How could these students, climb the side of the bridge with such ease? Wasn't anyone watching? In post 9/11 shouldn't there have been more security cameras? I wanted to know how this could happen as well. Sadly, I already knew the answer. I have written about it before. San Francisco, and the Bay Area received $34 million in funding from the DHS, up 25% the year before. It sounds like a lot of money, but it really isn't enough. Not in the world we are asked to live in. Here in the Bay Area we have the Silicon Valley to think of, we have the 4 Bay Area bridges, and of course the many roads and highways which connects everything together. We have the Caldicott tunnel, and the major airports in S.F., Oakland, and San Jose, and the list goes on.

Ok, the argument can be made that San Francisco dropped the ball, and it would be true. After all, where were the city police, and the Highway Patrol? Given the problems with the torch relay which have already taken place on it's world wide journey, couldn't they have maybe had extra security on the bridge? Yes. I would have thought they would have done that but there is another point. Are individual cities doing their part to cover themselves every day? Well, depending on how each city might be struggling, it may not be an easy question to answer. Things are difficult throughout the country. Federal funding needs a second or a third or a fourth look. I think we can all agree that America needs to get it's priorities straight.

Now, when it comes to the issue of the torch relay, I don't know exactly how to feel. On the one hand the Olympics is about celebrating the finest athletes around the world. On the other hand the demonstrations are valid to bring awareness to the very sad, very oppressive conditions forced on the people of Tibet, and China. Sigh. I think if I were living in those conditions, I would want someone to stand up and help me. I would want someone to not just get my message out to the world, but to take a stand. Sadly, when the Olympics are over, who will continue the message? Oh you will see the occasional "Free Tibet" bumper sticker, but nothing much will have changed. So why protest? Because peaceful, civil disobedience is a beautiful option. And once in a great while it leads to a better world. Where would we be today, without the brave actions of Rosa Parks?

By the way, did you know that in the ancient games, only free men who spoke Greek could participate? Did you know that not only were women not allowed to participate, but married women were barred from the games under penalty of death! Single women were allowed to attend. Interesting how times have changed.

Opinions, opinions. Tell me what you think. Have you ever participated in a protest? What would make you join one? How do you feel about the Olympics being held in China, given their attitudes regarding human rights? Will you watch the Olympics? Sound off. Sing out. Tell me what's on your mind.

The Real Story Of The Ancient Olympic Games

-OndineMonet
Golden Gate Bridge
January, 2005
Afternoon

New Monday Photo Shoot: Tower Power

"I'll pull you from your tower, take away your pain. Show you all the beauty you possess, if you only let yourself believe."

-Sarah McLachlan

New Monday Photo Shoot #15: Photograph a tower, lightning struck or otherwise. It can be a skyscraper, a silo, a turret, an observation platform, or even a CD rack. Whatever it is, if it's a tower, let's see it!

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Once again, I am at a loss for some fresh photos. I am planning to head over to San Francisco to some of my favorite haunts, but until then, it's into the archive for me. I hope it's ok to use previously posted photos, it's been at least a couple years since I first showed you these. The main photo in this entry is of the Ferry Building, along the San Francisco Embarcadero. It was all lit up with special lighting to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

Here are a couple more Bay Area Towers...

Coit Tower, and the Golden Gate Bridge. I took this photo one day, while driving into San Francisco by way of the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Bridge.

The Tribune Building, Oakland, California

-OndineMonet
"San Francisco Ferry Building"
April, 2006
Early Evening

Weekend Assignment#210: Speechifying

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which differences disappear and obstacles vanish."

-John Quincy Adams

Weekend Assignment #210: It's been 40 years since the Mountaintop speech, and even longer since the great speeches of John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln and others. Are the days of great oratory behind us, or have you drawn inspiration from some recent public speaker? If so, what was the speech? Do you remember any actual quotes from it?

Extra Credit: Have you ever given a speech, other than in a classroom?

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin


Chelsea Clinton was campaigning for her mother Sen. Hillary Clinton on a college campus, just one of many she has spoken at, when a student journalist asked her opinion about how and if her mother's credibility had been damaged by her father's affair with Monica Lewinsky. I didn't hear all of her speech that day, indeed the only thing the media seemed to play was the response she gave to that insulting question. A simple. "None of your business." I admire her strength and ability to keep herself in check.

I don't know if someone had asked me an equally insulting question, if I could contain myself. I can spit fire at times, with the proper provocation. This question came at the end of a long Q&A session, and was the last question asked. She could have left the stage at this point, but she stayed, and took one additional question. This girl has grown into a wonderful young woman, and true testament to what the Clinton's have done right as parents. That says volumes to me. They have my respect for many reasons. Chelsea has my respect for her grace in such difficult situations as this moment was. Sometimes little moments stay longer with me, then long speeches do.

Extra Credit: Nope, I am not much of a public speaker, but I might give it a try under the right circumstances, such as the entire audience clothed only in their underwear. LOL.

-OndineMonet

Ladies In Red Dresses

"She sat down in a weed patch, her elbows on her knees, and kept her eyes on the small mysterious world of the ground. In the shade and sun of grass and forests, small living things had their metropolis."

-Nancy Price

The Pretty Girl

This past week I invited 1,500 ladies in red dresses into my garden to handle a matter most serious. You see, my lovely roses have Aphids! YIKES. Because I like to take care of such things by organic means as often as possible, I am trying the ladybug method first. I found them at Home Depot for a reasonable price. $4.95! One package to start, but I think I will more then likely be adding more as the month moves on. It was actually kind of fascinating to open the package and sprinkle them about the roses. They went to work immediately, happily chomping away, while others went about, well, procreating. So I guess, in no time at all, we will have baby ladybugs about as well. Cool. I like them. They are a pretty insect, and very helpful. It was pleasant to sit by my favorite flowers, with a nice glass of green tea in hand, and watch as my new girlfriends lend me a hand.

Ladybug Porn ;)

"Or perhaps you notice a congregation of ladybugs on a rose stalk.
Don't invoke the old nursery saying and ask them to fly away home.
Their house is not on fire. Your roses are, with Aphids, which the ladybugs
are feeding on ... and you can bless yourself that they have come to your rescue."

-Eleanor Perenyl

-OndineMonet
"Red Is For Ladybug, Green Is For Aphids"
Berkeley, California
April 3, 2008
Afternoon

Round Robin Challenge: Your One Perfect Scene... Captioned

"In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality."

-Alfred Stieglitz

A recent poll in my dLife (Diabetic Life) newsletter asked the question, "What is your main creative outlet for dealing with diabetes?" I was surprised to see that 24% of those who responded, don't consider themselves to be creative. I find it a little silly that one would think that they would have no creativity. If you can dress yourself, you have creativity. If you have ever had to think on your feet, really make a decision quickly, you have creativity, if you eat, you have creativity. I think folks forget, it takes creativity to get up in the morning. Creativity can be found in the simplest of endeavors.

When I was ill, I was really ill. Part of my recovery involved participating in an art class. We had all kinds of craft projects available to us, and even if nothing made sense, all we were asked to do was to make the effort. I made masks that represented my moods, I made small seashell creatures with little plastic eyes and yarn mouths, and I did a good bit of drawing and sketching, which usually ended up being pages and pages of sunsets and butterflies. I began that class, as part of my adult daycare. I was a very sad lady. Completely lost. I wasn't even speaking. Thats how sad I was. I wasn't saying anything out loud, but I would think to myself that this was an "impossible feat" they were asking me to do. The doctors didn't understand that colors didn't make sense to me anymore, so how could I possibly do anything positive in this class?

About 2 days into the art class, I dropped out. I felt lost. After a short talk with the teacher, I learned that all they wanted me to do was try. A brush stroke here, a glued eye there. Adding some sequines is a nice touch, so is a little yarn. LOL. They just wanted me to see color, and let it lead me where I needed to go. We experimented with lighting, and textures, and color, and within a month I was talking again. I even managed a smile or two. I didn't know it at the time, but I was on my way back to life, and I have tapping into my creativity to thank for it.

Now don't get me wrong. It was a long road. I had fallen into Anhedonia. That means I had completely lost all ability to tap into my creative mind. It took about 3 years of constantly experimenting with picking out my own clothes, and taking a drawing pad along with me when I had an appointment, and finally, picking up the camera again and taking photos, when I felt the least like doing so. I am so thankful for my camera, and being able to see scenes like the one in the above photo. It's was a series of perfect scenes that saved my life. It really was.

It takes a lot of creativity to be a diabetic. We have to put more thought into things then most people. We have to plan our meals, and think about how we will get the right amount of sleep and exercise. Personally, I bring the camera into as much of my diabetic planning as possible. It aids me. I wish I could speak to those 24% and show them just how creative they already are... and probably don't even realize. :) Creativity gives us hope. Maybe that is why I like naming my photos so much. It reminds me a little bit more of how, and what, I was feeling as I took the photo. :)

We have some outstanding photographers in the Round Robins. I am constantly being impressed with their creativity. Be sure to visit everyone on the Linking List and give them your support. This challenge is especially open to a wide range of interpretation, so you are likely to see a lot of originality! Just follow the links below...

Linking List

1. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!

2. Lisa... Lisa's Chaos
POSTED!

3. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!

4. Wammy... The Ellis Family Cincinnati
POSTED!

5. Martha... Perception
POSTED!

6. Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!

7. TJ...T.J's Photo Expressions
POSTED!

8. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pics
POSTED!

9. Swampy... Anecdotes, Antidotes & Anodes
POSTED!

10. Janet... Fond Of Photography
POSTED!

11. Monica... Family Affair Photography
POSTED!

12. Marie... Photographs & Memories
POSTED!

13. Vicki... Maraca
POSTED!

14. Jennifer Robin... Robins Woods
POSTED!

15. Jill... Letting Crazy Take A Spin
POSTED!

16. Kiva... Eclectic Granny
POSTED!

17. Suzanne... New Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!

18. Molly... Return of the White Robin
POSTED!

19. Kim... Nekked Lizard Adventures
POSTED!

20. Steven... (sometimes)photoblog
POSTED!

21. Robin... The Yellow Brick Road, The World Thru My Eyes, The World Thru My Eyes, The Yellow Brick Road
POSTED!

22. Sarah... Charish
POSTED!

23. Gattina... Keyhole Pictures
POSTED!

-OndineMonet
"Closing Time"
Point Montara, California
March 9th, 2005
Early Evening

Black-Eyed Junco

"Did you ever see an unhappy horse? Did you ever see a bird that had the blues? One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses."

-Dale Carnegie

Isn't it gorgeous? This little bird is a Black-eyed Junco. I spotted him on a recent visit to the Botanic Gardens, in Berkeley's, Tilden Park. I love going up into the park and walking around. It is a beautiful place, filled all kinds of treasures, such as the beautiful carousel and the Steam Trains. If it's spring, you can usually find me out, with my handy binoculars, looking for new birds, and just this last Wednesday that is exactly where I was. I also spotted a beautiful Great Blue Heron, and a Wild Turkey, but the Junco was new to me.

Great Blue Heron

Wild Turkey

My National Audubon Guide to Wild Birds says that these little guys stay pretty close to the ground, building their nests in small areas of brush. I didn't have my book with me the other day, but I am already planning for my next visit, and you can bet I will be seeking out these lovely little birds, with guide in hand. I can't wait, I want to know more about them!

-OndineMonet
"Black-Eyed Junco"
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
April 2, 2008
Afternoon

April Is National Humor Month

"I wonder if illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?"

-Jerry Seinfeld

I found out a couple days ago, that April is National Humor Month. As I have never been someone to pass up a chance to have fun, I seized the moment and went out to a comedy club with Alan. We have been to quite a few different ones here in the Bay Area, including some Open Mic nights here in Berkeley, but we have narrowed them down to a couple we like the best. One is Rooster T Feathers, which is located in Sunnyvale, and which you see in the above photo, and Tommy T's in Pleasanton. Now, if I had to choose between those two, I would definitely go with Tommy T's. The food is a lot better, and the service is perfect. And it doesn't
hurt that I am not as likely to be the oldest one in the room! LOL.

Tuesday Night at Tommy T's is Taco Tuesday, and what that means is that you get 3 Tacos and a Margarita for $10 per person, plus a $5 cover charge. Now of course you can order a non-alcoholic drink, so don't be thinking I go out drinking and driving. LOL. OMG... can you just imagine me falling into a jail cell because I was fit schaced? The tabloids would be all over me, and there would be my face, on the AOL Welcome screen, all disheveled, with the caption: "Carly, The Next Paris?" LOL.

This past Tuesday was an especially enjoyable evening, as we got to see a dear friend of ours, who just happens to be a comedian, perform. He is a great guy with a brilliant future in comedy. I am looking forward to watching his career and I am excited to be able to support him in his passion for laughter. He has been on many a stage here in the Bay Area, and well he should. He is so very talented. As an added treat to the evening, the headliner that evening was Michael Mancini. You may have seen him on Jay Leno, or A&E's An Evening At The Improv. He is an awesome, high energy comedian, who delivers, among other subjects, hilarious tales of his life in law enforcement!

So tell me, do you like to laugh? Who is your favorite funny person? Have you ever participated in an open mic night? Do you have a favorite comedy club? What's your favorite funny movie or TV show? How will you celebrate celebrate National Humor Month? Do you have a joke that will make me laugh? Feel free to share right here. Leave me a joke or funny short story. And if you do a special entry for National Humor Month, comeback and leave me the link. I will update this post so folks can find you.

Now go be funny. Share the gift of laughter with a loved one. Laughter, after all, is the best medicine. :)

"It is a serious fact that people are never so trivial, as when they take themselves seriously."

-Oscar Wilde

"A person without a sense of humor, is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road."

-Henry Ward Beecher

"Some people are like slinkies... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs."

-Unknown

-OndineMonet
Rooster T Feather's
Sunnyvale, California
February, 2008
Evening

Martha's A-Z Photo Challenge: "B" Is For Bixby Creek Bridge

"We are told to never cross a bridge until we come to it, but this world is owned by men who have 'crossed bridges' in their imaginations far ahead of the crowd."

-Unknown

This is my entry for Martha's new A-Z Photo Challenge. We are on the letter "B." What you are looking at is the magnificent Bixby Creek Bridge, which is just south of Monterey, California, along HWY 1. I love photographing this bridge, it is such a beautiful place, way above the ocean below, just being there makes me feel like I am on top of the world. It's a happy place.

Note: Please click on the main photo to see it in a larger version.

If you would like to see what folks came up with for the letter "A" just click here to find the linking list.

-OndineMonet
Bixby Creek Bridge
Monterey, California
March 8th, 2005
Afternoon

Karen's Monday Photo Shoot: Unusual Sights

"Stones fall onto the kitchen floor, as if they had come through the ceiling. Somebody, or something, starts banging on the wall. Things disappear and then reappear somewhere else. Before long you realize it can't be an earthquake, or the Concorde, or mice. It must be something else... something entirely inexplicable, and very frightening indeed."

-Guy Lyon Playfair (This House Is Haunted - An Investigation of the Enfield Poltergeist)

New Monday Photo Shoot # 14: Photograph something so unusual that it's seldom seen, by you or the rest of us. I'm looking for stuff that provokes the reaction, "Now there is something you don't see every day!"

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

Here it is spring, a perfectly lovely season in it's own right, and am I happy it's here? Well yes, but I am still longing... deeply... for autumn. Autumn seems to provide the unusual more then any other season, at least it seems to me that it does. I don't know, I suppose it might be common to see some ghosts in autumn, but how often does one see a ghost hootenanny in full swing, in the warm autumn sun?

-OndineMonet
"The Ghost's Hootenanny"
Carson City, Nevada
October 25th, 2006
Afternoon

You Don't Look A Day Over 125

"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese"

-Billie Burke

Would you want to live to be 100? How about 125? How does 150 grab you? I was watching ABC's The View today, and they were sharing in, Hot Topics, about a new Barbara Walter's special, which will air tomorrow night called, "Live To Be 150, Can You Do it?"

Living that long is an awesome thought. On the one hand, I would love to see what's yet to be, for as long as possible, and on the other hand, what if our nation continues to decline. Things are tough enough for we middle age folks, I can only imagine the impact of the failing economy has had on the elderly. I have a general idea, in that I have been hearing local stories about how a lot of senior services have been cut in my area. One of the hardest hit was the Meals On Wheels program. With gas prices poised to hit $5 a gallon by Memorial Day, volunteers simply cannot afford to bring those much needed meals to those signed up for it.

On the plus side, medical innovation continues to flourish. I believe it is easier now then ever to eat a proper diet and still feel satisfied. There are more ways to get the right amount of exercise as well. Everything from good old fashioned walking for heart health, to Sit and Be fit for those with special needs. Personally, I love the way I feel after a long walk, and Alan and I have been seriously kicking around the idea of getting bicycles. We are both learning about the need for exercise in our lives. One day you wake up and realize you just aren't a kid anymore. Proof of that fact came when we began walking, and a mere four months later we weren't making that "old person" noise anymore. LOL.

I kind of doubt that even with the most diligent practices I won't live to be 150, I am living with Type2 Diabetes, and Fibromyalgia. The Fibromyalgia won't take years off my life, but the pain associated with it does make some days so much more difficult then others. Diabetes on the other hand is much more hard on the body. I have to be concerned about kidney disease, and the possible eventuality of needing to take oral medications or insulin to control it. The good news is that people are living longer then ever with diabetes, and I am taking care of myself, so, as my doctor put it, "You can hold it off for years," Yep, thats the plan!

So, do I want to live to be 150? I don't know. I took a longevity quiz a while back, that said I would probably live to be 85. When I read that, it seemed just about right somehow. Not so long as to live our my welcome here on earth. LOL. I think I would be lonely though. According to the same poll, Alan would live to 81. I don't know if I want to be without him, assuming he puts up with me until then. LOL. I am surprised we have made it nearly 18 years... I am a flake sometimes... and yet there he is, looking at me like I am still a young chick. Heck, do you suppose one day he will look at me and say, "Carly, you don't look a day over 125!"

Live To 150, Can You Do It? Secrets to Living Longer With Barbara Walters

-OndineMonet
"The Kites2"
Union City, California
November 28, 2006
Early Evening

Martha's Alphabet Photo Meme

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs"

-Ansel Adams

I found a cute new photo meme over at Martha's journal, Perception. The idea is to eventually take each letter of the alphabet and photograph something beginning with that letter. For my first entry, I chose this photo. "A" is for "Apes" in a window. I think this will be a lot of fun. :) Cool idea Martha!

-OndineMonet
"Apes In A Window"
San Francisco, California
February 14th 2007
Afternoon

Let Me Know When You Are Done Holding Your Breath

"We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society."

-Hillary Clinton

Certain ideas escape me. In a recent poll here in the Bay Area, a staggering number of supporters of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said that if their candidate failed to win the nomination, they would then most certainly cast their vote for John McCain. HUH? Are you kidding me? You would vote for another 8 years of business as usual, because you didn't get your way? I suppose if you don't mind eventually paying $10.00 a gallon for gas, and the failing economy doesn't concern you, and it's ok that we have now passed the grim statistic of 4000 American soldiers killed in Iraq, with no end to the conflict in sight, you could be quite satisfied with voting in John MCCain. But wouldn't it make more sense to maybe expand your horizons a bit and maybe consider what life would be like with the other democrat in office?

I am supporting Hillary Clinton for president. I really believe she is the best hope for America, but if she doesn't win the nomination, I will have a choice to make. Vote for Obama, vote for McCain or not voting at all. I don't like missing my chance to vote, so it is highly likely I will vote for Obama, if I truly believe he is what will be best for this country. I like John McCain as a man, but I can't get behind his approach to things, such as his lack of interest in the problems with the housing market. His views on Iraq are nothing more then business as usual, and, well, you can pretty much figure out how I feel about the rest of the issues. I am a democrat, so for the most part, I disagree with how he would handle most issues.

I could simply not vote a all. Again, not my first choice. It is a perfectly valid choice if one has zero faith in the candidates who are running. Not voting makes a loud statement. It's so funny, I have always heard that if you don't vote, you can't complain. Well, yes I can. It's called freedom of speech. Nowhere does it say I have to divulge whether or not I voted, but somehow that seems a little lazy to me. While not voting might say, "I don't believe in the candidates," it also says, "I'm too lazy to do any homework on the other candidates, so who cares?" There is just a lose/lose in that way of doing things I think.

So, if Hillary Clinton isn't nominated, what's a girl to do? Well, since she already knows things will be close, she decides to get to know Obama better. She begins listening to statements and speeches and maybe even visits his web site to know more about the man. She already knows why she is hoping Clinton will make it to the White House, so, is there room to include the other guy in what she hopes for? Can she reconcile the mistrust she feels right now? Who knows? One thing is for sure, if she doesn't even try to find the ray of hope in the other guy, she dooms herself to being dissatisfied for a long time. After all, the vote we cast in November had better set the stage for the next 8 years and beyond. It will take at least that long to fix what George Bush, Dick Cheney and their band of cronies have done to us. Let the Republicans hold their breath, and turn blue until they get their way. We have work to do.

Hillary Clinton For President

Barack Obama For President

John McCain For President

Have some fun! Take the ABC News Match O Matic Quiz to see who your presidential candidate should be.

I scored Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinch, and Ron Paul.

Take the quiz and tell me what you came up with!

-OndineMonet

Have You Ever Stubbed Your Head?

"There will be rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better; we find comfort somewhere..."

-Jane Austin

Have you ever stubbed your toe? Of course you have! Stubbing ones toe is one of those wonderful human traits that all humans share. At some point we have all stubbed a toe. I have come to believe that God gave us certain parts of our bodies for reasons only he can fathom. The appendix is a good example. It doesn't really do much of anything but sit there and wait to perforate. You don't forget THAT pain if it has ever happened to you. I remember it like it was yesterday, but in fact, it was when I was 7 years old. It hurt. Large! And I still remember it. I remember the hospital stay, and I remember all I wanted when I got home after a two week stay away, was a big plate of my mother's homemade French Fries. Ahh yes, that's the stuff. LOL.

And then there's the spleen. Now that part of our bodies does actually perform a duty, but I learned from watching soap opera's in the 1970's that if you are in a car accident, and your spleen is damaged, you can live a full, healthy life without one. LOL. Didn't it seem like a lot of soap character's seemed to loose their spleens? Every time there was a car accident on one of those fantastic flights of afternoon fantasy, I just knew the spleen would be lost yet again. LOL. I wonder if Soap Opera Digest has ever done a round up of which characters have fallen to this fate? Hmmm... I may have to send them that request.

Anyway, I am thinking about stubbed toes and spleens, because this past week, something unusual took place in our house. We all three stubbed our heads. I went first, you see, Alan and I have been making friends with our new computer, and that requires that we eventually get around to hooking up all the hardware such as the printer and the headphones and the speakers and such. All the outside things that goes with computer ownership. And that is where the hilarity begins.

I was under the desk the other day, trying to find the power strip, when Elvis came over to assist me. I didn't know Alan had let him in the house, so imagine my surprise when a giant, black, hairy, tail decided to swat my unsuspecting face. LOL. YIKES! TWACK! BANG! Yes, not once, but twice I stubbed my brain against the edge of the desk. (Insert unladylike swear word here). LOL. I had hit my head so hard, I saw bubbles. Some people see little birdies swirling about their head, not me, I see bubbles. I got over it quickly, and Alan, Elvis and I had a good giggle about it, but man did my head hurt.

Very early the next morning, Elvis decided he was hungry at the ungodly hour of 3:30 AM. I usually try reasoning with him, which sometimes work, but on this day he would have none of it. Breakfast was being demanded... now! "Alan, the baby wants breakfast," I whispered loudly, "Can you feed the baby?" YAWN. "Ok Carly, I will feed him," Alan said sleepily. Ordinarily we feed Elvis around 6 or so, and then give him his insulin within a couple hours of that, but since he was eating early today, we would have to adjust the clock so we don't miss giving him his medicine. Alan was very sweet to get up for me.

I heard Alan pour the crunchies into the bowl, and then I heard a distinct TWACK! Swear word, swear word, swear word!!! "Alan, what happened?" "I stubbed my head Carly, where did those containers come from?" Ut oh! I forgot I had stacked some freshly packed some large plastic packing containers just the day before. Poor Alan. He had hit his head on the corner of one of the containers. As he climbed back into bed, I saw that he had quite a scratch across his forehead and a tiny bit of blood was already oozing from it. :(

He and I talked for a moment or two, and then fell into laughter about how clumsy we had been in the last 24 hours. We both now had bruises and scars across our foreheads. What would people think? And as we laid there giggling at ourselves, we hear Elvis run head first into the entertainment center, as he chased his invisible mouse. But that's nothing new, he has been doing that since he was a wee baby kitty. I am surprised he can think as straight as he does. LOL. That's just us, we do everything together! Including stubbing our heads. ;)

-OndineMonet
"I See Bubbles"
Berkeley, California
March 29, 2008
Afternoon

Steven's Feline Friday: Elvis and the Roses

"Dogs have owners, cats have staff."

-Unknown

It's been a long time since I played a Feline Friday. I mean since Elvis and I played a Feline Friday. LOL. I have been so busy the last couple months, especially since Steven took his break. I haven't taken any new photos of Elvis since New Year's Eve! That is unusual for me, he is a very willing photographic subject, he really likes posing for me. :) He is a happy and cooperative cat, as I arrange things in an attempt to get just the perfect shot. Yesterday, however, we didn't rely on props for our photo session, in fact, it was a spontaneous opportunity that had presented itself. Elvis was a very content kitty in his daddy's arms. It was a little cold outside, so he was all ready for an afternoon cuddle. Actually, both Alan and Elvis was ready for some cuddle time. :)



Later, we all took a look at my rose garden. Elvis is none too happy with me for moving the roses this year from the little area by to the fence, to alongside the shed. He is very protective of them, and is happier when I don't move them. He is getting used to the idea though, and yesterday he went on his usual rounds to check on them with no looks of disapproval. He loves flowers so much. He is the best little garden gnome I have ever had. :)

Go see Steven to find out all the ins and outs of Feline Friday. You can find him here, and there.

-OndineMonet
"Elvis and Alan"
Berkeley, California
March 28, 2008
Afternoon